Advice on Noise?

Hi, I recently bought a 2006 Freelander commercial TD4 with 140k. I'm hearing a noise like a drone from the rear of the car that reaches its peak around 40kph then eases away. It sound like it's coming from the rear right hand side but I could be wrong. I have tested the VCU using the tipex and wheel turning method, swapped the tyres from rear to front and had new rear cylinders and shoes and the right rear wheelbearing replaced to no avail.

I have noticed the rear left drum is getting very hot after a run. Vcu remains cool though.

Could vcu support bearings sound like this?

Any help would be great.

Yes, do a search on VCU bearings and lots will come up. How many miles has this VCU + bearings done?

VCU bearings wouldnt affect the temp of the rear drum though would they?
Checked the diff oil?
Handbrake cable isnt siezed causing the brakes to stick on slightly?

Think you want to free off the "hot" brake first.

D'oh didn't register the brake thing! Yes check that first!

Thanks for the feedback. I dont know how miles the vcu and bearings have covered. I bought it about a month ago and it does have full service stamps from a Landrover dealer in the service book but no details on any work carried out so I suppose it's anyone's guess.

Topped up the diff oil a couple of weeks ago.

I suppose it could be the rear shoes binding alright even though it's the left that is getting hot and the sound seems to be coming from the right.

Will get the brakes checked first I suppose and see from there.

yeah its hard to diagnose a noise when there are other things to consider like brakes getting hot. Sort the brakes out (if its had new brakes should they need sorting out that much???) then worry about the noise. If its sided i would be inclined to say either wheel bearing or tyres.
What are your tyres like? Do you know about keeping newer tyres on the rear and matching tyres?

Kizzeh makes a good point about the tyres, how many miles has your car done? It's unlikely that the VCU will have been replaced but it should be if you're at 70k or over to be on the safe side. Lots of info in the link in my signature .

Yep, know about matching the tyres and putting new ones on the rear axle. Have matching Hancook a/t tyres on the front and Michelin on the rear. The car has covered just over 140,000 miles now.

One thing I did notice this morning is that the rear vcu support bearing seems to have a lot of play in it compared to the forward one.

Commercialtd4 said:

Yep, know about matching the tyres and putting new ones on the rear axle. Have matching Hancook a/t tyres on the front and Michelin on the rear. The car has covered just over 140,000 miles now.

One thing I did notice this morning is that the rear vcu support bearing seems to have a lot of play in it compared to the forward one.

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hiya, if you have had rear brakes looked at already, it could be a simple case of the left having been over adjusted, it only takes one click too much, also, having just replaced my vcu & bearings, would suggest speaking to bell engiering for bearings etc, regarded on here as the authority on f/l transmissions, hope you get it sorted, martyn

Have you tried taking the prop off to see if the noise goes away?

Ok brakes are all checked and fine. Took for a long run and the noise is still there. Also the left drum is still heating up so thinking might be that bearing? Will take off prob and check again.

Commercialtd4 said:

Ok brakes are all checked and fine. Took for a long run and the noise is still there. Also the left drum is still heating up so thinking might be that bearing? Will take off prob and check again.

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is there any play in it when jacked up & rocked side to side, up & down? i had this on a ford mondeo mk3 about 3yrs ago, noise only started after about 15 miles, garage could'nt find a fault at 1st, turned out to be o/s/f wheel bearing seizing when it got hot due to lack of grease, apparently, they said there was no noticable play in it, hope you get to the bottom of it, marytn

emandem said:

is there any play in it when jacked up & rocked side to side, up & down? i had this on a ford mondeo mk3 about 3yrs ago, noise only started after about 15 miles, garage could'nt find a fault at 1st, turned out to be o/s/f wheel bearing seizing when it got hot due to lack of grease, apparently, they said there was no noticable play in it, hope you get to the bottom of it, marytn

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Doesn't seem to be any play but it's the only explanation for the hub heating up now. Had a similar problem with my previous car, a mini cooper s. No play in wheel but bearing was shot. Gonna have another look after work today anyway.

Have to say I'm really enjoying the Freelander. I live in South West Ireland so it's ideally suited to our "roads" with good fuel economy as well. The mini was breaking my heart wwith running costs not to mention my back!!

Commercialtd4 said:

Doesn't seem to be any play but it's the only explanation for the hub heating up now. Had a similar problem with my previous car, a mini cooper s. No play in wheel but bearing was shot. Gonna have another look after work today anyway.

Have to say I'm really enjoying the Freelander. I live in South West Ireland so it's ideally suited to our "roads" with good fuel economy as well. The mini was breaking my heart wwith running costs not to mention my back!!

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ahh, the emerald isle, my sister & family moved over 10yrs ago, mum's side of the family come from mayo, anyway, i digress, only thing i could think of, suddenly remembered 'bout the mondeo, hope it is that, simples to sort out, & i must say, not had mine long, but love it, martyn ( don't care what anyone say's, guinness taste's better in ireland)

Problem solved Took off the prop but noise still there. Started thinking about tyres again so switched front ones left to right and noise seemed reduced. Checked one of the tyres and had uneven wear on the outer edge. Swapped this for the spare and no noise. So it's a new pair for the rear next week. Thanks everybody for the advice. Will definitely be looking for more in the future.

My noise is back!!! Not as bad as before but cutting in at around 30kph and increasing with road speed. VCU is fine, new tyres on the back which matching the fronts. Its not as loud as before but annoying the hell out of me. Its a drone/humming that I think is coming from the rear. The right rear bearing is new. Any ideas??

Did you get to the bottom of this, I have the same noise and i am living in the southwest of Ireland too!!

I had a rear brake binding that caused noise and ran very hot. Footbrake was fine when I tested it. It turned out to be the lower handbrake linkage was ceased. Judicial application of hammer and small chisel got this moving. Coppaslip ensured no return of the problem.