Freelander 1 Rear wheel 'bounces' in tight turns

[Zejmjien]

I have searched but found nothing similar here (I may have used the wrong terms too)

I have noticed recently that when turning a tight turn to the right(like a small roundabout) and keeping the throttle pressed, the passenger rear wheel makes a sound as if it is bouncing or juddering. Has anyone come across this?

 

[Skinny Mike]

That could be your vcu!!
Search, 1 wheel up test, and do it.
Don't want to sound dramatic, but it could bugger your whole drive train up.
Mike

 

[Skinny Mike]

Actually, here you go
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/the-definitive-freelander-vcu-testing-thread.99163/
Mike

 

[Zejmjien]

Thanks a mil Mike! I think we might go front wheel mode for some time

 

[GrumpyGel]

Yes - definitely check your VCU - but also that your 4 tyres are the same make/model and pumped to the same pressure and (if the tyres are different ages) that the newer 2 are on the back. For the rear wheel to skip/judder on loose/uneven gravel might be expected - but not on a high grip road surface. I'm pretty sure this can only be caused by the tyres or (more likely) the VCU.

 

[Zejmjien]

Tyres are same age, make and model. I always buy them in sets of 5. Will make sure pressure is equal but I think it's our viscous friend we are talking about. We will give it a teat too- thank a lot guys

 

[teddywood1]

defo vcu

 

[Lowbank]

yep, remove VCU today!!!!!!!

 

[Zejmjien]

Looking for a replacement vcu, proving to be a tough job. Is there anyone who has overhauled ones? how reliable are they?

 

[Nodge68]

Looking for a replacement vcu, proving to be a tough job. Is there anyone who has overhauled ones? how reliable are they?

Alibro has done one recently. There's a thread know here somewhere, showing what he did.

 

[Zejmjien]

I think you might be talking about this right?
'How about:

1. Drill 10mm holes in the rear of the VCU 180deg apart.
2. Allow fluid to drain, helped by compressed air/brake cleaner/heat.
3. Ensure VCU can be turned by hand.
4. Tap and plug bottom hole.
5. Refill with 60,000 cst siloxane - 140ml. Source here: (request 60,000) Silicone Oil 100,000 100000 Cst 400ml Viscous Coupling Silikonol Freelander | eBay

6. Tap and fit plug or grease nipple to top hole.
7. Test VCU on bench - ensure it turns slowly with breaker bar but resists rapid rotation. Adjust fluid volume as necessary to make it perform like this:

8. With VCU fitted, do 1 wheel up test.'

 

[Nodge68]

I think you might be talking about this right?
'How about:

1. Drill 10mm holes in the rear of the VCU 180deg apart.
2. Allow fluid to drain, helped by compressed air/brake cleaner/heat.
3. Ensure VCU can be turned by hand.
4. Tap and plug bottom hole.
5. Refill with 60,000 cst siloxane - 140ml. Source here: (request 60,000) Silicone Oil 100,000 100000 Cst 400ml Viscous Coupling Silikonol Freelander | eBay

6. Tap and fit plug or grease nipple to top hole.
7. Test VCU on bench - ensure it turns slowly with breaker bar but resists rapid rotation. Adjust fluid volume as necessary to make it perform like this:

8. With VCU fitted, do 1 wheel up test.'

I'm going to experiment doing a VCU refurb that way. I am aware that some old fluid will remain. However it's easier than cutting the casing open, cleaning, rewelding then refilling.

 

[GrumpyGel]

Looking for a replacement vcu, proving to be a tough job. Is there anyone who has overhauled ones? how reliable are they?

You can buy new units from most of the LR parts suppliers. If you want a commercial reconditioned VCU then the people who produced that video, Bell Engineering, are (in general) the most trusted suppliers - but there are various other people, lots of which have proved to be very poorly reconditioned. There also workshops in various countries that have gained experience reconditioning then. As Nodge says, there are also a couple of threads on here giving peoples experiences reconditioning them themselves.

If you want to do it yourself (for the challenge or a bit of 'fun') then find the LZ threads. However unless you really want to do it yourself, it will be far quicker, a lot easier, and probably cheaper to buy a commercial unit.

 

[gemsdad]

Give fredi250 a pm,he has just replaced his vcu with a recon one from Portugal.

 

[Zejmjien]

You can buy new units from most of the LR parts suppliers. If you want a commercial reconditioned VCU then the people who produced that video, Bell Engineering, are (in general) the most trusted suppliers - but there are various other people, lots of which have proved to be very poorly reconditioned. There also workshops in various countries that have gained experience reconditioning then. As Nodge says, there are also a couple of threads on here giving peoples experiences reconditioning them themselves.

If you want to do it yourself (for the challenge or a bit of 'fun') then find the LZ threads. However unless you really want to do it yourself, it will be far quicker, a lot easier, and probably cheaper to buy a commercial unit.

I think that's what I will ultimately go for, a recon unit as I am not even sure the viscous thingy is available here in Malta

Give fredi250 a pm,he has just replaced his vcu with a recon one from Portugal.

- Thanks! will do

 

[lenny1234]

That could be your vcu!!
Search, 1 wheel up test, and do it.
Don't want to sound dramatic, but it could bugger your whole drive train up.
Mike

Actually its more likley to be buggered VCU bearings than the VCU itself

You put a lot of torque through a VCU on a tight corner, and if the bearing mountings are weak, the propshaft flaps around like a big girls blouse.

Get underneath and push the front and rear shafts around. If there is easy movement, drop the shaft, cut the old bearings off with a grinder and fit new ones. WAY cheaper than a VCU.

 

[Nodge68]

Actually its more likley to be buggered VCU bearings than the VCU itself

You put a lot of torque through a VCU on a tight corner, and if the bearing mountings are weak, the propshaft flaps around like a big girls blouse.

Get underneath and push the front and rear shafts around. If there is easy movement, drop the shaft, cut the old bearings off with a grinder and fit new ones. WAY cheaper than a VCU.

Changing the VCU bearings isn't going to fix the VCU. If there's sufficient torque passing through the VCU to rattle it in its rubber bushings, the VCU is f.....d.

 

[Zejmjien]

I am currently fishing for my first hour of free time to be able to take out and switch to 2wd. Will start looking for a recon one soon after. I guess I'm gonna miss 4wd for the coming months

 

[Joe_H]

Give fredi250 a pm,he has just replaced his vcu with a recon one from Portugal.

Hi Gemsdad - I would caution getting a recon vcu from Portugal (depending on the supplier - and I only know of one) - I have one and have just received a Bell engineering one as the Portuguese one is simply too loose !. It will only engage 4x4 with excessive wheel spin - I had the first replaced and the second is just the same !.
Go for a quality one ! (ie Bell Engineering !)

 

[Zejmjien]

Has the electromagnetic thingy been tested? I am tempted to try that out