Freelander 1 Driveshaft/IRD

Jonny H · Oct 17, 2020

I have been posting in the "what have you done today" thread but thought I should start a new thread as it appears my problems are bigger than I thought!
I originally thought that I had excessive play in both front driveshafts but I've been back under the car today and it seems I was mistaken.
The play is actually where the driveshafts fit into the IRD. If I hold the driveshaft firm, the outer part of the inner CV joint can be moved.
Does that mean the support bearings in the IRD are shot?

Nodge68 · Oct 17, 2020

Jonny H said:
Does that mean the support bearings in the IRD are shot?

Not necessarily, as there's always some play where the inner joint goes into the gearbox/IRD/diff. How much play is important, not that there is some play.

Jonny H · Oct 17, 2020

Nodge68 said:
Not necessarily, as there's always some play where the inner joint goes into the gearbox/IRD/diff. How much play is important, not that there is some play.

Thanks Nodge. I've just been out again an measured as accurately as I can. The play is enough so I can hear it when I move the the inboard end of the driveshaft up and down or front to back. Where the shaft enters the IRD, the play is minimal but that translates to around 1mm of movement at the outboard end of the CV joint, if that makes sense. Would you say that is acceptable?

Nodge68 · Oct 17, 2020

Jonny H said:
Thanks Nodge. I've just been out again an measured as accurately as I can. The play is enough so I can hear it when I move the the inboard end of the driveshaft up and down or front to back. Where the shaft enters the IRD, the play is minimal but that translates to around 1mm of movement at the outboard end of the CV joint, if that makes sense. Would you say that is acceptable?

1mm play at the outboard edge of the CV isn't any cause for concern.

Jonny H · Oct 17, 2020

Nodge68 said:
1mm play at the outboard edge of the CV isn't any cause for concern.

Thanks again Nodge, you've put my mind at rest. Now I just need to find the source of the clunk as I pull away. As you say, it could be slight play in the propshaft being taken up. To prove that definitively, I suppose I could drop the propshaft.
Should I be worried about a 42 second OWUT time? I recently did the test 3 or 4 times, in the morning without having driven the car. The first was 55 seconds with subsequent times dropping to level off at 42 seconds. 5kg on 1.2 metre bar.

Nodge68 · Oct 17, 2020

Jonny H said:
As you say, it could be slight play in the propshaft being taken up.

That's what it is on mine.

Check the lower engine tie bar for slop in the large bush. Softness in the large bush will cause the front joint of the propshaft to move a large amount, sometimes causing knocks and clunk's.

Jonny H · Oct 17, 2020

Nodge68 said:
That's what it is on mine.

Check the lower engine tie bar for slop in the large bush. Softness in the large bush will cause the front joint of the propshaft to move a large amount, sometimes causing knocks and clunk's.

I've just repaced the bush in the tie bar but thanks for the tip. Any thoughts on the VCU?

Nodge68 · Oct 17, 2020

Jonny H said:
Any thoughts on the VCU?

Have you done a One Wheel Up Test, too check the condition of the VCU?

Jonny H · Oct 17, 2020

Nodge68 said:
Have you done a One Wheel Up Test, too check the condition of the VCU?

Yes I have. I've copied this from the 5th post of this thread.
'Should I be worried about a 42 second OWUT time? I recently did the test 3 or 4 times, in the morning without having driven the car. The first was 55 seconds with subsequent times dropping to level off at 42 seconds. 5kg on 1.2 metre bar.'

Nodge68 · Oct 17, 2020

Mine was 45 seconds a couple of years ago, but then was less a year later, which is odd, but 42 seconds isn't anything to be concerned about.

Jonny H · Oct 17, 2020

Nodge68 said:
Mine was 45 seconds a couple of years ago, but then was less a year later, which is odd, but 42 seconds isn't anything to be concerned about.

Thanks Nodge, you've reassured me yet again. The VCU appears to be the original GKN, so it's not doing bad with 231,000 km under it's belt!

rob_bell · Oct 20, 2020

Jonny H said:
Thanks Nodge, you've reassured me yet again. The VCU appears to be the original GKN, so it's not doing bad with 231,000 km under it's belt!

230k km is astonishing if on its original VCU! I'm approaching 90k miles and the OWUT is also about 45seconds...

Nodge68 · Oct 20, 2020

rob_bell said:
230k km is astonishing if on its original VCU! I'm approaching 90k miles and the OWUT is also about 45seconds...

Mine was 45 seconds with 115k miles on it, but dropped to 35 seconds once it got to 125k miles, which made no sense to me.

rob_bell · Oct 20, 2020

Answers on a post-card, sent to the usual address...

Jonny H · Nov 2, 2020

rob_bell said:
230k km is astonishing if on its original VCU! I'm approaching 90k miles and the OWUT is also about 45seconds...

It's definitely a GKN unit, I've had the car 10 years and not replaced it so I assume it's the original.
I wonder if the much higher ambient temperatures here in Spain prolong the life of the VCU.

rob_bell · Nov 2, 2020

Good question! How does the silicone fluid viscosity change with temperature (particularly low temperatures)?

Freelander 1 Driveshaft/IRD

Jonny H

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Nodge68

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Jonny H

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Nodge68

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Jonny H

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Nodge68

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Jonny H

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Nodge68

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Jonny H

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Nodge68

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Jonny H

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rob_bell

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Nodge68

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rob_bell

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Jonny H

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rob_bell

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