Can I really go 2wd?

Hi All

I've been reading through the archives and reading up on Freelanders in general. I've read that when people have vcu problems etc, it’s quite common to remove the rear prop assembly whilst getting a new VCU.

Well we never go off road or anything ; our Freelander is simply an estate car to us. So I was thinking rather than waiting for the VCU to go, I might just remove it and then refit it when we sell the car some time later, or fit it if I should decide to do an off road day or suchlike.

Is running the car in 2wd likely to have any long term derogatory effect on the transmission in anyway? Or can I just go ahead and do this?

Many thanks

ask Mondo - he does it all the time - not deliberately tho.

I think Ming and a couple of others do that during the summer. There is a guy in Australia, Tasmania or sumwhere that is designing a 2/4wd switch.

why not sell it and buy an estate??

wot engine yu got?

wot are gonna do about the heater matrix leaking, the chassis cracking, the head gasket going - yu gonna end up pushing it.

Taipan said:

Hi All

I've been reading through the archives and reading up on Freelanders in general. I've read that when people have vcu problems etc, it’s quite common to remove the rear prop assembly whilst getting a new VCU.

Well we never go off road or anything ; our Freelander is simply an estate car to us. So I was thinking rather than waiting for the VCU to go, I might just remove it and then refit it when we sell the car some time later, or fit it if I should decide to do an off road day or suchlike.

Is running the car in 2wd likely to have any long term derogatory effect on the transmission in anyway? Or can I just go ahead and do this?

Many thanks

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Wehey Taipan ! owld mate ... best buddy it just so happens I am in possession of what "YOU" need.

IE. one viscus coupling It aint seized, so it wont bugger yer IRD (unlike the one on you hippo, that could sieze at any moment). It allows you to just have just 2wd (MORE economical) better mpg, faster and the like
And when you sell yer car No one will be the wiser

I'll even pay fer the postage

cant say fairer than that an as long as you aint livin in outer Mongolia i could be persuaded to do the spannering for you

Take his arm off Taipan - i think he is on a promise - so yu wont get a betta offerr..

Taipan said:

Hi All

I've been reading through the archives and reading up on Freelanders in general. I've read that when people have vcu problems etc, it’s quite common to remove the rear prop assembly whilst getting a new VCU.

Well we never go off road or anything ; our Freelander is simply an estate car to us. So I was thinking rather than waiting for the VCU to go, I might just remove it and then refit it when we sell the car some time later, or fit it if I should decide to do an off road day or suchlike.

Is running the car in 2wd likely to have any long term derogatory effect on the transmission in anyway? Or can I just go ahead and do this?

Many thanks

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Just do it!! (Drop the full prop shaft/vcu assembly that is), the freebie will run quietly, smoothly, no tyre scrubbling, no baulking at turning slowly in reverse, no IRD and Diffs grounding themselves into swarf, etcetc. just dont go offroad!!
i dropped my VCU a couple of months back and was amazed at the improvement in feel of the vehicle.
I am the bloke in tasmania mad hat man referred to getting a 2wd/4wd switchable system made up. Went to the workshop the other day to check on progress -- slow !! -- the old VCU has been demolished to get the LR splines for front and back and a cylindrical housing is being machined.
Might see it installed by Xmas , meantime enjoying the quiet, smooth running freebie.
Cheers
Ian Hughes
Tassie

ah don't get it..... if yer not going orf road and you don't got lots of snow why buy a 4x4? more to the point why buy a 4x4 then convert it to 4x2.

given the number of car mades and models availible shirley there is one that will suits yer needs.

ah can see the sense of a switchable one but to just go to 2wd sounds a mite daft

Apologies for forgettin ya name, Ian.

Let us know how it goes - yu nevva know - yu mite even make a buck or two.

ianh1 said:

2wd/4wd switchable system made up. Went to the workshop the other day to check on progress -- slow !! -- the old VCU has been demolished to get the LR splines for front and back and a cylindrical housing is being machined.

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Hi Ian ,very intrested in ya project ,are you gonna do away with the vcu and fit something inside,tween the props,if so this would be a brill mod,could you please keep us informed on how it goes,cheers. . . .

slob said:

ah don't get it..... if yer not going orf road and you don't got lots of snow why buy a 4x4? more to the point why buy a 4x4 then convert it to 4x2.

given the number of car mades and models availible shirley there is one that will suits yer needs.

ah can see the sense of a switchable one but to just go to 2wd sounds a mite daft

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Well firstly, I like Land Rovers. I dont know why, but I do . They just float my boat! I dont do off roading as such, but I do like to venture down the odd green lane from time to time. But in fairness I probably only do this because I have a Land Rover as opposed to why I bought one.

