Can I drive Disco 2 in 2WD?

[Bosco15]

Reading threads on this forum is getting me into trouble.
Taking the advice of others past experiences, I decided to service my front drive shaft on the "New to Me" Disco 2.
But "Hang on", I hear you say, "They're not serviceable." (unless they have already had uni's replaced with greaseable ones)
Mine was stock with sealed uni's, but I had an Ace up my sleeve.
Eleven or so years ago, I spent twelve months working in a workshop that did drive shafts. The whole gamut. Uni's, yokes, shafts, balancing, etc.
It was great fun and I learned a lot, but it was heavy manual work and it took it's toll on my body. We did some &%$^#* big shafts, I'll tell you. (I'm no Spring chicken.)
So, I decided to utilise my knowledge and pull the caps off uni's, clean and grease and reinstall. The double Cardan joints are a bit tricky. They are more than just two uni's next to each other. They have a needle bearing ball joint in between the two uni joints.
After skinning knuckles and knees, getting shaft out of the car, it was time to do surgery. I got the first two caps out ok. Cleaned and greased, repacked needles and started to push back together. First one went in like a dream. The second not so easy. Double Cardan was not allowing a straight alignment and I dropped a needle, without knowing it. Cruch! The cap cracked when pressing it all the way home, due to needle roller being where it wasn't meant to be. *@^#(@!!
Silver lining and all that, at least now I will be getting new uni's and greaseable ones, at that.
So. Whilst my front shaft is out, awaiting refurbishment, is it ok to drive Disco?
I can't see that the front diff would suffer, free wheeling and not being driven, but am unsure on how transfer box would deal with only having resistance on one output shaft.
I would hate to cause $$$ damage by driving her, but I am enjoying driving her more than my Subaru Outback, atm.
Any knowledgeable input would be appreciated.
Cheers.

[Davetd5]

I drove my D2a for about 2 weeks gently in 2WD waiting for a Tom Woods shaft from the US. Locked the centre diff and had no problems and drove the car daily for another 10 years after that. I wouldn't tow or do anything heavy as you' re putting all the drive into the rear diff.

[Bosco15]

I drove my D2a for about 2 weeks gently in 2WD waiting for a Tom Woods shaft from the US. Locked the centre diff and had no problems and drove the car daily for another 10 years after that. I wouldn't tow or do anything heavy as you' re putting all the drive into the rear diff.

Ah. The illusive CDL. I'll have to crawl underneath and see if I can find it.
Thanks for that.

[Tins]

Ah. The illusive CDL. I'll have to crawl underneath and see if I can find it.
Thanks for that.

Well, it won't dive otherwise. I hope your car has one.....

Yours probably won't be this clean... If it's there a 10mm spanner should do it, but it may be stiff.
183950

[johnp38]

very easy to do with front shaft out, just remember to unlock it and leave out of park with one or both front wheels in air so you can spin to get to all bolts when refitting.

Probably telling you how to suck eggs there but I am helping you by reinforcing the thought. (that's my reasoning anyway)

I had handbrake on and was putting it in and out of lock to tighten nuts/rotate to get to them.

At least I found out it was only my front diff that was making all the whine.

[Bosco15]

Excellent info. Thanks guys. Thanks Tins for exact location diagram. Very helpful.
And great advice for helping tighten bolts back up, John. Cheers.

[d2dave]

I did a trip to purchase a Tvan on my front diff. I was about 200 km into a 1,000 km trip when the rear tailshaft fell off.

I continued on for another 800 plus kays, purchased Tvan and towed it home another 1000 plus kays, all on the front diff.

As has been stated though, you will need a centre diff locked to go anywhere.

[Tins]

I'm currently driving mine with the front shaft out. I don't see the problem with towing as most cars are 2WD and tow just fine, and a D2 diff ain't a fragile thing.

[PhilipA]

The reason given by Land Rover for constant 4wd was that they could use lighter duty axles. This was waaaay back with RRC intro.
So don't go towing 3000Kg with it in 2wd.

Regards PhilipA

[RobMichelle]

I'm currently driving mine with the front shaft out. I don't see the problem with towing as most cars are 2WD and tow just fine, and a D2 diff ain't a fragile thing.

