Front driveshaft question

DiscoJen

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Aug 27, 2004
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The Lou!
Chipped all the ice from around the parked Rover and hoping for good enough weather to get the front driveshaft back on this week. Since time will be limited, I want to make sure I know what I'm doing before I get started.

Last year the front driveshaft was unbolted from the transfer case and was towed to it's new home. Now the holes on the driveshaft flange aren't lining up with the holes on the transfer case flange so I need to spin the driveshaft a bit to mate them.

Do I just need to get the front wheels off the ground and rotate them until the flanges line up?

Thanks!
 

KevinNY

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Dec 28, 2004
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Waxhaw,NC
Jason T. said:
Or put the transfer case in neutral.

True but is much easier to bolt up the transfer case end of the shaft and then jack the short side wheel off the ground so you can turn the wheel with one hand while under the truck lining up the flange holes.
 

RBBailey

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Jul 26, 2004
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Oregon
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Yeah, like Kevin said, I believe it is easier on the front to lift one wheel, turn, bolt, turn, bolt. Then you let the wheel down and tighten the bolts, but threading them is easy with one wheel off the ground. At least, that's how I would do it.

For the back shaft, put it in N, then use the hand brake -- turn, bolt, brake, turn, bolt, break...
 

DiscoJen

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Aug 27, 2004
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Hand brake? LOL That's another thing on my truck that doesn't work. I carry bricks around with me to chock the wheels when I park. :eek:
 

Jason T.

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Jun 24, 2006
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Jacking is for chumps...Rover Gods invented free wheel hubs for two reasons. Incase the POS diff grenades and to install the front d.s.
 

apg

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Dec 28, 2004
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East Virginia
Move 'em down the list. A functional parking brake is much more important to you and your Rover's health and well being. Though I still have free wheeling hubs, I'm certain that they are responsible for more front-end damage/wear that they preclude. Unless you *regularly* use 4wd, most vehicles live for months (years?) without the front wheels being engaged. The swivel pins and other bits need to thrash around in their oil reservoirs to lube everything properly, so it might be a long time before the swivels, front diff and propshaft UJs get 'exercised'. I leave the front hubs engaged, only disengaging 'em when I'm going longer distances on the interstate.

Cheers
 

DiscoJen

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Aug 27, 2004
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LOL A parking brake would definately be a better thing to take priority. :eek:

I actually was thinking FWH on all corners to make it easier to move/tow. I had planned to mainly keep them engaged to keep everything lubricated and not have to remember to routinely dis/engage them, except when towing. I had to remove the front driveshaft when I towed it before, couldn't get it to roll in neutral. Also read a few horror stories on here from towing causing something to bind up. Would FWH be beneficial in this case? I dig the Mayflower ones since it takes a wrench to turn them so they can't get turned by accident or by prank. Of course, I could be barking up the wrong tree as I often tend to do. :D
 

apg

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Dec 28, 2004
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East Virginia
A good friend used to flat-tow his 88" behind his camper, and FWHs on all corners made that dead simple. But you have to remember that once you unhook, the parking brake is not of much use. Then again, in your situation, this is already a moot point! :)

Cheers
 

DiscoJen

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Aug 27, 2004
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The Lou!
Mother trucker, son of a biscuit, sweet baby jeezus in a crockpot!!! :banghead:

I am getting FWH all the way around for sure.

I had to rebuild the carb after I got it running cause it was junk from sitting so long. Just put the carb back on, runs like a champ. :victory:

Jumped in with a Rover friend who stopped by to take it's first real drive (other than just pulling it out of the driveway a few weeks ago). Everything is great! First gear then double clutched to second, wound on up and BLAM no third or 4th gear. Can't even budge the shifter at all. Did a quick inspection, my friend made a phone call to help confirm the possible diagnosis, and it looks like I'm in for a real pain in the ass job.

All I want to do is drive, but it looks like I'm going to be sleeping with the green bible tonight. Reminds me of something my dad used to always say...so close, yet so far away.

Bitch rant over.
 

DiscoJen

Well-known member
Aug 27, 2004
3,652
0
54
The Lou!
Mother trucker, son of a biscuit, sweet baby jeezus in a crockpot!!! :banghead:

I am getting FWH all the way around for sure.

I had to rebuild the carb after I got it running cause it was junk from sitting so long. Just put the carb back on, runs like a champ. :victory:

Jumped in with a Rover friend who stopped by to take it's first real drive (other than just pulling it out of the driveway a few weeks ago). Everything is great! First gear then double clutched to second, wound on up and BLAM no third or 4th gear. Can't even budge the shifter at all. Did a quick inspection, my friend made a phone call to help confirm the possible diagnosis, and it looks like I'm in for a real pain in the ass job.

When I moved last December to the new house, we towed the Series, and something messed up obviously. FWH and I probably wouldn't be in this position now.

All I want to do is drive, but it looks like I'm going to be sleeping with the green bible tonight. Reminds me of something my dad used to always say...so close, yet so far away.

Bitch rant over.
 

DiscoJen

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Aug 27, 2004
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The Lou!
Thanks for the encouragement Bob. We took the shifter assembly off and the top plate, checked for gunk, tried to free it, but it ain't budging. I'll probably post over on RN to get some more feedback on additional troubleshooter before I start unbolting everything in preparation for gearbox removal. I'd much rather be working on seatbelts, tying the rollbar into the frame and a new winch. :( The engine runs so good now, it's just teasing me. ;)

At least I was able to get it off the street for the snow plows. Our last 10" is still on the ground and they are calling for another 12" over the next 2 days. Old Man Winter has not been kind to the completion of my project.
 

singingcamel

Well-known member
DiscoJen said:
Chipped all the ice from around the parked Rover and hoping for good enough weather to get the front driveshaft back on this week. Since time will be limited, I want to make sure I know what I'm doing before I get started.

Last year the front driveshaft was unbolted from the transfer case and was towed to it's new home. Now the holes on the driveshaft flange aren't lining up with the holes on the transfer case flange so I need to spin the driveshaft a bit to mate them.

Do I just need to get the front wheels off the ground and rotate them until the flanges line up?

Thanks!

Yep, just one up should work