It does seem to be a weak link when you think a Land Rover should be designed to perform in rough and tough conditions. 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Be interesting to see how you get on with the prop shaft refurbishment. When some nice gentlemen had a go at nicking the rear diff one thing that got damaged was one of the prop cvj's. Off road for weeks while trying to find a replacement joint but to no avail, ended up cutting losses and buying a new prop complete. Not cheap.

It was probably my post you found regarding the replacement propshaft.

I had the same issue - collapsed central bearing. Whilst it was a replaceable part on the FL1, it's not on the FL2 and requires a complete new propshaft.

In the end I went with the Hardy Spicer unit for £380 (or thereabouts).

My local indie installed it in about an hour - no problem.

The ridiculous thing, dependent upon age of vehicle, but in theory we thought it might have been possible to take a joint from something like an xc90, but the splines ever so slightly different. Grump.

It was Choccymonster, like you, I am favouring the Hardy Spicer unit.

Whilst I think the existing propshaft could be repaired by the specialist I found, it would involve more hassle and time, and could still result in something that is not OEM standard...

Gradually working through the list of issues on the car, which the previously owner obviously knew about but choose to trade in rather than spend out. So far we are on 4 new tyres, front discs and pads, parking sensor control module, rear diff (reconditioned unit with upgraded bearings), and now the propshaft... Its been an expensive 18 months of ownership!

Hopefully once this is sorted, it will run for a while without anything else major going wrong Got to love it though  2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Last edited by SD4x4 on 20th Oct 2015 1:37 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Start saving up for some wheel bearings next. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Stubbenoldgit wrote:

Be interesting to see how you get on with the prop shaft refurbishment. When some nice gentlemen had a go at nicking the rear diff one thing that got damaged was one of the prop cvj's. Off road for weeks while trying to find a replacement joint but to no avail, ended up cutting losses and buying a new prop complete. Not cheap.

Think I am going to go down the new prop route, in the interests of less time off the road and a certain outcome from the repair.

Some utter out there who think it is acceptable to steal and damage others' property. With parts prices and demand so high, it must be worth the risk I suppose. If I caught someone under my car he would get a swift boot in the nads  2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

dorsetfreelander wrote:

Start saving up for some wheel bearings next.

Fair point!  2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

and a new DMF, Clutch and slave cylinder......................... oh hang on, sorry I got carried away with the list of common failure points

You mean that the diff bearing needs a new car on it? 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

that's my plan, gradually build a new car around a known working part...  2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

SD4x4 wrote:

Stubbenoldgit wrote:

Be interesting to see how you get on with the prop shaft refurbishment. When some nice gentlemen had a go at nicking the rear diff one thing that got damaged was one of the prop cvj's. Off road for weeks while trying to find a replacement joint but to no avail, ended up cutting losses and buying a new prop complete. Not cheap.

Think I am going to go down the new prop route, in the interests of less time off the road and a certain outcome from the repair. Some utter out there who think it is acceptable to steal and damage others' property. With parts prices and demand so high, it must be worth the risk I suppose. If I caught someone under my car he would get a swift boot in the nads

We reckoned that it could be done in a couple of hours if undisturbed and being extra quiet. Add up the parts prices for rear diff, Haldex and propshaft, even at eBay prices not bad for a couple of hours work, tax free.

Speaking of your suggested remedy, years back caught someone of the caravan dwelling persuasion under my 205GTI trying to nick the spare wheel. I know nothing about the effectiveness of a certain retribution method, nothing at all.

I see that people are now selling diff repair kits on eBay. Has anyone any experience of these and is there a write up on how to do it?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FREELANDER-2-REAR-DIFF-...euhWnn2SBQ 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Update on progress...

Went for a second opinion today, and pleased to say the propshaft is fine.

The noise was coming from the drivers side drive shaft where it fits into a bracket that is attached to the transfer box. The bracket has a side clamp and two nuts to hold the driveshaft bearing steady, and the upper nut on the clamp was loose allowing the drive shaft to move around in the bracket - hence the low speed rotational noise when it was not under load. When a load is applied, the drive shaft spins up and self centres in the bracket, so the noise disappears.

The nut has been tightened up and the noise is gone, but it looks like there has been some wear to the socket for the bearing on the bracket and the drive shaft bearing itself may have been damaged, evidenced by metal filings along the drive shaft.

I am now investigating prices for the bracket and drive shaft, but at least for now the source of the noise has been located and temporarily fixed.

If anyone can help with part numbers of the bracket and driveshaft that would be very much appreciated. 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

This website is your friend when it comes to finding parts: http://lrparts.ru/engl/

Also contact Dan@Duckworths, site sponsor. If you provide Dan with your VIN then he will provide you with a price for the parts.