L322 Range Rover System Description and Operation
DRIVE AND PROPELLER SHAFTS
47-6
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
Front Propeller Shaft
1 Front propeller shaft
2 Nut M12 (6 off)
3 Coupling adaptor
4 Coupling
5 Bolt M12 (6 off)
6 Seal.
The front propeller shaft is constructed from 2.1 mm wall tubular steel. A three arm coupling is welded at one end.
The opposite end has a splined shaft welded to the tube. The shaft has an overall length of 752 mm.
The three arm coupling has three holes which allow for attachment to the coupling and the coupling adaptor. The
coupling adaptor and the coupling are secured to the shaft with three bolts and nuts. The flexible coupling attaches
to the front output shaft of the transfer box and is secured with bolts in the three remaining holes in the coupling.
The coupling is a rubber moulding. The coupling is designed to transfer rotational drive from the transfer box to the
front propeller shaft without wind-up, but simultaneously compensating for small amounts of misalignment and
absorbing torque and vibrational loading. Each of the six attachment holes is lined with a metal bush. The bush is
required to prevent compression of the coupling by the attachment bolts and nuts.
The splined shaft has 42 splines which mate with corresponding splines in the input shaft of the front differential. A
shroud is pressed over the splined shaft. The shroud seals against an O-ring seal on the front differential input shaft,
preventing the ingress of dirt and moisture. The splines allow for movement of the propeller shaft caused by small
movements in the transmission and transfer box mountings.
