Freeplay on front prop shaft

Theoretically, no, in practice there often is. Any perceptible play on the universal joints is a signal for immediate replacement of the joint - you DON'T want to be there when one lets go at speed, and it does happen! Free play on the spline joint is less dangerous, and some play here is acceptable.

Its one of the reasons, but probably not the only one.

JD

There shouldn't be play in any propshaft. There are some with a rubber block which have some give in that, but otherwise there should be none.

If it's the splines between the two halves, there's not much you can do but replace it.

If it's the bearings in the universal joints, you can get replacement kits with the needle-roller bearing cups and the "spider". I've changed them often enough on agricultural stuff. But check the yokes--the Y- pieces the bearing cups fit into--haven't been damaged.

Thanks For that,

I don't think that it is in the UJ's - the whole propshaft assembly from where it comes out of the transfer box to where it goes into the front diff has an amount of free rotation

cheers

colin

Put it in low range and see if that makes a difference. In high range, nothing's connected at the transfer box, and you'll have some backlash in the front differential, and it can all seem worse than it is. But if the actual prop-shaft is good there is a potential problem.

And check the front-axle oil levels. Axle and hubs. Topping up the level can make a difference.

cheers for that, looks like a job for this weekend!

In message , cg writes

If you mean should you be able to rotate the propshaft in its entirety then YES you MUST have some free play otherwise something is very wrong.

But if you mean that one end of the prop can move while the other is stationary then NO that is wrong.