The trip from hell

[Markf]

We it started out OK. We did our campground hosting in SA and set sail for Kakadu. Got caught in the SA lockdown for a week at Woomera. Hanging around the very windo caravan park wasn’t the most interesting thing we could have done but when we were allowed to move we went up to Kakadu fo a while and very nice it was too.
Got caught at the WA border because we hadn’t allowed 14 clear days in the NT so we had to wait that out.
Once we got not WA it was all going well until I developed a nasty chest infection at Marble Bar. Got treated and off we went. Got to Newman and headed to Meekatharra and after about 170km a camper wheel pulled its studs out. RACV Total Care covered the tow back to Newman as well as our accomodation until repairs can be done.
On a short jaunt into town to get shopping the car developed a nasty vibration. When I looked at it this morning I found tha the front drive shaft DC is FUBAR.

Now we’re trying to get out of this somehow with all our contingency fund going to the camper. The really, really annoying thing is that the front drive shaft is only about 10k km’s old and I have a nearly new one at home.

That’s it, rant over. :bat:

[ramblingboy42]

never to be concerned by anything like that again....

none of that stuff ever let me down in about 300k of bush driving.....

but everything let me down at home , one ****ing thing after the other....including several front drive shafts...

thats why I sold the D2.....

and bought a Ranger.....never to have a problem in 6 yrs since.

[DiscoMick]

We it started out OK. We did our campground hosting in SA and set sail for Kakadu. Got caught in the SA lockdown for a week at Woomera. Hanging around the very windo caravan park wasn’t the most interesting thing we could have done but when we were allowed to move we went up to Kakadu fo a while and very nice it was too.
Got caught at the WA border because we hadn’t allowed 14 clear days in the NT so we had to wait that out.
Once we got not WA it was all going well until I developed a nasty chest infection at Marble Bar. Got treated and off we went. Got to Newman and headed to Meekatharra and after about 170km a camper wheel pulled its studs out. RACV Total Care covered the tow back to Newman as well as our accomodation until repairs can be done.
On a short jaunt into town to get shopping the car developed a nasty vibration. When I looked at it this morning I found tha the front drive shaft DC is FUBAR.

Now we’re trying to get out of this somehow with all our contingency fund going to the camper. The really, really annoying thing is that the front drive shaft is only about 10k km’s old and I have a nearly new one at home.

That’s it, rant over. :bat:That's tough. Can your insurance cover any of the costs?

[Tote]

Can you remove the front shaft and lock the diff or is it one of the "lucky" D2s? I had one which had the diff lock internals and you could lock the centre diff with a spanner.

Regards,
Tote

[scarry]

Can you remove the front shaft and lock the diff or is it one of the "lucky" D2s? I had one which had the diff lock internals and you could lock the centre diff with a spanner.

Regards,
Tote

Pretty sure '02 didnt have the internals,if its the original center diff.
Another dumb arse LR(and BMW) engineering feat[biggrin][bighmmm]

[Markf]

Nope, no CDL internals. First thing I looked for. Dammit.

[Markf]

That's tough. Can your insurance cover any of the costs?
RACV Total Care have covered the recovery and our accomodation for a week while the camper repairs are done. Neither camper or car repair costs are covered as they are deemed to be mechanical failures which are not covered. Still and all, total care has got us out of a five grand jam. And to think that a month or so ago I was thinking that it was a bit expensive. We’re about two grand in front from this episode.

[loanrangie]

I wouldn't think it would too difficult to source a shaft and have it sent to you ?

[Markf]

I wouldn't think it would too difficult to source a shaft and have it sent to you ?


Yep. Sourced a shaft from Geraldton which should be here on Tuesday. Fingers crossed. An hour or so after I get it and we should be on our way. One possible fly in the ointment is the Toll industrial action - everything here moves via Toll.

[RANDLOVER]

Yep. Sourced a shaft from Geraldton which should be here on Tuesday. Fingers crossed. An hour or so after I get it and we should be on our way. One possible fly in the ointment is the Toll industrial action - everything here moves via Toll.

