Freelander 2 (LR2) Front suspension clunk and judder (SOLVED)

[Freddie17]

Do you still have the old drive shaft?

When you get the one in question off, and the new one - compare to the old one.

It appears there are some being distributed that are not the exact same dimensions - they are a few mm difference in some aspect.

Forget the exact difference but there was a guy in America/Canada who had all sorts of problems getting the correct shaft - although I presume that was a I6 being over there. But there was also the same issue came up elsewhere, possibly UK.

Yes, I remember it too (now you have reminded me!)
To be honest, I get most of my stuff from Advanced Factors, which are quite good for their LR parts. I spoke to them today and they’d not heard of any issues with them and will warranty the shaft if I find the replacement solves it.

Of course, being the “tidy workshop” person that I am, the old shaft along with the old lower arms are in the skip already

 

[Freddie17]

Update

I switched the n/s driveshaft out for another new one. Bad news is it wasn’t that causing the ‘wobble’. Good news is I now have a spare front n/s driveshaft I guess

I then switched the new n/s strut (complete) out for the old one (which was ok, but changed as a pair). The ‘wobble’ is noticeably lessened, but I think still there under hard acceleration.

I’m now wondering if the ‘wobble’ / ‘judder’ is not directly related to the suspension change, but has become noticeable due to the new suspension. maybe a bad bush or mount somewhere that can now be felt under load.

Going to leave it for a few weeks and see how it develops (mainly as I have had a gut-full of taking lower arms and driveshafts and suspension struts on and off!)

 

[GrumpyGel]

Taking a break is often the best plan.

I've taken 15 year break on some of my F1's problems

 

[andyfreelandy]

Easy one if you haven't done it, swap front wheels to rear. Balancing ?!?!

 

[Freddie17]

Easy one if you haven't done it, swap front wheels to rear. Balancing ?!?!

Think there is something else to it. Can hear a faint ‘clonk’ at low speed on bumps.

 

[Freddie17]

So, although I said I was leaving it, curiosity and a spare hour today beat me - had a nosey under the car at potential sources of the clunk noise and wobble (may be the same issue or different ones).

Front roll bar bushes seem tight - no movement with a lever on the bar.

Then looked around the prop (think the ‘wobble’ under hard acceleration). Found this on the front-most joint. Don’t look right to me… a clunk and a wobble on acceleration - possibly fits the symptoms.
Thoughts?

 

[andyfreelandy]

No idea what it should look like. But agree, don't look right !! Is it a bearing or should it be a bearing ?? Looks like a J cloth to me

 

[Freddie17]

No idea what it should look like. But agree, don't look right !! Is it a bearing or should it be a bearing ?? Looks like a J cloth to me

No idea - not looked further yet

 

[andyfreelandy]

Any help ??

Thread 'Propshaft bearing replacement Freelander 2' https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/propshaft-bearing-replacement-freelander-2.326310/

 

[Freddie17]

It certainly looks like it’s a new prop job…
I’m just hoping that’s the issue, and not something else!

 

[andyfreelandy]

On the FL1 it is a simple bearing swap !!

Just saying

It's called progress

 

[Freddie17]

On the FL1 it is a simple bearing swap !!

Just saying

I know - I did one on mine.
I thought it would be the same for the F2, but an afternoon of research suggests not

 

[Freddie17]

Centre bearings are available for the F2 online - but I’m guessing it’s not an easy job.
If that mount is indeed fubar, then I think it’s easier just to fit a new prop. It’ll all be the same age, so preventative maintenance at least.

 

[Freddie17]

SOLVED

The clunking was the o/s BRAND NEW Borg & Beck top mount bearing on the strut.
Identified and switched out for a LR top mount bearing, no more clunking!
The guys at https://www.freelanderspecialist.com/ found it inside 5 minutes. They have seen the issue a few times now.


The oscillation/judder on pull-away was unrelated to the suspension replacement, so won’t go into detail here.
£££££

 

[andyfreelandy]

Good stuff. Shows new, known manufacturer's components can still let you down.
Glad it's sorted.

 

[kernowsvenski]

I've always tried to buy genuine, oem or "known good manufacturers" parts over the years but it seems to me to be pot luck. I find it especially frunstrating when I've had to replace a part that has probably been on the car since new - I'll get a "decent" replacement usually at a significantly higher cost than the budget or non oem part, only for that to only last a couple of years. It's happened a number of times.

 

[Freddie17]

I've always tried to buy genuine, oem or "known good manufacturers" parts over the years but it seems to me to be pot luck. I find it especially frunstrating when I've had to replace a part that has probably been on the car since new - I'll get a "decent" replacement usually at a significantly higher cost than the budget or non oem part, only for that to only last a couple of years. It's happened a number of times.

I either buy genuine or a known brand aftermarket when the genuine is stupidly expensive.
But I’d have thought borg & beck to have been a decent brand in general…

Still - every day a school day!

And I’m a dab-hand at front suspension de/reinstall on an F2 now

 

[sammybarber]

Update;
Given that I have not touched the hub (appreciate it ‘could’ be damaged), and there is no noticeable wobble when rocking the wheel left/right or up/down, I’m ruling that out at present.

Given that I’ve also double-checked the struts and all bolts etc., I’m assuming they are correct.

So going with the working theory that the new driveshaft is faulty and have ordered another.
Either the current one will go back as faulty, or I’ll sell it cheap as a ‘new’ on flea bay.

Will update from there.

Hi there
Did you ever get this problem fixed? If so what was the fix as I'm having the exact same problem and had the exact same stuff done to mine? Please can you help! Thanks

 

[Freddie17]

Hi there
Did you ever get this problem fixed? If so what was the fix as I'm having the exact same problem and had the exact same stuff done to mine? Please can you help! Thanks

The knocking was a brand new (aftermarket) top mount/bearing. Switched it for a LR genuine o e at it stopped.
The ‘wobble’ is/was not related AFAIK. I had a fully recon’d and updated front PTU fitted (due to wear on the splines) during the refit of the new top mount, which took a lot of it away. There is still a faint ‘wobble’ type action somewhere if I accelerate really hard in the low gears, but I don’t drive it like that, so waiting for it to develop before trying to investigate further…

 

[sammybarber]

Thanks for that Freddie.. just worried its the gear box?