Front prop shaft snapped.

[Roy Panton]

Hi, had my Grenadier Diesel just over 2 years and 20k miles and just after second service with no modifications or big wheels.
Day before yesterday coming along a single track tarmac road at @ 40mph bit of a bang and pulled in to a passing place.
on getting out transmission oil pishing out under vehicle so had to get recovered to Ineos service centre, luckily only 20 miles away.
Turns out front prop shaft snapped. then punctured the autobox sump with the parts now being sent back to Ineos to approve a warranty claim,.
The vehicle has been used offroad and towing but nothing I would say too taxing and having used everything from SJs through to G/Wagens offroad for over forty years have never experienced a front shaft snapping (half shafts and diffs going bang yes) and was wondering if anybody else has had an issue like this on an unmodified vehicle.
Apart with small niggles and the common issues with door locks, rear door sensor, infotainment, thirst etc it has been pretty good and a pleasure to tow with.

 

[Krabby]

The shaft itself or did the CV joint fail? The latter has been discussed in a variety of threads - the search magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the page will get you started.

 

[Tazzieman]

A transmission bash plate is IMO compulsory. A busted trans pan will likely leave you stranded; maybe no big deal if you live "within reach", otherwise you will have a bad day and maybe year.

 

[Dokatd]

It will be super important to understand if this was a joint failure or an actual shaft failure. If it's a joint failure it will be important to know if the joint shows signs of wear due to debris in the joint indicating the boot had failed and simply missed at inspection.

 

[Logsplitter]

Hi, had my Grenadier Diesel just over 2 years and 20k miles and just after second service with no modifications or big wheels.
Day before yesterday coming along a single track tarmac road at @ 40mph bit of a bang and pulled in to a passing place.
on getting out transmission oil pishing out under vehicle so had to get recovered to Ineos service centre, luckily only 20 miles away.
Turns out front prop shaft snapped. then punctured the autobox sump with the parts now being sent back to Ineos to approve a warranty claim,.
The vehicle has been used offroad and towing but nothing I would say too taxing and having used everything from SJs through to G/Wagens offroad for over forty years have never experienced a front shaft snapping (half shafts and diffs going bang yes) and was wondering if anybody else has had an issue like this on an unmodified vehicle.
Apart with small niggles and the common issues with door locks, rear door sensor, infotainment, thirst etc it has been pretty good and a pleasure to tow with.

Sounds like the same problem I had just over a year ago. I lost all the transmission oil as oil pipes and gearbox thermostat had been damaged by the flailing prop. Also transfer box cables damaged and heat shielding. A transmission protection plate will not help in that scenario. Make sure that the dealer checks for small cracks in the aluminium casting of of the gearbox even though the plastic pan has broken. In my case where the screws that attach the plastic pan in place to the main gearbox there were small cracks that caused a small oil weep. Not identified at the time but fixed with a new gearbox last month.
Apparently my prop shaft failure was caused by a failed or not installed properly C clip on the CV joint.