bearing noise culprit found at last

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skoda169

New Member
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Location
back of beyond in the Northumberland hills
After changing all 4 chunky tyres last week for road pattern ones i now could hear a kind of droning/bearing noise but wasn't sure where it was coming from.
Removed the prop and took the car for a bit of a spin and the noise was still there although not as loud, now thinking it may be a wheel bearing (going to lift the car up off all four wheels early next week at my mates garage).
when i got back i decided to check the VCU bearings and took this short video just to let others who don't know what a worn VCU bearing sounds like turns out the rear one was shot and the front was nice and quiet however due to false economy i decided to replace the other one too.
when both bearings replaced it decided to chuck it down so the propshaft is now in the garden shed and the car is now in 2 wheel drive still,will this be OK like this for a couple of weeks just till i get some time off work to re-fit it again, i will be towing a horse box next week with the car this way again will it be OK to do this?? don't want to damage anything else on the car.
vcuvid_zpsdb014c6f.mp4 video by skoda169 - Photobucket
 
skoda169 said:
After changing all 4 chunky tyres last week for road pattern ones i now could hear a kind of droning/bearing noise but wasn't sure where it was coming from.
Removed the prop and took the car for a bit of a spin and the noise was still there although not as loud, now thinking it may be a wheel bearing (going to lift the car up off all four wheels early next week at my mates garage).
when i got back i decided to check the VCU bearings and took this short video just to let others who don't know what a worn VCU bearing sounds like turns out the rear one was shot and the front was nice and quiet however due to false economy i decided to replace the other one too.
when both bearings replaced it decided to chuck it down so the propshaft is now in the garden shed and the car is now in 2 wheel drive still,will this be OK like this for a couple of weeks just till i get some time off work to re-fit it again, i will be towing a horse box next week with the car this way again will it be OK to do this?? don't want to damage anything else on the car.
vcuvid_zpsdb014c6f.mp4 video by skoda169 - Photobucket
Click to expand...

It should be OK for a couple of weeks - some folks run like that all the time.

Beware wheelspin in the wet at greasy places like traffic lights.

If your pulling a horse-box on grass or mud you may have big problems getting grip. It's no fun getting stuck in a field.

Watch out for exiting roundabouts in the wet - especially if towing.

Singvogel.
 
strangely enough, when my prop was off for a while, i noticed the TC still worked on the front wheels (this was in the snow)
 
Freelaner said:
strangely enough, when my prop was off for a while, i noticed the TC still worked on the front wheels (this was in the snow)
Click to expand...

That's interesting - another new thing I've learnt today.

Nevertheless on a really muddy / wet grassy surface coupled to a horsebox, I reckon the poor old Freelander will spin both front wheels and cry for the prop to be replaced! :lol:

S.
 
skoda169 said:
Just thought i would mention that the VCU along with the Bearings were replaced with new items only in Feb 2011 with the mileage of 147,657 it now reads 165,771 they don't last very long do they??
Click to expand...

Depends where you buy them, and if they are properly aligned at right angles to the prop.

Were they genuine GKN mounts with FAG bearings?

The cheapy unbranded ones on eBay certainly don't last.

Singvogel.
 
Singvogel said:
That's interesting - another new thing I've learnt today.

Nevertheless on a really muddy / wet grassy surface coupled to a horsebox, I reckon the poor old Freelander will spin both front wheels and cry for the prop to be replaced! :lol:

S.
Click to expand...
it did make quite a difference actually, but having written that, i'd still much rather have 4x4.
 
Freelaner said:
strangely enough, when my prop was off for a while, i noticed the TC still worked on the front wheels (this was in the snow)
Click to expand...

You should try a V6 in 2WD !! The TC comes into play all the time but makes no difference!! Getting away from the lights in a hunny is interesting especially in the wet. I run mine all summer in 2WD. Just saves the VCU mileage.
 
Last edited:
Traction control will work in 2wd only as the car won't know its 2wd.It will know there’s a difference in wheel speeds as it monitors all for wheels with the abs etc to know what the wheels are doing. Hence spinning front wheels whilst in 2wd will activate traction control. It may be a bit surprised the rear wheels still don’t turn as the vcu activates and passes more drive to the rear, but the default logic of traction control is set to put up with that condition happening. So 2wd at the front still has traction control help.

I agree v6 in 2wd mode is orible. Spins all the time. Even if only feathering it.
 
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