Freelander prop issues

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

Hi everyone, after only having Subarus for about 10 years, I’m pretty new to these and wondered if someone could help me.

We recently picked up a 2004 freelander td4, and whilst driving it a week or so ago the front propshaft gaiter decided it had had enough.

I bought a new part and fitted it, then whilst on a slow drive around our block it decided to do the same again.

I’ve ordered a new bearing, casing and gaiter kit for it, but before I fit it, I wanted to know if there’s anything which is likely to pull the front propshaft bearing out of its casing attached to the ird and into the gaiter.

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I’ve had a look at engine mounts and can only find one on either side. I can’t find the pitch mount or where it’s meant to be located. The previous owner did the clutch a few weeks before we bought it, so I’m assuming he missed a bolt or forgot to put it back on. I don’t want to have to put it together for it to break again.

Nodge68 · Oct 5, 2022

Longhairedlegend said:
I wanted to know if there’s anything which is likely to pull the front propshaft bearing out of its casing attached to the ird and into the gaiter.

The engine lower tie bar keeps bottom of the engine constrained, so it can't pull on the propshaft CV joint.
The upper tie bar keeps the top of the engine constrained.
Both are on the drive belt side of the engine.

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

Nodge68 said:
The engine lower tie bar keeps the engine constrained, so it can't pull on the propshaft CV joint.

So my issue could be that excessive engine movement is the culprit? Both times it happened it’s while steering to the right.

Where abouts can I find the lower engine mount? I’ve had a good look underneath and can’t find it. Do I perhaps need to remove the undertray?

Nodge68 · Oct 5, 2022

Nodge68 said:
The engine lower tie bar keeps bottom of the engine constrained, so it can't pull on the propshaft CV joint.
The upper tie bar keeps the top of the engine constrained.
Both are on the drive belt side of the engine.

I've edited my initial post for more detail, above.

Nodge68 · Oct 5, 2022

Longhairedlegend said:
Do I perhaps need to remove the undertray

The under tray needs removing to see the lower tie bar.

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

thanks, I’ll get the tools out and have a proper look when I get chance to

Nodge68 · Oct 5, 2022

Longhairedlegend said:
So my issue could be that excessive engine movement is the culprit?

Very likely. The tie bar large bush is known to go soft. However even if it's very loose, it's unlikely to allow sufficient engine movement to pull the propshaft apart.

There's clearly an issue there, which might well be related to the VCU, causing excessive windup between front and back. Excessive windup puts huge amounts of load on the driveline, giving strange faults and component failures.

Does it have identical tyres all round, with the least worn on the rear?

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Very likely. The tie bar large bush is known to go soft. However even if it's very loose, it's unlikely to allow sufficient engine movement to pull the propshaft apart.

There's clearly an issue there, which might well be related to the VCU, causing excessive windup between front and back. Excessive windup puts huge amounts of load on the driveline, giving strange faults and component failures.

Does it have identical tyres all round, with the least worn on the rear?

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

It doesn’t have identical tyres, it’s something we have been going to sort. We’ve only had it three weeks. It drove really nicely the first week we had it. Did a mix of motorway, rural and urban.

A couple of days before it went the first time, it started to clunk when in low gears and reverse, and when turning the engine off. It felt and sounded like it was something towards the front of the car. I did suspect the engine mounts needed replacing or re-bushing.

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Very likely. The tie bar large bush is known to go soft. However even if it's very loose, it's unlikely to allow sufficient engine movement to pull the propshaft apart.

There's clearly an issue there, which might well be related to the VCU, causing excessive windup between front and back. Excessive windup puts huge amounts of load on the driveline, giving strange faults and component failures.

Does it have identical tyres all round, with the least worn on the rear?

How would I go about diagnosing the VCU without driving and breaking it again?

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

Is it true the viscous coupling has a lifespan of only 70,000 miles? Ours is on 89,000

Nodge68 · Oct 5, 2022

Longhairedlegend said:
How would I go about diagnosing the VCU without driving and breaking it again?

You need to search One Wheel Up Test on here. There's also a VCU thread at the top of this section, which has lots of information and experiences of VCU issues.

Longhairedlegend said:
Is it true the viscous coupling has a lifespan of only 70,000 miles? Ours is on 89,000

No that's a myth.
The VCU can have a very long life if looked after (identical tyres and correct tyre pressure), or a very short life if mistreated (incorrect tyres or pressures), so it pays to maintain tyres as per the guidelines on here.

Longhairedlegend · Oct 5, 2022

Nodge68 said:
You need to search One Wheel Up Test on here. There's also a VCU thread at the top of this section, which has lots of information and experiences of VCU issues.

No that's a myth.
The VCU can have a very long life if looked after (identical tyres and correct tyre pressure), or a very short life if mistreated (incorrect tyres or pressures), so it pays to maintain tyres as per the guidelines on here.

Thanks, I have looked at the one wheel up test. I’m going to do it when I get a few minutes. It’s on axl stands at the moment so I’ll have to drop it down.

GrumpyGel · Oct 5, 2022

Nice looking motor.

The VCU is held in place by its 2 support bearings and won't move to far. So I agree its highly likely the bottom of the engine is swaying to far which will drag the IRD with it. As suggested, I reckon the lower tie bar has not been put back on.

Its on the drivers side end of the IRD. Bolts between the subframe and a bracket that bolts to the end of the IRD and engine. If its missing they are cheap to buy but you'll also need the 2 bolts for it. You're bigger head ache will be if the bracket is missing. It's held on with heaps of bolts and you'll need 1 for your engine as they are different. It also supports that end of the IRD so I hope it's not missing.

Longhairedlegend · Oct 6, 2022

My new prop cv kit arrived today, however it’s appears to be missing one piece, I’ve circled it and contacted the place I bought it from. I’m assuming it’s to stop the tripod hub from eating the rubber gaiter

andyfreelandy · Oct 6, 2022

I think might be a mess up on their photos.

I recently did a new front prop cv with a similar kit and that bit didn't feature in the old or new set of component parts.
It very much looks like the dirt flinger that fits either side of the vcu on the propshaft, so somewhere completely different.

andyfreelandy · Oct 6, 2022

Have you checked the engine mount and bracket are in place and in good condition?

Longhairedlegend · Oct 6, 2022

andyfreelandy said:
Have you checked the engine mount and bracket are in place and in good condition?

I believe I’ve found the offending article just now

andyfreelandy · Oct 6, 2022

Yep, probably the welded nut has broken away.

Longhairedlegend · Oct 6, 2022

andyfreelandy said:
Yep, probably the welded nut has broken away.

It’s still there. Are these known to come loose?

Freelander prop issues

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