My D2 front diff was very fragile and the cv’s that’s why I changed to Jack McNamara diff centers and Ashcroft cv’s and shafts

[Tins]

My D2 front diff was very fragile and the cv’s that’s why I changed to Jack McNamara diff centers and Ashcroft cv’s and shafts

Dunno. Mine has done 350k, 150 as mine, and the diffs are fine. Never been touched. But I wouldn't tow with mine on just the front diff. But I would be more worried about the CDL than the rear diff.

[Bosco15]

Woohoo! My transfer case has CDL.
I engaged it with 10mm spanner and it locked the centre diff.
I'm working on a linkage, now, so that I can engage it from inside the cabin.
When I'm done with that, I can put front shaft back in.
Transfer case oil change, whilst I'm under here.
Auto is right here, too.
Diffs oil need checking.
Drivers front wheel is in the air. I might check those pads.
The list just gets longer. Lol

[Tins]

Woohoo! My transfer case has CDL.
I engaged it with 10mm spanner and it locked the centre diff.

Did the 4WD light come on? If not then you may as well put the switch on your list of things to do while you're under there....


I'm working on a linkage, now, so that I can engage it from inside the cabin.

They want a kidney for the genuine one. You might get lucky at a wrecker. the D1 one works kinda. People did electric ones, mine had a second lever installed.. I reckon a vacuum one would work. Have fun.


The list just gets longer. Lol

That is the purpose of D2 ownership...

[Bosco15]

Did the 4WD light come on? If not then you may as well put the switch on your list of things to do while you're under there....



They want a kidney for the genuine one. You might get lucky at a wrecker. the D1 one works kinda. People did electric ones, mine had a second lever installed.. I reckon a vacuum one would work. Have fun.



That is the purpose of D2 ownership...


I am yet to run car with CDL engaged. I was only engaging/disengaging manually whilst under car and the output shaft would lock and unlock. I am excited, now, to see if I do get a 4WD light on the dash.
Regardless of whether or not I get a light, I will know when I'm CDL locked.
My New Redneck CDL linkage, can't be missed. 184022 (Carpet is out to dry, after I discoveryed leaks.)
Coming in through the transmission tunnel, I have a "Pull to engage" knob.

You put me onto the 10mm spanner thing, TINS. Awesome! Cheers for that.

I do so love making things from the scrap that I have lying around and if I can make it functional, simple and efficient, I'm all over it.

10mm spanner modified to fit CDL control shaft.184023
A bit of tinkering with an automatic swing door slide pivot.184024
And a little reshaping of the Chinese Cheese metal, for clearance.184025
Thread one end and tap the other of some stainless tube and Bob's your Aunties live in lover. 184026

Now, where did I put that driveshaft?

[Tins]

My New Redneck CDL linkage, can't be missed. (Carpet is out to dry, after I discoveryed leaks.)
Coming in through the transmission tunnel, I have a "Pull to engage" knob.



Hah! Love it. Put a yellow knob on it and you're in a Series...

[admiralranga]

Speaking of the CDL light/switch, I'd suggest disconnecting it for the moment as otherwise you lose your traction control and get the 3 amigos. If it's something you'll be doing regularly for offroading there's a wire to cut/pin to remove from the ABS controller.

[Bosco15]

Thanks Admiralranga. I will rarely, if ever take her off road. She was bought to be used as a tow vehicle.
The CDL exercise was more about knowing that I can engage it, if ever I need to, than anything else.
I did have cause to use CDL in my two door RRC, many moons ago.
If, to have a pretty light on the dash, I have to go to any length more than just plugging in a switch, then I can do without.
Cheers.

[Tins]

Yesterday I discovered that a RWD, chipped Discovery can be, err, interesting in the wet....

Speaking of pretty lights, the TC one woke up.

[Bosco15]

Yesterday I discovered that a RWD, chipped Discovery can be, err, interesting in the wet....

Speaking of pretty lights, the TC one woke up.

Driftin' Disco. [bigsmile]

[Tins]

Driftin' Disco. [bigsmile]

Like this... Well, almost[bigwhistle]


https://youtu.be/fjAS-Cj5gxc

[Bosco15]

Lol. ACE working overtime, there.

[V8Ian]

Like this... Well, almost[bigwhistle]


https://youtu.be/fjAS-Cj5gxc
Sounds orright too. :burnrubber:

[Tins]

Sounds orright too. :burnrubber:

Beemer M3 apparently.