Thread: I hate donuts.

Over powered, over tyred D2... 20 years on and the Donut is only just showing signs of wear.

This vehicle spent a lot of time working hard!

Originally Posted by dogman

I go through donuts like nobody's business I *hate* them. Just to get that off my chest. I had been wondering about an unusual vibe then on Saturday I ended up retrieving my rear propshaft 100m back down the road. All part of the fun:-)

Now I've found an old post from young Angus. Seems like it is possible convert a d1 from donut to universal at rear diff.

Does anybody have any links or info about this please?

2 ways to fit a donut, the correct way and the wrong way.
Follow the arrows on the donut.
If u put it on the wrong way b lucky if it last 6 months

Here is an image of the correct way to install it and a link to the page incase the photos too small. Cheers
Land Rover Parts - UNI JOINT - DISCOVERY 300tdi & TD5 Diesel (RUBBER COUPLING KIT)

Originally Posted by LRJim

Here is an image of the correct way to install it and a link to the page incase the photos too small. Cheers
Land Rover Parts - UNI JOINT - DISCOVERY 300tdi & TD5 Diesel (RUBBER COUPLING KIT)

Must admit I have never seen this before. It's not in the rave manual - I just checked. I have wondered a few times if there was a particular way to fit the donuts - there was, but unfortunately it's not in the manual. I was using GKN (?) and replacing the spigot bearing.. Anyhow, I am happy to have uni's, but knowing this may have saved me time and money.

Cheers,

Thanks all :-)

I did put it on wrong. For someone who had never worked on any vehicle before getting my d1 a couple of years ago I have had a good run. Bound to cock something up sooner or later. I must have fluked it with the previous donut. It also lasted 6 months but merely failed inspection rather than totally disintegrating.

Seems like many of you love donuts. I can understand that but my own attitude hasn't changed. I will never buy another one. Fwiw my d1 is a manual transmission and just because of where I live and the places I go it gets a fair workout.

Now I need to get the bits together for the conversion. An early type rear propshaft is fairly straightforward but the various bits and pieces from the front diff might be a bit more of a challenge. Wreckers vary in their knowledge about this stuff so I will have to be able to get it across to them exactly what it is I need. From the following photo of my front diff ...

front_diff.xcf.jpg

... I guess I will need at least bits c and b, and possibly also other bits which may spill out behind them?

Originally Posted by BathurstTom

Yes, I used about 5 donuts in 4 years. I was using quality parts with new centre bearings. No lift, but does have an upgraded intercooler. Purchased a new tailshaft with uni joints and used the flange setup from a front diff. Problem solved.

Tom.

Thanks. I am going ahead with this now. Since you have done it it'd be great if you would keep an eye on my new thread "Tailshaft reversion donut->UJ: specific questions"

Matt.

For Uni joint conversions
Rotoflex to Uni conversion - www.slunnie.com

Also, if you're looking at a stronger rotoflex conversion so you don't get the vibrations that a uni jointed rear end can bring
A stronger rotoflex - www.slunnie.com

Re rotoflex installation direction

Ensure the rotoflex is reinstalled in the correct direction - it looks like it has different characteristics or strengths depending on how it is installed.

The arrows on the sides point to the pinion flange or the tailshaft flange - dont clock everything around by a bolt hole otherwise everything changes, the compression parts of the rotoflex go in to tension and the tension parts go in to compression.

Job done. Drives beautifully with uj-uj shaft. Thanks to everyone who responded.

Things had ground to a halt at removing the centralising peg. The turning point was talking my neighbour (200tdi d1) into getting out the angle grinder. He wasn't keen when I showed him Slunnie's photos - said the whole thing looked "dodgy" and tried to deny even owning a grinder. Not sure exactly what turned him but maybe it had something to do with the box of black ice I showed up with :-) We flooded the cuts with crc, allowed to marinate overnight, and it was plain sailing from there with fairly ordinary tools.

donut.jpg