Thread: Argh Double Cardan Unis

Gary,
Depending on what shaft, it may not have a grease nipple. If it does not just behind the dust boot (diff end) heading back along the tailshaft about an inch or two there will be a little plug or grub screw. You can remove this and push in grease or put in a grease nipple to grease. The other way is while out you can pull off the boot and slide the spline out and manually grease. I would just put in the grease nipple. Yours must be about the only one left in Australia without a grease nipple. LOL.
Glad yours was a easier rebuild than mine. I think mine may be a non LR shaft or has been rebuilt recently. What amazed me is someone has gone to a lot of expense and trouble to rebuild and fit this unit, but then not bothered to grease anything. I think the UNI's may have GKN as they were greasable but not HS. I would say it was only ever greased on assembly if that, such a waste as it ground one of the slines nearly half way. Even the splines had no grease on them, just a blue coating of some sort. Look now its over I would consider doing it again now I know what to look for and some easier methods.
Cheers
Craig

Originally Posted by GazMann

Hi all knowledgeable people

Rather than starting a new thread I thought I would post here as related.
I have just replaced all unis and the bearing with heavy duty Hardy Spicer items. The fitment went fairly smoothly, definitely not the issues that CraigE had. As this is a new car to me (but only 120 000 on the clock) I have replaced the Uni's as a precautionary measure. The tailshaft appears to be the original one as non-greasable carden shaft uni's and the tailshaft bolts don't appear to have had a spanner on them. Unusually the carden shaft uni's were still in perfect condition with clean grease but the single uni at the diff end was showing signs of wear.

My question is where is the grease point for the spline? Did they make shafts without grease points on the spline? There is no removable bolt that I can see. The rear tailshaft has a nipple fitted.

Gary

This is what it may look like with a grub screw.
Cheers
Craig

Yes I looked at pictures before posting so am aware of the grub screw. The only thing is mine doesn't appear to have one. Pulled the boot back in case it was hiding but still nothing visible. Didn't force it but the spline didn't want to separate.

Mine also has a different dust boot to yours and other photos I have seen. It has 3 ribs in the bellows to allow for expansion and is clamped at both ends, so a better sealed system. I will post photos when I get back to the car.

It appears to be a genuine item as has GKN on the shaft and the correct LR part number.

The shaft changed in mid 2001 I hear.
No spline just ball bearings running in grooves

Originally Posted by northiam

The shaft changed in mid 2001 I hear.
No spline just ball bearings running in grooves

Thats what mine looks like thank for the info. Mine is a 2004

Pics not of ours but one I found when checking out tailshafts. My Defender 2000 has nipple as does the 2001 D2. Have to check the build but I think was mid 2001. Interesting if they have changed, maybe ours was like it and changed, dont know.

Originally Posted by GazMann

Yes I looked at pictures before posting so am aware of the grub screw. The only thing is mine doesn't appear to have one. Pulled the boot back in case it was hiding but still nothing visible. Didn't force it but the spline didn't want to separate.

Mine also has a different dust boot to yours and other photos I have seen. It has 3 ribs in the bellows to allow for expansion and is clamped at both ends, so a better sealed system. I will post photos when I get back to the car.

It appears to be a genuine item as has GKN on the shaft and the correct LR part number.

My 2003 D2a has this stylethat Craig posted as well. No idea on the history of the shaft, I bought the Disco 4 years ago at 170,000Km with it on. I've since fitted Hardy Spicer greasable UJs and replaced the centre ball.

I've never quite got why a D2 needs a double cardan joint in the first place. I understand what one is, one version of a CV joint. But, given the similarities between a RRC, a D1 and a D2, I cannot see why LR bothered. My D2 is lifted 2". My D1 is lifted 2" I am warned to check the double cardan on the D2 because of possible dire consequences to the T/C, but nobody warns me of those same consequences on the D1.
Why don't we all just fit D1 shafts to the D2? Serious question.