CV Joint?

Hi all, how are we doing?

So over the last week or so I have encountered a bit of a problem with the FL. When going around 60mph it feels like you are driving on a rumble strip. I thought (hoping) it may have been the wheels that needed balancing. Got them balanced but it is still happening. My next thought is that it is the CV joint? I do have a clicking/knocking noise when doing a sharp right turn. Is this an easy repair to do at home or are specialist tools needed? I have the Haynes handbook but don't find it as useful as Haynes manuals I've had for other cars. I'm slowly working my way through the Rave disc too but thought I would seek the advice of owners who may have had to do this themselves.

You need to be careful with this.

There have been reports of the driveshaft support bearing in the IRD collapsing causing destruction of the IRD (gears jamming, cases cracking) and this may be due to poor drive shaft CVs. This would be the inner CV on the drivers side drive shaft.

Not saying this is your issue, and others may comment, but worth considering how long you let it go on for.

Thanks @GrumpyGel I think it's at that point where it needs doing. Driving under say 50 is smooth but long journeys at motorway speeds don't feel safe. Is there anything else that would be noticeable when driving if it was the IRD?

NewFreeLandy said:

I would seek the advice of owners who may have had to do this themselves.

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NewFreeLandy said:

My next thought is that it is the CV joint? I do have a clicking/knocking noise when doing a sharp right turn.

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There are a lot of rotating components within the Freelander drive train, so it's difficult to pin vibrations down to one particular thing, without extensive investigation. In my experience, drive shafts, particularly in board tripod joints tend to cause vibration at low speeds, when under the most load, like accelerating away from traffic lights. As speed builds, so the torque on the joint reduces, resulting in reduced vibration.

Vibration the appears at higher speeds is normally related to something that's spinning quickly, which would point to the propshafts or VCU. So this could be a stiffening UJ (there are 3) or the front CV on the front propshaft, or even the mass damper on the VCU becoming detached from the VCU.

Even incorrect tyres can cause vibration, as the drive train is put under strain by the slightly different rotational speeds. Odd tyres eventually destroy the system, causing very expensive damage.

Your noises on turning are suggesting to me that the vehicle is being or has been used with odd tyres, and suffering damage as a result.

I definitely wouldn't go blaming the driveshafts just yet, as there's many other possible causes that need elimination first.

Thanks for your reply @Nodge68
I only realised recently that the N/S/R tyre was a different brand to the other 3. All I've been able to put on the vehicle just now is 2 wheels with same brand on the front and 2 wheels with a different brand on the rear. They all have the same tread depth on them. Would this still be cause me an issue? I've only owned it since November. The garage was supposed to forward me the history but haven't and I can't get back to them as they are a distance away. Calling is no use either. So I don't know what has been done to it in the past. I'm thinking of taking it to a garage tomorrow to ask them to have a look.

You need all 4 to be the same make/model.

Even though they may all have the same spec, eg 195/80R15, different makes can be different enough to give a big enough slip on the VCU for it to tighten and put the transmission under strain.

NewFreeLandy said:

All I've been able to put on the vehicle just now is 2 wheels with same brand on the front and 2 wheels with a different brand on the rear.

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That's not good. Running like this will be overloading the IRD.

NewFreeLandy said:

They all have the same tread depth on them.

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Makes no difference with odd tyres.

NewFreeLandy said:

Would this still be cause me an issue?

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I'd suggest that the vibration is the 4X4 system complaining as it's being overloaded by the odd tyres.

You MUST get 4 identical tyres before proceeding with further diagnosis and before the IRD fails.

Thanks for your responses. New tyres will be here mid week. Car will be parked up until then. Fingers crossed it will fix the problem. Will update as soon as I can.