Land Rover Propeller Shafts Rover Manual

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
Introduction and Legacy Vehicles 5
Propeller Shafts Introduction and Legacy VehiclesPropeller Shafts - Introduction
Unlike many others, Land Rover provides grease fittings on both the universal joints and slip
yokes for routine servicing.
PROPELLER SHAFT/UNIVERSAL JOINT SERVICE
Normal service intervals are:
Range Rover Classic, Defender 110, 1994-1995 Defender 90:
Universal Joints: Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
Slip Joints: Every 22,500 miles (36,000 km)
1994 - 1995 Discovery:
Universal Joints and Slip Joints: Every 30,000 miles (48,000 km)
1995 - 2002 Range Rover, 1996 Onward Discovery, 1997 Defender 90:
Universal Joints and Slip Joints: Every 15,000 miles (24,000 km)
The correct grease is NLGI-2, multipurpose lithium based grease.
Failure to lubricate the sliding joints will accelerate spline wear and result in driveline “clunk”.
PROPELLER SHAFT/UNIVERSAL JOINT OVERHAUL
Section 47 in the appropriate Workshop Manual provides step by step procedures for inspecting
and replacing prop shafts and components.
When removing mark flanges so that they can be re-assembled in the original positions.  Not
doing so can lead to vibrations which were not present prior to disassembly. 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
6 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC, DEFENDER, AND DISCOVERY SERIES I
The front propeller shaft (driveshaft) consists of a solid shaft with splined slip yoke and two sets
of “Hooks” or Spicer type universal joints coupled to flanges.  The driveshaft flanges are then
bolted to the front output flange of the transfer gearbox and the front diff flange, respectively.
Note in the illustration that the “prop” shaft sections are intentionally out of phase.  This reduces
the normal vibration tendency of a Spicer type joint operating at an angle.
The rear propeller shaft consists of a two piece tubular shaft with slip joint which is “in-phase”.
Since the rear prop is longer and there is less angle between the transfer gearbox and rear
axle, normal phasing is utilized.  See the illustration below.  The universal joints/flanges are
bolted to the rear output flange of the transfer gearbox and the rear differential pinion flange,
respectively. 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
Introduction and Legacy Vehicles 7 1995 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC, 1994-1996 DISCOVERY
The Spicer type rear universal joint on the rear prop is replaced with a flexible coupling on
Discovery and 1995 Range Rover Classic.  Note that the rear diff flange was changed to
accommodate this type of universal joint.  Due to the design, the flexible coupling requires no
maintenance.  Should disassembly be required, use new special tool LRT-51-008 to remove the
spigot (hub) from the diff flange.  This tool replaces LRT-37-005 which was used with the slide
hammer LRT-99-004 in the past.
As a running change, the original style rear propeller shaft was installed on 1997 Discovery and
Defender. 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
8 RANGE ROVER 4.0SE/4.6HSE
The Range Rover 4.0/4.6 utilizes two tubular style propeller shafts with Hooks joints at either
end.
Like Classic, Defender and Discovery, the front shaft is out of phase with the yokes out of line.
When disassembling, mark the flanges for re-assembly to preserve shaft balance. 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
Discovery Series II9
PROPELLER SHAFTS
Discovery Series IIDISCOVERY SERIES II
A redesigned front propeller shaft (driveshaft) has been used on Discovery Series II . The new
driveshaft uses a double hooks type joint at the transfer box drive flange. This is best described
as a double universal joint. The double hooks type joint provides the driveshaft with increased
articulation and reduces noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels. The increased degree of
articulation was necessary due to a change to the front axle pinion angle. 
Service to the front driveshaft is limited to replacement of the universal joint at the front end
(axle end) only. Should the universal joints fail at the double hooks joint, then the complete
driveshaft will need to be replaced. The rear driveshaft is identical to 99 model year Discovery
vehicles with a rubber damper. 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
10 DISCOVERY SERIES II FRONT DRIVESHAFT
DISCOVERY SERIES II  REAR DRIVESHAFT   
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
Freelander11
Propeller Shafts
FreelanderFREELANDER DRIVE SHAFT AND PROPELLER SHAFT COMPONENT 
LAYOUT
1. Rear drive shaft
2. Final drive unit
3. Rear propeller shaft
4. Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU)
5. Front propeller shaft
6. Intermediate Reduction Drive (IRD)
7. Front drive shaft
8. Gearbox 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
12
DRIVE SHAFT COMPONENTS
1. Outer joint
2. Clamp
3. Gaiter
4. Clamp
5. Circlip  
6. Shaft
7. Gaiter
8. Inner joint
9. Slinger - oil seal (rear driveshafts only)
10. Circlip 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
Freelander13
PROPELLER SHAFT AND VCU COMPONENTS
1. Universal joint
2. Rear propeller shaft
3. VCU
4.  Propeller shaft bearing 
5. Coupling
6. Front propeller shaft 
						

							PROPELLER SHAFTS
14
DESCRIPTION
DRIVE/PROPELLER SHAFTS 
Two drive shafts transmit drive from the intermediate reduction drive (IRD) to the front wheels,
and to two further drive shafts transmit drive from the final drive (differential) unit to the rear
wheels.  
Two propeller shafts and a viscous coupling unit (VCU) transmit drive  from the IRD to the final
drive unit.
DRIVE SHAFTS  
All four drive shafts are of similar construction, the main differences being in their respective
overall lengths and the inclusion of dampers on the front drive shafts.
Each drive shaft is a solid shaft with inner and outer constant velocity joints. The inner joint is of
the tripod type with spherical bushing to reduce sliding resistance; the shaft and inner joint are
one assembly. The outer joint is of the ball and socket type, with a splined connection between
the joint and the shaft. The joints are packed with grease and protected by gaiters.
FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT 
The front propeller shaft consists of a thin walled tube with a coupling welded to the front end
and a conventional universal joint welded to the rear end. The coupling bolts to the output
flange of the IRD. The universal joint is splined to the input shaft of the VCU and secured by a
bolt and tab washer.
The coupling reduces vibration and accommodates both angular movement (10 degrees
maximum) and axial movement (50 mm maximum) between the propeller shaft and the IRD.
The universal joint incorporates serviceable, sealed needle bearings.
VCU 
The VCU automatically controls the transfer of drive to the rear wheels by limiting the speed
differential between the front and rear propeller shafts. The unit is supported in two propeller
shaft bearings attached to the floor cross member.
The VCU is a short cylinder which contains an input shaft supported in a roller bearing race at
the front and a ball bearing race at the rear. Within the cylinder, slotted discs are alternately
attached to the outer surface of the input shaft and the inner surface of the cylinder. An output
shaft is welded onto the rear of the cylinder. The input shaft is attached to the front propeller
shaft and the output shaft is attached to the rear propeller shaft.
The cylinder is a sealed unit filled with a silicon jelly. The viscosity of the silicon jelly increases
when subjected to shear. When there is a speed differential between the front and rear
propeller shafts, adjacent slotted discs in the VCU rotate in relation to each other. The shearing
action of the rotating slotted discs increases the viscosity and resistance to rotation of the
silicon jelly.