Prop shaft

Hi, recently my freelander has started to vibrate when driving between 50 and 70mph. I have had the tyres and balancing checked with no problems. I'm now starting to think it it the prop shaft bearings, as I have a feeling it is coming from under the car. ( they was replaced about 3 years ago 😡 )

Is it ok to remove the prop shaft and drive it in 2wd until I get chance to fix?

Is there anything you have to do other than remove prop shaft?

Thanks for any help..

Matt

It's ok to remove.
Remove the vcu and both props together as this is easier.
Yer need to tell yer insurance too as it changes from 4x4 to front wheel drive only.
This will help:

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/freelander-1-vcu-bearing-replacement-how-guide-156068.html

I took mine off mate it was better but it made the car a nightmare to drive. Gear changes were really jerky and loss of power going up hills.

Hope this helps

Chris

chris51 said:

I took mine off mate it was better but it made the car a nightmare to drive. Gear changes were really jerky and loss of power going up hills.

Hope this helps

Chris

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I took my prop shaft off and found the car unpleasant to drive too. Can't understand why others haven't found the same. I think the engine is free to rock much more without it. Not sure why it would effect power up hills though.

The front prop has a sliding joint and desn't support the engine. It's a known issue for the rear engine mounts to fail. The rubber feels tight when fitted but loose when removed.

Running in front wheel drive only "mondo mode" feels horrid. I don't like it but some do. More chance of wheel spin when pulling away. It just doesn't feel as good/secure as 4x4. It's difficult to describe.

I fitted poly bushes to my upper and lower engine mounts but still feel something is rocking around when moving off. I put it down to being in Mondo mode. When I get the Prop back on I'll report back if it is cured.
But if it aint the prop or bushes what would it be? Clutch is a bit juddery and being replaced soon but this issue happens when the clutch is fully engaged.

Could be rear diff moving. The front bit goes up/down if the mount fails.
Failing that put a camera under it or get someone to pull away in it while you watch it underneath. Be careful where you lie.
Could be engine rocking. Watch it with the bonnet up when yer rev it or start it.

Hippo said:

Could be rear diff moving. The front bit goes up/down if the mount fails.
Failing that put a camera under it or get someone to pull away in it while you watch it underneath. Be careful where you lie.
Could be engine rocking. Watch it with the bonnet up when yer rev it or start it.

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LOL, I'll get the missus to lie in front of me while I drive off.
Hoping it will all be sorted with repaired VCU refited and new clutch.

We've been running 2WD for 2 years and it feels absolutely fine. I can only say that it is a great car to drive and feels exactly the same as when it was 2WD - so long as I don't do comparisons on the beach or some river beds!

Yes you get wheel spin if you drive like you stole it, but then all 2WD cars do.

I'd love to put Freelander drivers in 'placebo' 2Wd or 4WD cars and see if they really can tell the differences For example - I fail to see how running 2WD could reduce power going up hill ?

As Hippo says, there are wear factors that may show themselves when the props aren't there - which people interpret as being because the car's in 2WD mode.

I should add that our Freelander has had drive to the rear pinion disabled within the IRD. So our car's carrying all the original equipment - less one gear. I should also add that its an L Series, so it doesn't exactly stress the suspension for grip when it accelerates like a scalded tortoise.

I find it hard to believe the propshaft has no damping effect on the movement of the engine. The lower tie bar is on one side of the engine so what supports the other side? If yours still has the propshaft Grumpy, then it's not surprising it feels no different to a 4WD Freeby.

Alibro said:

I find it hard to believe the propshaft has no damping effect on the movement of the engine. The lower tie bar is on one side of the engine so what supports the other side? If yours still has the propshaft then it is no surprise it feels no different to a 4WD Freeby.

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lower tie bar supports both sides

Its true that the tie bar is there to support both sides, but it is very much off center, about in line with the RH end of the engine. All three mounts have flexibility in-built - so I'd have thought the LH side will flex 'a bit' more.

The prop though is not that far over from the tie rod - I suppose central, and even if it were another tie rod would still leave the LH side less restricted.

One thing that may be a difference is that the bushes in the mounts are a bit like a VCU in that they offer smaller resistance to small movements, but obviously stop larger movements. The prop is a 'dead weight' (like the engine block, gearbox, IRD etc) so will dampen small movements as the engine rotates/vibrates on its mounts - this rotation will be offset against the lifting of the prop - although when it rotates back the prop will only exaggerate that movement.

I don't know how much these effects are felt as vibration and general ride comfort/handling. I suspect very little - so I'm sticking to Freelander in 2WD being a decent drive

4wd feels more solid than 2wd. 2wd feels looser on steering. Unless the vcu I quite loose, you should notice an instant difference when taking the vcu/props oft. To me it's loose feel I don't like. The front end seems to feel loose. It become normal after a while but feels far betterer when put back to 4wd.

Lower tie bar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DptYakVvGqc

I didn't know for sure mine had failed until I removed it. It was only then it was obvious it had failed.

I noticed it more when pulling out at junctions especially in the wet, got wheel spin and pooped my pants....never thought I would in a 4x4 auto

Its much better in 4x4 mode just accelatate and go, with no dramas...

I never had any other unusual noises etc with the prop off.

I had my complete prop off for two years I found it ok but I do not pull away fast as if I had robbed a bank."Sometimes owning a freelander you wished you had"

Wet leaves in the gutter on the LHS make my front left wheel spin when it's wet. If it's raining i can easily spin both front but it's a v6 so not difficult. It just goes to showhow quickly the vcu reacts when pulling away.

My 1.8K series spins the wheels very easily in the wet but I put that down to the Hankook AT tyres.
Looking forward to testing my DIY VCU.

Hi, thought I would put a quick update on.

Yesterday I took my prop shaft off and have been driving it for the past 2 days and can't believe how much better it drives, the performance is much better, ease of driving has improved, overall I'm impressed. I have seen some of the comments regarding wheel spin ect.. But I can't really comment on that yet as I have not drove it in the wet.

I really needed to take the prop shaft off because it was shaking so bad, that I thought it could do more damage to my car and I might lose my teeth. Upon taking prop shaft off I could not feel any play in the joints, so I'm guessing it is the prop shaft bearings, which I'm a little cheesed off about, because they have been replaced twice in the 6 years I've owned it. Anyway, now it is off I can replace bearings whenever I get chance, and then put back on before the winter.

Is there any recommendations for which propshaft bearings to use?

Cheers
Matt

An informative update

Can see why you're ****ed off with the bearings. Its funny how some people do have this experience of repeat bearing failure. I've not had to change mine in our ownership of 40K miles. In fact other than a transmission rebuild due to an under inflated tyre, the only thing that's needed to be replaced is the ABS modulator.

I think if you're using 'cheap' bearings off eBay, then you can expect to replace them any time after they've been installed. If you go for the GKN ones, you should expect a 'decent' life out of them.

Yes, kind of getting fed up of replacing them. I could understand if we drove it loads of miles, or did off roading in it ect... But we don't. I think we average about 5000 miles a year as it's our 2nd car.

When I last replaced the bearings I posted on here for advice on which to buy, and I am sure it was the gkn ones that you said to use.

Cheers
Matt