Clunk at Back

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Jerry1963

New Member
Posts
55
Location
West Midlands
Hi all. I hope some of you folks will be able to hepl with this.
I have a 1995 defender 110 158K miles, mechanically still fine.
The hind quarters emit a loud clunk when pulling away, also on the change from first to second. It is possible to avoid with careful use of clutch and loud pedal. I've has trans box reconed last year halfshafts are fine as are U/J's. I've had a poke about on the threads and the concencus apprears to be the a frame ball joint and or its associated bushings. My concern: is it possibly slack the rear diff. Its a Salisbury?
All answers gratefully received
Thanks Jerry
 
If its not the A-frame ball joint it will be the input gear and mainshaft that have worn and will need to be replaced. If it is a loud clunk when taking up drive and when changing gear, that sounds like the symptoms.
 
If its not the A-frame ball joint it will be the input gear and mainshaft that have worn and will need to be replaced. If it is a loud clunk when taking up drive and when changing gear, that sounds like the symptoms.

Mine does this, and it is not the A frame balljoint, I can avoid it mostly by careful clutch work - but today noticed it a lot on the motorway at about 65-70 mph, when pulling on and off the power.

What is the solution? I am guessing its not cheap, nor and easy DIY job?
 
I had exactly the same problem, what happens is the mainshaft of the gearbox wears on the input gear off the transfer box. You then get a lag in power transfer. Hence the 'clunk'. Unfortunately it is a gearbox out job to replace the mainshaft. And then a transfer box out job to replace the input gear. However when you have the job done make sure you put a cross drilled input gear in as this then greatly reduces wear in the future. It is a common problem that happens in all old landy's due to them now packing the miles on and then the parts wearing.
 
I had exactly the same problem, what happens is the mainshaft of the gearbox wears on the input gear off the transfer box. You then get a lag in power transfer. Hence the 'clunk'. Unfortunately it is a gearbox out job to replace the mainshaft. And then a transfer box out job to replace the input gear. However when you have the job done make sure you put a cross drilled input gear in as this then greatly reduces wear in the future. It is a common problem that happens in all old landy's due to them now packing the miles on and then the parts wearing.

thanks, is there a DIY guide anywhere for this work? Or is it beyond DIY??
 
Digging around I found this useful link, it doesnt look such a hard job to replace the gear if its worn, has anybody on here ever done this in situ on a defender?

Also I cant see any mention of replacing the worn shaft, any advice on how to do that too?

I might give this a go over the next couple of months if I can track down the parts at a reasonable price.

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dhfmtstj_0ghdpj7jh&hl=en
 
Digging around I found this useful link, it doesnt look such a hard job to replace the gear if its worn, has anybody on here ever done this in situ on a defender?

Also I cant see any mention of replacing the worn shaft, any advice on how to do that too?

I might give this a go over the next couple of months if I can track down the parts at a reasonable price.

https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dhfmtstj_0ghdpj7jh&hl=en

easy enough to check, ring of bolts and inspection cover.
all you do is pur boxes in neutral and jiggle it to get gear out, cross drilled reduce input shaft wear

Gearbox output shaft is more involved.

Also check A frame ball joint and uj's
 
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thanks, I am with you now, I removed this when I changed a wheel bearing a while back, whats the best way to establish if its worn? Jack it up and wobble it I guess? With diff lock engaged? Would that work?
 
yes,jack it up and remove the plastic grease cup,gently rock the wheel back n forward,my guess is you'll see some movement,and you don't have to lie on your back to replace em .
 
trailing arm bush is another contender, although I'm sure my main clunk at the moment is the gearbox mainshaft to transfer box intermediate gear.

replacing the main shaft on the lt77 is a big job by the looks of it, and does require some specialised tools :/
 
the clunking sound, sounds simler to what was up with mine. turned out it was the traling arm to chassis bush. it was pulling back when accelerating off "clunk" and pushing when breaking "clunk". you could grab the trailing arm an rock it and you could hear the knocking sound. replaced them and the soudns gone. give that a bash. im no expert but it worked for me :)

hope it helps

Ben
 
When I did mine, it was the trailing arm to axle, and it was causing the axle to 'help' with my steering whenever changing gear of starting to accelerate or brake too! :)
 
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