Not so much what I did but what I'm doing - changing the front drive shaft doughnut due to cracking of the rubber.
I did this about 10000 miles ago and it's failed again, no excuses I installed it incorrectly. Arrows moulded in to the rubber must point towards the flange and bolts face that way too. As a final check the thick part should be in compression, drive shaft rotates clockwise looking from the gearbox towards the rear axle so thick part should be between the bearbox output shaft hole and the prop shaft input hole so it's pushing it rather than pulling, which the other side will do.
I wanted to attach more pics here but after uploading the pic below computer repeatedly say no so gave up.
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2025/11/13/Depth-of-cracks.jpg)
Anyway, my method below in case anyone has the same issue
Put the car on axle stands
Remove parcel shelf and tool tray
Mark flanges so they can be replaced in the same orientation
Remove all 6 doughnut securing nuts
Make yourself comfortable and have a nap for a while, she'll never know. When you wake up grap a piece of that chocolate bar you've got stashed away and carry on.
Remove bolts from U/J at axle end and tie it up out of the way of the axle flange. I tied mine to the open up and over garage door to give easier movement, tie it too close and it'll restrict movement. Failing that get a second pair of hands

Prise the doughnut off the gearbox flange bolts. May have to wriggle the shaft flange away from the axle flange to get enough movement.
Remove the doughnut.
Replace is reverse of the above making sure that the fatter parts of the rubber are in compression and bolts go through in the direction of the arrows towards the flanges. Note, shaft rotates clockwise when viewed from gearbox towards axle.