Rubber coupling on rear prop

[ep90]

There is a rubber coupling between the rear prop and diff on my 97 Disco.  Its showing some signs of wear (few cracks etc.)  Is this something that is likely to fail?  Or are the cracks just due to old age?

If I need a new one, wheres the best place?  I have looked on Paddock's site but not found it.

Cheers

[Mace]

It will fail if you put it under great stress .i.e.when off-road. Normal road use just normally makes the thing vibrate like hell before it gives up on you.

They are usually held as a stock item at most LR dealerships and they are around £42 + Vat I think. Paddocks do sell them but I personally would buy the genuine ones from LR as the cheaper ones really don't last as long. Some I've know to go again in 12 months.

Replacement is easy just remember to take off the front end of the rear propshaft 1st otherwise there's not enough room to get the rubber donut off. That said, the front end is really tight anyway and you'll need a prybar to help compress the propshaft to clear it from the bolts on the handbrake drum.

Hope that helps, they do make a difference once they have been changed  :D

[karloss]

Had the same problem with paddocks web site. I rang and was quoted part no TVF100010. It's listed under range rover propshafts. £20 odd plus vat.

[ep90]

Bought one from Tim Fry Landrovers, about £27 inc vat.  Picked it up so no delivery costs.  

The didn't have any genuine ones though - the aftermarket one is made in Germany so at least its not a chinese knock off

Cheers for the info

[Range Rover Blues]

When rubber 'goes off' it transmits more noise than it should so it's not worth putting up with an old one, that said they are fail-safe in operation.

[Mace]

When rubber 'goes off' it transmits more noise than it should so it's not worth putting up with an old one, that said they are fail-safe in operation.

Not quite...I saw one ripped apart at this years Belgium National. The metal sleeves built into the rubber that hold the bolts, ripped straight out. The prop didn't fall off coz it's got nowhere to go but it was a real mess.

[ChrisW]

I've seen one that was just metal - all the rubber had fallen off - was still being driven though although the guy did complain about more clonking than usual  :roll:  (hence they fail-safe?)