Can I drive Disco 2 in 2WD?

**Bosco15** · 20th February 2023, 04:13 PM

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** · 20th February 2023, 04:36 PM

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** · 20th February 2023, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Tins** · 20th February 2023, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by Bosco15

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.
Screenshot 2023-02-20 at 6.01.07 pm.png

**johnp38** · 20th February 2023, 10:07 PM

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** · 20th February 2023, 11:30 PM

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

**d2dave** · 22nd February 2023, 09:02 AM

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** · 22nd February 2023, 09:59 AM

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** · 22nd February 2023, 10:19 AM

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** · 22nd February 2023, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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