Freelander 1 VCU / prop removed for bearing swap - Help am stuck

If yer struggling trying to replace vcu bearing have a look at this fred I wrote as a how to guide:

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/freelander-1-vcu-bearing-replacement-how-to-guide.156068/



Original fred when I was stuck:
I’ve taken off both props and the VCU as a one piece unit so I can change the VCU support bearings. All ok so far. I’ve got it in the garage, on the floor.

I’ve undone the 17mm bolts which bolt into the axle or whatever that passes through the VCU itself, the U shape metal things have come out, only to find the bolt won’t unscrew out of the thread enough to remove the bolt. I notice the metal bracket holding the flexible joint to the prop isn’t coming loose.

Do I have to undo the circlips on the joint in order to remove the joint, diconnet the prop and remove the 17mm bolt, then somehow pull the metal bracket off the VCU axle to get the bearings off?

the bolt can stay on the prop,you need to now knock the prop/shaft away from vcu it might take a good couple of knocks to come of spline,ive just done mine took me an hour tops

Thanks for that. Got me a bit worried and didn’t want to go further in case I went off at a tangent trying to do something impossible. Got loads of photos so far. Tis going to take all night at this rate.

Still having trouble getting the bracket thing off. Pictured below. I think I’m correct in saying I should be trying to get the u shape bracket off, which moves to the left when it comes off, in the photo. It’s the bracket that grips the splines. The bolt is undone, and I’ve tried WD40 on the spline but it still doesn’t want to come off. Any ideas on this one? I have a 10ton puller and I’m thinking of trying to rig this up to have a go. Perhaps not the best idea. I’ve been hitting the end of the prop to try to move it but it dun’t want to move. Also levering against the bolt. Would heating it help?


P2271858 4ae6kjl


P2271857 kcuTbSL

I dont have my haynes with me .But if you screw the bolt back in and prize back in with a nail bar.Thats what I'd try next.wtf do I know.

OldIrishWulf said:

I dont have my haynes with me .But if you screw the bolt back in and prize back in with a nail bar.Thats what I'd try next.wtf do I know.

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I've seen a lot of your posts. You know quite a lot.

I've tried levering it in the way you suggest and it didn't move. I may try a bit more pressure if there's no other way.

Just had a look in the haynes manual and it says LR have a special tool. If you don't have that, then use a tapered rod. Simular to a drill drift I assume. Will try that in the morning.

Recognised way is to drive a wedge between the bolt head and joint. They are very tight sometimes, only choice is to make it have it.

Do you have a big bastard cold chisel and lump hammer,should do the job.

Not the first time I’ve had to use a wedge on my Freelander. Usually it’s a fist full of notes.

Yep got a cold chisel and lump hammer. I’ll have ago with that.

Had a drive in mondo mode this evening. Noticed the difference. The steering feels a bit more loose. There’s nowt wrong with my VCU. Will be putting it all back tomorrow hopefully. New bearings included. If I have time also the gaiter fix from the other thread.

Thanks all.

i may be reading thread wrong but you need to get the prop of the spline first,then the support bearing will nock off as it just an interference fit on shaft,are you trying to knock the bearing off with the prop still on?

Hi thrasher

I was trying to get the prop off. Like in the photo below. Problem is, its rusted on nicely. Used oldirishwulf’s idea of a cold chisel in the end.


P2281806 FieqR7c

And the rusty bits:


P2281805 JBjli6f


P2281802 GTYu5Xq

Afterwards I managed to get the bearing off with a puller. Wouldn’t pull or knock off easily. The puller did it ok, but you could feel the pressure until it popped 5mm. Then it still needed the puller to remove.


P2281816 X6NN292

The end result below. I need to replace one of the prop bolts that goes into the vcu axle thing as the thread is trashed.


P2281818 1DnT3Dd

Got another query about the spacer/washer things. I purchased 2x main stealer vcu support bearings. Each bearing came with 2 spacer/washer things. Naturally you’d assume all 4 spacer/washers are needed?

My vcu set-up pictured below (2001 v6) only has 2 of the 4 used. 1 located on the rear of each support bearing, on the side closest to the vcu. Is this correct? I can’t find anything in the Haynes or rave disk about this. Haynes only shows a photo of a spacer/washer fitted, on 1 side. You can't see if the other side has 1.

So the question I’m asking is, should I re-fit as it was, or fit all 4 spacers/washers, locating them on both sides of both support bearings?

2 joined red lines show the angle of the bend on the spacer/washer.


P2271823a iqw7MXo

1 spacer/washer thing located on each support bearing, on the vcu side only.


P2271857 kcuTbSL

ok well done,maybe i was lucky but mine came off easier than that,i replaced the washers,but unless there damaged i would leave them as they are a bit fiddly to get on

I've distroyed my washers a bit so I'll have to fit the new ones. Is there any reason why they supply 2 for each bearing? Is it due to being able to easily damage them when fitting, so you get a spare just in case?

on mine there is a washer either side of each bearing?

My Freelander is a 2001 v6. What year is yours?

I've got as far as fitting 1 washer each side, and 1 bearing each side.

When I took mine apart, the prop side of the bearing looked like below, with no washer. Same for the prop side at the other end.


P2281805 JBjli6f

The inner side of the bearing had 1 washer, both sides, and looked like below. Washer pointing towards the bearing.


P2271823a iqw7MXo

So I've copied how I found it. It could be the case that someone has assembled it incorrectly, be it at the factory, or the main dealer when they removed the engine. I've rebuilt it with 1 washer on first, like like. You can see the hole in the washer fits nicely over the shaft:


P2281800 UUCkDGs

The washer locates at the rear, behind the bearing, after you've fitted the bearing. Like below. I have to admit I would guess this to be the wrong way round, as it would deflect more muck when in use if it point the other way, away from the breaing. Sadly it's too much trouble to remove, and would nacker the bearing as they're too tightly fitted, so the best I could do with this is to tap it towards the bearing to try to close the gap a little, if it was fitted the wrong way round. Either way the bearing rubber edge spins. Not sure of the washer spins when in use.


P22818111 16oSVqA

If another washer were to be fitted this side, I would assume it would point outwards. The hole in the middle of the washer would be bigger than the shaft, so all it would do it sit there and the prop would stop it from failing off. (bearing not fully pushed home below)


P2281804 BlsfThK

I've buggered one of the prop bolts. The threads damaged one side so I'll have to order one from the main stealers. I'll get it Tuesday if I order it from them. Online talkes too long and I want to get this sorted. Other probelms to fix...

I'll have a go at measuring the space required on the spline for a second washer, taking into account the space needed for the prop bracket. If that doesn't give any clues, I may take it with me to the stealers to see if they can advise, when I collect the bolts.

Can anyone else remomber if there's also has 2 washers on each bearing, like thrashers, and if possible which way round the washers point?

Hi guys, following this thread as i'm replacing same on my 2001 K series. I have purchased 2 Britpart bearings and they each came with the two flingers (washers), but no diagram or instructions. Trouble is original does not have these fitted, I can see where they go, but not sure which way round they go. I can see a flinger in your photos, is that confirmed right way round?

Cheers

Yes thats the correct way round in the photo above.

link removed

uphallster said:

Hi guys, following this thread as i'm replacing same on my 2001 K series. I have purchased 2 Britpart bearings and they each came with the two flingers (washers), but no diagram or instructions. Trouble is original does not have these fitted, I can see where they go, but not sure which way round they go. I can see a flinger in your photos, is that confirmed right way round?

Cheers

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make notes when you are doing yours, you can refer to em when you do it all again in 6 months
search on here m8 for britpart. it may change your mind about fitting em.