Sorry to hear, but sounds like you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. However even without strike action, I waited 8 days for a part to get from Perth to Brisbane for my D3, as it was over 5 kgs and would've cost $120 extra to airfreight.

[Markf]

Sorry to hear, but sounds like you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. However even without strike action, I waited 8 days for a part to get from Perth to Brisbane for my D3, as it was over 5 kgs and would've cost $120 extra to airfreight.

Yep, there’s a glimmer of light there. The camper will be ready to be picked up in the morning (Tues) and the AustPost tracking says my drive shaft will be here tomorrow. All I’ll need to do is to get the camper to the caravan park very gently, go pick up the drive shaft and get it and the car back to the CP and fit it. Then it’s just a case of repack the car, refill the camper water tank, do some shopping while the camper batteries charge and then on Thursday we’ll be off to Meekatharra.
I gotta say though that right through this whole sorry saga RACV Total Care have been brilliant.

[trout1105]

Maybe it would be wiser to grab a cab (they have them in Newman) to pick up the drive shaft first then fit it.
After the D2 is fixed Then pick up the trailer because it only takes a couple of seconds after the front shaft lets go to destroy the gearbox.

You got lucky when you pulled up and noticed that the front shaft was RS, Why push your luck now.

[Markf]

Maybe it would be wiser to grab a cab (they have them in Newman) to pick up the drive shaft first then fit it.
After the D2 is fixed Then pick up the trailer because it only takes a couple of seconds after the front shaft lets go to destroy the gearbox.

You got lucky when you pulled up and noticed that the front shaft was RS, Why push your luck now.
RACV came to the rescue again. They organised to get the car and camper to the caravan park. Hopefully the shaft will arrive tomorrow and I can take a taxi ride to the post office to pick it up.
Meanwhile we have been reunited with our camper and all the food (and wine) in it.
Tomorrow I’ll put a video of how bad the shaft is up somewhere.
This was a sudden failure. Before we headed off last time I checked it with a front wheel off the ground and greased it and there was no sign that anything was amiss. 176km down the road and the vibrations set in. On checking it seems that the centre ball has karked it. There is no play in either of the two uni joints.

[trout1105]

When my front shaft went there was absolutely no warning at all and as I was doing about 90kph at the time it put a small crack in the gearbox AND a decent sized hole in the floor as well, It was all over in a few seconds.
I did manage to remove the wrecked shaft and as I have the CDL I was able to drive the 30k into Whyatts where they replaced the gearbox and fitted a decent greaseable shaft for me.

[DiscoMick]

Similar when the front went in our D1. Vibrations quickly got worse as we pulled up, including loud banging.

[Markf]

Similar when the front went in our D1. Vibrations quickly got worse as we pulled up, including loud banging.
I had no thumping and banging. I was doing about 70kph when a vibration similar to a dead engine mount suddenly started. When I was getting under the car to check I grabbed the shaft to pull myself around a bit and it moved. I forgot all about the engine mounts from then on.
Meanwhile we wait for the drive shaft. Oh well, such is life in the D2 world.

[Markf]

After many calls to Aust Post and much grinding of teeth the new drive shaft was collected this morning and fitted this arvo. Vibration and stuff all gone. Even better, I didn’t even lose any knuckle skin. [bigsmile]

The old shaft is in a very sorry state indeed. The universals are good but the centre ball is a mess.

We’ll be out of Newman the day after tomorrow. Hooray. [bigsmile][bigsmile]

[DiscoMick]

Great news.

Sent from my A1601 using AULRO mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=78345)

[V8Ian]

Similar when the front went in our D1. Vibrations quickly got worse as we pulled up, including loud banging.


I had no thumping and banging. I was doing about 70kph when a vibration similar to a dead engine mount suddenly started. When I was getting under the car to check I grabbed the shaft to pull myself around a bit and it moved. I forgot all about the engine mounts from then on.
Meanwhile we wait for the drive shaft. Oh well, such is life in the D2 world.
D1 and 2 are totally different.