Peanut450
Member Since: 08 Jan 2020
Location: Cambs
Posts: 8
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| Replacing front propshaft |
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54 Plate TDV6
My son has asked for help to replace the front propshaft (we changed the rear prop last year).
He has attempted to remove the cross member but the bolts are not moving.
Does the cross member need to be removed or anything else?
I have searched but have not found the answer.
Any special tools needed?
Thanks
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 8th Jan 2020 9:04 pm |
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mek
Member Since: 18 Mar 2015
Location: Zurich
Posts: 468
  
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Yes it does have to be removed unless you are getting creative with what sits in front!
I had the same issue with the bolts when I did my clutch. If I was doing that project now I would buy one of those induction heater devices (which you can actually hire now), maybe that would help. The cheapest are £200 on ebay. I used the old fashioned technique of backwards, forwards, blowtorch, rinse repeat. It took me half a day to get the bolts out. And I broke my 19" Halfords ratchet spanner! On my car one pair of bolts went in from one side and the other pair from the other side. Using an SDS drill with chisel or an air chisel you should be able to pop the two accessible ones out. The ones by the fuel tank were a PITA! If you are really stuck I would drop the fuel tank to get access to those tricky cross member bolts. At the time I did my clutch the tank was absolutely brimmed so I did not fancy taking that job on!
Of the bolts I removed I was able to reuse them all but one was corroded such that frankly I should have replaced it. Copper greased everything on reassembly of course.
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| 8th Jan 2020 9:13 pm |
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Peanut450
Member Since: 08 Jan 2020
Location: Cambs
Posts: 8
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Is there space to get an impact driver on the bolts?
Also what size are the bolts ?
Thanks
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| 8th Jan 2020 9:54 pm |
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geoffsnook
Member Since: 13 Jun 2014
Location: south wales
Posts: 3169
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Should be its only to get the bolts out of the cross member spray plenty of penetrating oil on them for a few days before you attempt to get them out  Discovery 3 se gone
Range rover sport supercharged here:)
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| 8th Jan 2020 9:56 pm |
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mek
Member Since: 18 Mar 2015
Location: Zurich
Posts: 468
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Is there room for an impact driver? Yes on one side but its value is limited. As per my initial reply, one side is considerably easier than the other. You are going to be able to get the nuts off eventually. The fuel tank makes that quite hard on one side. You will then have the issue of seized/rusted out bolt shafts which are stuck inside the tubes which run through the cross member. You will struggle even to turn the bolts for this reason. Once you eventually get them turning your next problem is working them out. I did this with manual tools. It is possible. But I'd look for an air chisel tool. Apply penetrating oil of course but unless you use something potent and apply repeatedly for weeks it comes down to applying the necessary force. Those tubes trough the crossmember are long.
Bolt heads/nuts are 19" from memory
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| 8th Jan 2020 10:26 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10364
 
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You need some big spanner’s.
Don’t drop the nuts into the tank cradle
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| 8th Jan 2020 11:49 pm |
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Peanut450
Member Since: 08 Jan 2020
Location: Cambs
Posts: 8
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Any clues on size of big spanners ? 19 mm ?
As I have a 3 hour drive to get to the repair I am trying to make sure I take the right tools.
Thanks
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| 9th Jan 2020 11:28 am |
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GarageSteve
Member Since: 11 Aug 2019
Location: Peterborough
Posts: 28
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Hi, it will come out without removing the cross member, it’s tight but it does fiddle out, unbolt the rear gearbox mount and jack up rear of gearbox, be careful of gearbox casing, remove gearbox mount and the. Lever the rear of gearbox over to drivers side and with lots of patience it will weave its way out through the gap towards rear of the car 👍 Current fleet
BMW X1
Kangoo van
Pug 108
MGF
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| 9th Jan 2020 11:47 am |
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Peanut450
Member Since: 08 Jan 2020
Location: Cambs
Posts: 8
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Have removed the easy 3 bolts on the cross member and the last on is loose but now need the get the nut off but fuel tank is in the way. Any ideas ?
Thanks
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| 11th Jan 2020 1:47 pm |
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Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10364
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bang the bolt over, so you have room
or leaver with screwdriver
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| 11th Jan 2020 1:52 pm |
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mek
Member Since: 18 Mar 2015
Location: Zurich
Posts: 468
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Gearbox stand under fuel tank, Loosen bolts at the front and side of the tank so it drops down enough to give you room
Peanut450 wrote:Have removed the easy 3 bolts on the cross member and the last on is loose but now need the get the nut off but fuel tank is in the way. Any ideas ?
Thanks
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| 11th Jan 2020 2:09 pm |
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Peanut450
Member Since: 08 Jan 2020
Location: Cambs
Posts: 8
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All bolts out cross member off new prop going on .
Thanks
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| 11th Jan 2020 4:00 pm |
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Peanut450
Member Since: 08 Jan 2020
Location: Cambs
Posts: 8
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Managed to reach over the crossmember with hand and just managed to get a 18mm flexi head ratchet spanner on the nut to undo the bolt.
The old prop diameter was fatter at the gearbox end but the new one had a uniform diameter about the same as the thinner part ot the old one. I could not see any markings to tell which end needed to go on the gearbox . Does it matter which end goes on the gearbox end ?
The reason for changing was to get rid of a vibration @ 50 mph but it has not worked.
Rear prop was changed last year.
Any suggestions ?
Thanks
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| 13th Jan 2020 9:44 pm |
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darrind
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2863
 
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Out of interest did you try swapping tyres as mine went by rotating front to back a few years ago when it was an issue on my 2007 car Must stop buying shiny toys....
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| 13th Jan 2020 9:47 pm |
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knwatkins
Member Since: 19 Sep 2018
Location: Poole, Dorset
Posts: 716
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It could be a number of things including:
Tyres or wheels out of round
Wheel balancing
Worn track rod ends
Worn inner rod ends
Worn front lower arm bushes
Worn steering rack Kev
MY2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
MY2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey
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| 14th Jan 2020 8:58 pm |
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