Land Rover Defender: Driveshaft

SPECIFICATIONS

NOTE: Numbers with a green background are a single use component.

COMPONENT TORQUE LOCATION

COMPONENT TORQUE LOCATION

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

COMPONENT LOCATION

1. Front differential
2. Transfer case
3. Rear differential
4. Rear driveshaft
5. Front driveshaft

OVERVIEW

Driveshafts are used to transmit drive from the transfer case to the front and rear differentials.

The front driveshaft is a 1 piece unit, connected to the transfer case and the front differential unit through Constant Velocity joint (CV). The rear driveshaft is a 2 piece unit, supported on a central bearing due to its increased length.

The rear driveshaft is connected to the transfer case and the rear differential through a CV. These joints allow for angular deviations of the driveshaft due to acceleration and braking.

The front and rear driveshafts are not serviceable items and failure will require the replacement of the complete driveshaft assembly.

DESCRIPTION

FRONT DRIVESHAFT

1. Retaining nut
2. Front CV
3. Driveshaft
4. Rear CV
5. Compression link washer (quantity 3)
6. Bolt (quantity 6)

The front driveshaft is equipped with a CV at each end. On the rear end, the CV uses a 6 bolt fixing which allows for attachment to the output flange of the transfer case. On the front end, the CV is pushed into place on the front differential pinion shaft and secured by a retaining nut.

The rear CV has 3 compression link washers, located under each pair of bolts. The washers are required to prevent compression of the CV attachment flange.

The front CV is known as a Direct Torque Flow (DTF) plunging CV. This type of joint is designed to allow more torque and power to be transmitted to the front differential, improve driveshaft imbalance and also reduces Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH).

REAR DRIVESHAFT

1. Front CV
2. Front shaft
3. Compression link washer (quantity 3)
4. Bolt (quantity 6)
5. Rear CV
6. Compression link washer (quantity 3)
7. Bolt (quantity 6)
8. Rear shaft
9. Center CV
10. Bolt (quantity 2)
11. Central bearing assembly

The rear driveshaft comprises of a front and rear shaft and a centrally mounted shaft bearing assembly.

On the front end of the rear driveshaft there is a CV connection. The CV is secured to the transfer case output flange with 6 bolts. There are 3 compression link washers, located under each pair of bolts.

On the rear shaft there are 2 CV connections. The rear CV is secured to the rear differential with 6 bolts. There are 3 compression link washers, located under each pair of bolts. The compression link washers are required to prevent compression of the CV attachment flange.

The front shaft assembly incorporates a crash feature within the tube, which controls the collapse of the driveshaft during a collision. The rear shaft comprises of an internal spline bore, which is attached to the rear part of the front shaft.

Central Bearing Assembly

The shaft bearing assembly comprises an extruded aluminum housing, a rubber bush and a ball bearing. The rubber bush is bonded into the housing. An internal metal ring, bonded to the bush, allows for the bearing to be installed into it. The rubber bush allows for small deviations in alignment and also absorbs vibrational forces. The shaft bearing assembly is secured by 2 bolts to the brackets of the floor panel of the vehicle.

• Front Driveshaft
• Rear Driveshaft

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