Sure, i could have got an estate car and in fact our RenaulT Scenic has a bigger load capacity than the freelander, but it aint a Land Rover. So I guess the bottom line is, I buy what I like. This decision is made up of everything from heritage to aesthetics!

We like our Freelander and if its going to save us grief by removing the rear prop assembly then it makes finacial sense to do so, even more so if it makes it a beter car to drive. So I end up with a car I like and find comfy, with pretty good economy considering (2.0L diesel) and I'm half hour and fourteen bolts away from turning it into a more than capable (for me) off roader at any time!

So I've removed the prop assembly and thats it, I just drive t like that right? I dont need to do anything else to it?

start saving for all the other probs.

Yep but be carefull as it tends ta spin the front wheels and ya hill decent light might kick in [remember that wont work] it go's like a bat outa hell and mpg is greatly improved ,for that reason it would be a great mod if ya could electrically switch it from 2/4wd and or 4/2wd. . . .

get an X-trail - they do that as standard

I think thats why Mondeo is selling his - to get an X-Trail!

get a feckin disco and have done with it. you know it makes sense.

The Mad Hat Man said:

get an X-trail - they do that as standard

I think thats why Mondeo is selling his - to get an X-Trail!

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Cough splutter gulp . . .thats it mrs ming is fitting an x trial detector on the rockets zap gun as we type, and we will only need weakest settin ta destoy that heap er ****e,mondo would never defect he's back up ta my defence fleet. . . .

hmmmm - i would be interested to know how you get on in 2wd - i guess this combined with Roverons box of tricks would make it a pretty quick Freelander. Just what kinda increase in mpg we talking here??? Also, I wonder what the implications insurance-wise are? If you were to disenage 4wd and have an accident, sure that would be classed as a modification??

I can see the positive reasons for doing this - any negs?

outlander said:

hmmmm - i would be interested to know how you get on in 2wd - i guess this combined with Roverons box of tricks would make it a pretty quick Freelander. Just what kinda increase in mpg we talking here??? Also, I wonder what the implications insurance-wise are? If you were to disenage 4wd and have an accident, sure that would be classed as a modification??

I can see the positive reasons for doing this - any negs?

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Jist tell the insurance company someone nicked yer vcu, na jokin apart, the negs is yer loose 4 wheel drive, but ta have a switch really would be summit. . .

ming said:

Cough splutter gulp . . .thats it mrs ming is fitting an x trial detector on the rockets zap gun as we type, and we will only need weakest settin ta destoy that heap er ****e,mondo would never defect he's back up ta my defence fleet. . . .

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dont fret Mingo! I aint made o jelly
gunna have to do summat wi the VCU crappy plastic bit o ****e thou

Work in progress

ming said:

Hi Ian ,very intrested in ya project ,are you gonna do away with the vcu and fit something inside,tween the props,if so this would be a brill mod,could you please keep us informed on how it goes,cheers. . . .

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There is a bit of stuff on my vcu replacement project (including some pics of the internal components and a description of what we hope to end up with) on the thread "4 wheel drive - is it?" last posting was by boxer on 15th sep.
In essence I have collected the main components of the 4 wheel drive selector mechanism from a Ford Raider (a vacuum servo actuated sliding spline/ sleeve arrangementwhich operates on the Raider on one front axle). A mech eng mate of mine is fitting them into a housing. The input and output splines salvaged from my stuffed VCU, allow my unit to be a simple "bolt-in" replacement for the VCU/harmonic balancer. 4WD will be electrically selected from the cabin with a pair of solenoids directing manifold vacuum to either side of the actuating diaphragm.
Because there will be absolutely no slip once the unit is engaged, it will only be used on forgiving surfaces. (grass, gravel etc)
When deselected, the car reverts to simple front 2WD with the rear totally freewheelingfor trouble free highway driving.
My perception is, it can be no worse than a totally siezed VCU for off roading, (quite good in fact!!!)and infinitely better than a totally siezed VCU on the highway.
The Freelander VCU concept was sound in theory, but at least in the early models with "differential differentials", an unmitigated disaster for the entire drive train!!
Will keep y'all posted on the (hopefully quickening) progress of the project.
Cheers
Ian Hughes