Humming from back when releasing throttle

So .. Changed oil on finaldrive, IRD and manual gearbox. While IRD and gearbox oil was in perfect condition, the finaldrive oil looked like metallic paint :s, so seems like my VCU still works after 206K km, but the final drive is doomed...

Boelle said:

So .. Changed oil on finaldrive, IRD and manual gearbox. While IRD and gearbox oil was in perfect condition, the finaldrive oil looked like metallic paint :s, so seems like my VCU still works after 206K km, but the final drive is doomed...

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what makes yu think the VCU is OK?

Check it - and often.

post 7

Boelle said:

So .. Changed oil on finaldrive, IRD and manual gearbox. While IRD and gearbox oil was in perfect condition, the finaldrive oil looked like metallic paint :s, so seems like my VCU still works after 206K km, but the final drive is doomed...

Click to expand...

It's likely that the VCU has gone stiff causing the rear diff to fail. If you change the diff and not the VCU, the IRD will fail next.

Think it was because of missing oil. Removed 550ml added 800 :s

Nodge68 said:

It's likely that the VCU has gone stiff causing the rear diff to fail. If you change the diff and not the VCU, the IRD will fail next.

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If there's a problem with the VCU or tyres this basically creates a fight to the end between the rear diff and IRD - one will go first - and I recon 90% of the time it'll be the IRD.

Even if the IRD won, you would still expect to see damage with it - ie grey, as the OP says 'metallic', oil.

As the IRD oil was fine and the diff oil bad - I think this simply indicates bearing failure in the rear diff - as the op says, probably caused by lack of oil.

As with all Freelanders though, keep a regular eye on the VCU, REGARDLESS of mileage.

I'm gonna do the VCU test today. It will at least give me an indication of the condition. But when I change the diff the VCU will be changed as well. No need to take any chances..

Boelle said:

I'm gonna do the VCU test today. It will at least give me an indication of the condition. But when I change the diff the VCU will be changed as well. No need to take any chances..

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Can I have your old VCU then - cos it sounds in better condition than some of the new GKN and recon purchases people get delivered!

Finally I got around to this task. I decided to start with something easy .. the VCU bearings. Apparently that was a very lucky shot. The sound disappeared and I am now a very happy Freelander owner. Now I just need to fix the sunroof, then everything works perfectly. By the way, after removing the prop shaft I looked closely at the bearings. The ball bearing mount (the rubber) was cracked, but no identifiable noise from the bearings could be heard when turning them manually.