argh, steering, props & noisy in neutral

Hello

Been trying to sort out all the niggles on my Disco 200Tdi but seem to find more problems - latest batch:

1. Steering - full left lock makes the left wheel rub on the radius arm - I'm hoping this is just a case of adjusting the steering stop bolt. Is this an easy job?

2. My front prop shaft seems a bit worn out. I can grab hold of it and move it about 2mm and can see the spider moving in the UJ nearest the gear box. Also the gaiter that covers the sliding part is missing - is this worth replacing? Is it feasible for the DIYer to replace the spider in the UJ or should I be getting a new prop shaft? I think this is what's causing an intermittent clunking noise when I take up drive pulling away or after changing gear. I guess this might also be the source of my suspension knocking that I never found since the prop shaft gets pushed and pulled with the axle movement.

3. When I start her up, the engine chugs away quite the thing and idles fine. When I stick the clutch in the engine is much quieter, let it out again (in neutral) and it's noisy again. Is there a problem in there somewhere?

Any suggestions or info gratefully received.

1 you need to adjust the play in the steering box
2 easy enough job for a DIYer(unless you are called lenny). you will need a 9/16" special tool to make the job easier, from beamends or difflock
3 your cluth bearing is knackered, it will need replacing soon, might as well check the clutch while the box is out

i hope this helps

you can move it 2mm?
you must have a really good one then. they left the factory with more play than that.

Eh? The other end and the rear prop UJs are rock solid, no movement at all. The bit inside the UJ is moving between the 2 sides of the yoke thingy.
Are you saying this is OK to have this movement???

nope. there should be no play at all.


sorry about my little joke!

Hi.

I also have a 200TDI Disco and have been going round it sorting the niggly faults. I also had noise on take up and changing gear with a bit of rear suspension noise and mine turned out to be a small amount of play in the ball joint between the rear axel and the A frame, I replaced the ball joint and the driveline noise has gone and also no knock's on the suspension anymore.

You do need to sort the free play in the spiders though.

Your steering rub is a simple matter of adjusting the the full lock adjuster bolts on either side of the axle at the front (I bet you have 235/70 tyres fitted).

I have the same noise as you with the clutch, if you do change the thrust bearing and it cures the noise then please let me know.

Andy.

Thanks for the info guys. I'll check out that ball joint.
I'll post again if I get my clutch thing sorted (but looking unlikely for now - not much spare cash and too big a job for me). I only just got round do doing my servicing, although I did find one of my knocking noises - the jack was a bit loose under the bonnet!

I found a website that described my clutch noise and they reckon it's not a problem, just a design feature!

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/faq.html

"My gearbox rattles on idle, in neutral, with the clutch up This is very common on both the 200 and the 300 TDi engined vehicles. The clutch friction plate has a ring of springs, which are there to soften the knock of the diesel engine to stop it being transmitted to the driveline. Often especially with a new clutch these springs are quite tight and a lot of the engine knock goes through to the gearbox and makes the gears "chatter" together when the box is in neutral and the clutch up, it goes when the clutch is depressed. This can sound quite bad and does vary from car to car but is not detrimental to the life of the gearbox and we view it as an undesirable characteristic of the LT 77 and R 380 as opposed to a fault with either the gearbox or the clutch.

"

Same result with a knackered clutch thrust/throwout bearing too.

Any way to tell the difference (without taking it all apart)?

there should be a discernable difference in the noise when depressing the clutch in neutral, re the thrust bearing.

Yes the noise is very obviously different (quieter) when the clutch pedal goes down. In fact I'd say there was no chatter with the clutch pedal down but it's hard to say for sure - the 200tdi isn't exactly quiet.

That other site describes the same symptoms but says the chattering noise comes from the gear box. If the bearing was on its way out, would the chatter still come from the gear box?

Also, what happens if the bearing gives up completely?

itll probably smash itself to pieces and do some damage to the clutch pressure/plate/arm. may even damage the bellhousing.

you certainly wont be changing any gears.

ormus said:

itll probably smash itself to pieces and do some damage to the clutch pressure/plate/arm. may even damage the bellhousing.
you certainly wont be changing any gears.

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Not entirely true. I drove 50 klms through traffic with a shattered/exploded/destroyed bearing; turning it off at the lights, starting it in 1st gear and changing gear with the revs just right. Took a little mucking about but got the hang of it pretty good. Useless if you have an auto though.

i know what you mean .the clutch thrust bearing on the auto landies is a right **** when they go. and you wouldn't believe the trouble you'll have finding a replacement

PMSL
Brain Fart!!!!

OutbackJack said:

Useless if you have an auto though.

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DIDN'T REALISE AUTO'S HAD A THRUST BEARING