Prop Shaft Removal.

[Fred69]

Hi

Has anyone removed their prop shaft, and driven it? Is it ok to do this?

[Farmer Joe]

You can. I’ve heard of people binning them permanently because they can’t be bothered fixing whatever problem they have. That wouldn’t be my choice however!

[Fred69]

Originally Posted by Farmer Joe

You can. I’ve heard of people binning them permanently because they can’t be bothered fixing whatever problem they have. That wouldn’t be my choice however!

Ok, thanks. I don’t plan on leaving it off it’s just a process of elimination to get rid of the “clonk” noise upon acceleration and going from D to R.

So far I’ve replaced the following:

Front and rear engine mounts. (Vacuum test done after to make sure all is in order)
Gearbox mount
Top engine mount
Torque rod mounts
Front struts and upper bearing mounts
2 x wishbones
2 x CV joints
2 x anti rollbar joints
Bottom ball joints

Not all this was replaced just to get rid of the noise, some needed doing anyway.

Cheers.

Fred.

[SwissXC90]

A Ping or a Clonk?

If a ping, check your axle splines on the front wheels - mine made a ping when going D to R to D etc

[V8XCV]

I would expect that noise is the universal joint in the middle of the prop shaft going to the rear axle.

Trying getting someone to watch the drive shaft when you shift between forward and reverse and watch for movement before and after the UJ.

I remember my range rover classic had so much wear in the drive train that shifting into reverse would actually make the prop shafts rotate before reaching the wheels, a massive clunking sound!

My XC90 clonked, but compared to the range rover it was very quiet so ignored it.

[Harley Dave]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

A Ping or a Clonk?

If a ping, check your axle splines on the front wheels - mine made a ping when going D to R to D etc

Mine gives me a slight "click" rather than a ping (higher freq) or clonk (lower freq) - I assume it's the splines as you say Swiss.

2011 D5 75,000 miles (120,000 Km)

You use the past tense when describing yours - what did you/they do to fix that?

I have read about using Locktite - but that seems a bit extreme and grease probably wouldn't last any time at all.

Car is going in for annual service and roadworthiness test next month and will be getting gearbox oil changed (pump extract) at that time so a good time for an indie "click fix" perhaps??

Cheers

Dave

[Fred69]

Originally Posted by V8XCV

I would expect that noise is the universal joint in the middle of the prop shaft going to the rear axle.

Trying getting someone to watch the drive shaft when you shift between forward and reverse and watch for movement before and after the UJ.

I remember my range rover classic had so much wear in the drive train that shifting into reverse would actually make the prop shafts rotate before reaching the wheels, a massive clunking sound!

My XC90 clonked, but compared to the range rover it was very quiet so ignored it.

This is what I am thinking too, which is why I want to remove it, drive it down the road and back. If the clonk has gone then I know for sure where the problem is. Then I guess it’s just a matter (if not visually obvious) which joint to replace, as Brucie used to say, top middle or bottom?

[Fred69]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

A Ping or a Clonk?

If a ping, check your axle splines on the front wheels - mine made a ping when going D to R to D etc

100% lower frequency clonk.