hi guys just a quick questions please
is it a good idea and worth the effort to remove the prop in summer months to preserve vcu life , does it improve towing , clutch strain in reverse etc. and do you need to use a blanking plate ?
thanks
new freelander owner td4 03 with fingers and toes crossed
The Freelander only uses 4wd when it needs it. So you won't save any fuel, etc unless your VCU is damaged & therefore it will currently be having a negative affect on your fuel so the improvement will return it to what it should have been.
If you remove the prop like I have because mine is worn out, then when the car would normally call out for 4wd, instead the front wheels will just spin.
Under 50kph the traction control will sort it out, or attempt to, but over 50kph the traction control turns itself off, so you will just spin and eat your tyres.
I live in East Sussex, do a mixture of town & country driving, I notice the lack of 4wd when my wheels find gravel & mud on the side of roads or in the wet, etc.
Towing is easier with 4wd because your car has to cope with carrying more weight which will reveal any lack of traction on the road when pulling away, so if you're in 2wd drive with no prop you're even more likely to spin up your front wheels.
So basically, it's safer to keep the prop on.
But if you do decide to remove it, just unbolt the 6 bolts connecting to the IRD at the front of the prop & the 4 bolts connecting to the rear diff
Then ask a friend to help support the prop along its entire length while you undo the 2 bolts on both VCU bearings.
The whole prop can then be lowered to the floor.
Try not to strain the union joints.
A blanking plate is only needed if you are going to remove the IRD spline.
If, like me, you intend to put the prop back on at some time, just leave it as it is.
