Thread: Front Propshaft Replacement Recommendations

From my research into this same issue, looks like Gwynn Lewis and Tom Woods are about as good as you'll get. Big bucks tho.

Note that there are apparently different fitments for them too, so as you look into it and decide which way to go, be armed with your chassis details to be sure you get one that fits.

Also notereason I was looking into it was for my brothers TD5(2002)).
He was having a similar issue, vibrating at about 2000RPM which worked out at about 85-100km/h, but with oversized tyres .. ie. lower indication on speedo than actual!

We tracked down a worn fan hub bearing, partially seized serpentine belt adjuster(not really returning properly even tho it still had strong tension) and engine a bit smokey and down on power(TD5).

First thing that happened was that when he refilled the tank one day at a different source to where he normally filled up, both power and vibration had totally fixed themselves.
We suspect contaminated fuel on his last fill at his (old) regular place .. rather than simply CHEAP ***** fuel. I've filled up at his old regular place myself and never had trouble, and he's used them for over 6 months without issue.
We think a dummy tanker driver may have accidentally filled the diesel tank with petrol, and not admitted it .. or something like that.

Even after the better fuel which eliminated the vibration, there was still a small residual vibe at 2000RPM. Which is when we changed the tensioner, fan hub bearing, and would have replaced the belt had he not ordered the wrong one!
TD5 now runs as smooth as a V8 .. awesome to drive again(and making me envious again!)

So what we thought was a front prop shaft too, even tho the unis were tight, ended up nothing like that. Was just engine related.
His splines have about a 1/2mm amount of vertical movement(by hand) but no rotational or horizontal movement at all.
That is, I could feel this slack on the sliding joint if I pushed up/pulled down, but not sideways or twisting.

Do you have any slack in the sliding joint at all?

Originally Posted by InMused

Can I please have some recommendations, please? Are the "aftermarket" propshafts adequate for offroad touring? Should I stick with GKN?

When mine started to make horrible noises and had a fair bit of rotational slack I decided to go with Tom Woods. VSL (Morwell) quoted me some outlandish price for a genuine part and a Tom Woods part was a bit under two thirds the price fitted. Got it from Tom Woods Discovery 2 Front Double Cardan Drive Shaft

The horrible noises have been banished.

You should be able to locally source a Tom Wood shaft for a D2 from Jeep Konection, they used to have them on the shelf at a very good price.

Tom himself is excellent to deal with, his service is excellent.

Hardy Spicer can repair a shaft by replacing the spline and yoke too, but I have no idea on $.

Originally Posted by AK83

Also notereason I was looking into it was for my brothers TD5(2002)).
He was having a similar issue, vibrating at about 2000RPM which worked out at about 85-100km/h, but with oversized tyres .. ie. lower indication on speedo than actual!

Thanks, AK83. The vibration is not at a RPM range, but at a speed range, therefore, it must be post transfercase. Nice thought though. I have done all the pulleys and the fan bearing in the last 12 months.

Originally Posted by Markf

When mine started to make horrible noises and had a fair bit of rotational slack I decided to go with Tom Woods. VSL (Morwell) quoted me some outlandish price for a genuine part and a Tom Woods part was a bit under two thirds the price fitted. Got it from Tom Woods Discovery 2 Front Double Cardan Drive Shaft

The horrible noises have been banished.

Originally Posted by rick130

You should be able to locally source a Tom Wood shaft for a D2 from Jeep Konection, they used to have them on the shelf at a very good price.

Tom himself is excellent to deal with, his service is excellent.

Hardy Spicer can repair a shaft by replacing the spline and yoke too, but I have no idea on $.

Looks like a nice unit. I'll keep this one in mind. Cheers.

As Rick says Jeep connection is the go. Excellent product and support from tom. He is a true gent. Cheers

The Hardie one (As in stocker with their unis and replaced centre ball if needed) is good but not at strong nor as long in splines for bigger lifts. Cheers

It's not steering or tyre balance issue? Have you checked the engine mounts they are known to collapse on the TD5's