Thread: OK to drive without rear propshaft

Originally Posted by DarrenW

Hi all,

I'm assuming this will be ok ... but I thought I'd ask.

In the process of doing the rear diff pinion seal and rubber coupling on my 97 Tdi disco. Had initial difficulty getting the "pinion flange centralising peg" out but made up a puller and all ok. I thought I'd also change the bush bit in the end of the propshaft as it came in the coupling kit....lots of banging and cold chisel's and still can't get it out. Unfortunately I need to use the car tomorrow. I'm assuming I'll do no harm by locking into 4WD and driving it tomorrow... about a 50km round trip ?

Also anybody got any hints on trying to get the bush out in the end of the propshaft ?

Darren

Method of removing bushes: Find a thread tap you have a bolt for which cuts a thread inside bush. Tap. Insert bolt and pull!
IWould be very careful driving a front wheel drive landy, could be scary if you go into a corner under power.

i done it in my defender for like a whole w/e would done 400 or more kays the transfer made a whirr sound at 100 kays prolly not real good for it but id say go for it

Have not driven my D1 like that but did drive my 2A for about 3 months this way. After the rear axle broke I drove it home at 100k/h with no problem. Tight corners around town and going into driveways was a struggle though. But we did it.

I drove from falls creek to melb like this in 97 disco tdi,just limited my speed to 80klms per hour with no problems.

Yep I agree but it will be a small threaded hole, (M6 mm or M8 mm) and I would drill 2 holes 180 degrees apart and pull on both in unisin using a slide hammer or such. Tapping drill size is minus the thread pitch, example, M8x1.25. So the tapping drill size is 8 minus 1.25 equals 6.75. So a 6.5mm drill will suffice.
Regards Robbo.

make sure the two screws holding the hand brake drum in place when the tail shaft is removed are done up really tight like put on sum lock tight i nearly lost my drum

Just remember that you are now putting 100% of your power to the front diff, axles, CV joints etc so go easy on the power. Apart from that it will do no harm.

As for the bush in the end of the tail shaft I used an air die grinder to grind the the bush thin enough to bust it with a screwdriver and hammer.

Made a huge difference to NVH in my disco when I replaced the bush and spigot.

Dave.

driven on both front and rear diffs alone with my disco and county, LT95(county) and R380/LT230(disco), I did alot of driving and some at highway speeds in all situations with no issues, the disco was my daily driver for about 1 on front and about 2 on rear only, only thing is its noisier.