Droning noise and occasional clunk

Hi this is my first post, i've been running a 2002 GS 2.5 station wagon (it's on 93k)for about 6 weeks and must say i quite like it being my first ever 4x4 and auto all at the same time, but

there seems to be a wheel bearing like drone coming from the rear, no particular side so far as i can make out, doesn't change with direction changes. is there anything else it could be?

or if it's a wheel bearing how long a job is it in the garage?.

secondly, very very occasional when selecting a gear from standstill there is quite a clunk when it engages, this has also happened sometimes when pulling out of junctions at very slow speed (not from standstill), then accelerating.

obviously being my first 4x4, autoboxes, props, transfer boxes, rear diffs and big tyres etc are all new to me so not really down with odd noises and behaviours

Sounds like the droning could be the Prop Bearings, there are two, either side of the VCU that hold the prop to the chassis. They have rubber inside them and do wear with age and are considered a consumable item.

If you can get under it, have a look at them and see if the rubber is perished or split.

You will pay anything from £18 to £90 each for them, I would reccomend getting GKN ones which are either same or better as genuine. If you get cheap ones the droning could return quite quickly.

S.

island 4x4 doing gkn ones for 39 poumd each dont bother with the cheaper ones

clunk is probably the rear diff front mounting.

freelance said:

clunk is probably the rear diff front mounting.

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Although no expert, having read other posts on ere I would probably agree with been rear diff mounting.... but there was an occasional clunk on mine when there were cheap prop bearings on...once changed to GKN ones then clunking noise ceased. Strange I know.

If it is the prop bearings then when replacing them, mark the position of the brackets in relation to the chassis, they have to be set at 90 degrees to the prop and LR use a special tool to get it right. Also, mark the location of the front of the prop as it goes into the IRD so when re-assembling the splines match up to how they were before (both mentioned in Haynes manual)

S.

The clunking could well be, as people have already said, the VCU bearings or the rear diff mounts.



The drone could be as simple as tyre wear. Try swapping them front to back and see if the noise migrates. Freelanders like regular tyre position swaps, but try to have the newer ones on the rear.

Cheers

Blippie

cool cheers, it's got virtually new tyres on the rear at the minute, should they be left at the back for a while?

Yes.