Replacement
Front Driveshafts for RR III
by Rover 3 Driveline Center and GKN
Introduction
Replacement Driveshaft From Scott Colison
GKN Driveline Solution (UK)
Contact & Ordering Information
More Information
Photo courtesy of
Rover 3 Driveline Center: Replacement front driveshaft (propeller
shaft) for RR III with proper provision for flexing at both ends.
Introduction
Finally
a permanent solution to the notorious 2003-2005 RR III/L322/LM front
diff failure problem is at hand!! Not from Land Rover, but from
private aftermarket driveline shops. In the US, Scott
Colison of Drive Line
Service in San Leandro, California has come up with the solution we
have all been waiting for -- a redesigned front driveshaft.
Yeah!! Scott has been in the
drive line business for 20 years, solving all sorts of different
drive line problems -- mostly on modified vehicles. So he recognizes a
bad design when he sees one, and knows how to fix it with a redesigned,
strong,
permanent replacement. He is making the new driveshaft kit available to
all Rangerovers.net readers.
Update
June 2007: In the UK, GKN Drivelines can now modify the
driveshaft to incorporate a front U joint. Details of these solutions
are provided below,
along with contact and ordering information.
Replacement Driveshaft from Scott
Colison
Scott refers to his new product as a Range Rover Mk III Front Drive
Line and Sleeve Yoke Eliminator. It is fabricated by modifying an
industry standard 1310 universal joint series driveshaft with
a custom made flange replacing the rubber donut and metal plate on the
transfer case end. On the front differential end, the worn
out sleeve is replaced with a special 1310 series end yoke.
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Two views of the new
replacement driveshaft. Note the U-joints providing flexibility at at both ends (the defect of
the OEM part is having a flexible coupling only at one end).
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| Custom made 1310 flange that
replaces the donut on the rear (transfer case end) of the driveshaft |
Another view of custom flange
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Worn out sleeve (in
which the splines get destroyed) and new 1310 end yoke (right) that
replaces it on the front diff. |
The complete driveshaft, including the brand new front diff yoke and
all new hardware, comes with a 3 year warranty. (Compare
that to the 1-year warranty you will get for a band-aid repair by a
Land Rover dealer). Cost of the complete unit is $800 -- less than the
parts cost to do the usual official (but ineffective and temporary)
diff replacement job.
User Testimonial from a
Rangerovers.net reader: "It works great, the cost was
reasonable, and I'm up and running!"
GKN Driveline Solution (UK)
In the UK, more than one reader has alerted us to a solution available
from GKN Drivelines. For example, Simon reports: "I have recently had
to replace the front propshaft on a 2003 Range Rover [due to] the
stripping of the splines on the front shaft and the receiver that is
fitted to the diff. The receiver (hollow tube) that is fitted to the
differential can only be purchased with a diff. This can be removed by
releasing the nut and using a puller. Do not move the car after
removal as the diff is pre-loaded. I sent the receiver and the
shaft to GKN drivline in Leek, Staffordshire, UK (Contact Andy) who
fitted the propshaft with a UJ for a cost of £250 plus VAT. A
superb piece of engineering work.....I would highly recommend GKN
Driveline."
Contact Details & Ordering
Information
Scott Colison has set up a
special division of Drive Line Service called Rover
3 Drive Line Center for the distribution and sale of the new driveline
kit. His full contact information is as follows:
Rover 3 Frt
Drive Line Center,
Drive Line Service
2474 Teagarden
San Leandro, CA 94577
Phone: 510-461-4977 (ask
for Scott)
Email: Colison2@yahoo.com
Scott has kindly offered to help sponsor Rangerovers.net based on the
interest he gets in his new product, so whether you contact him via his
website,
phone him or email
him, please
tell him you found out about his product on Rangerovers.net! (Eg if you order using the
shcekout cart on his website, you can put "Rangerovers.net" as your
company name).
For GKN Drivelines, the
contact info is as follows:
GKN
Driveline Service Ltd
Higher Woodcroft
Leek
Staffordshire ST13 5QF
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1538 38 42 78 (ask for Andy).
Fax: +44 1538 37 12 65
Email: ids.leek@gkndriveline.com
Related Information
Front Differential Problems and
Solutions Page
Front Diff Failure Section
of
RR III Common Symptoms and Fixes page
Front Diff Emergency Field Recovery Page
Alldata: Source of Range Rover
Technical Service Bulletins (subscription required)
Range Rover III Forum: Do a
search for "diff" to read about owner experiences.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
-- NHTSA Site for filing front diff failure repoorts. Please fill one
in if yours fails!
If you have tried these or any other alternative solutions, please email me so we can share
your experience with other owners. .