Freelander Tech. Bulletin0112 - Creaking from rear

Cracked / broken sub frame mount? here is the official Landrover Technical Bulletin No. 0112

Further to the above............

Recall Notice R/2004/165

Land Rover Freelander built from 12/08/2003 to 29/08/2003

INCORRECT NUT INSTALLED INTO REAR SUBFRAME
M12 weld nuts has been incorrectly installed, by a body panel supplier, into the rear subframe mountings instead of the correct M14 weld nuts. A bolt that locates the frame to the body did not fit into this nut and was not installed at the vehicle assembly plant. Lack of this bolt could eventually cause the subframe to crack and become deformed. A deformed subframe could potentially lead to instability of the vehicle.M12 weld nuts has been incorrectly installed, by a body panel supplier, into the rear subframe mountings instead of the correct M14 weld nuts. A bolt that locates the frame to the body did not fit into this nut and was not installed at the vehicle assembly plant. Lack of this bolt could eventually cause the subframe to crack and become deformed. A deformed subframe could potentially lead to instability of the vehicle.

Remedial Action
Recall the vehicles that may be affected and inspect the subframe fixing for fitment and correct clamping. If an incorrect subframe fixing is identified, the subframe will be removed and the body panel will be repaired with a new weld nut.Recall the vehicles that may be affected and inspect the subframe fixing for fitment and correct clamping. If an incorrect subframe fixing is identified, the subframe will be removed and the body panel will be repaired with a new weld nut.

Vehicle Id
SALLNABE13A286419 to SALLNABG23A289164

Symptoms
A metalic Creaking sound which sounds like something is loose or broken, when reversing or driving off in 1st gear.
The longer its left without attention you will also get the same creaking noise when going over a bump in the road.
You will know doubt feel the unusual handling at the back end when cornering.

If you get a crowbar or similar item and get down infront of the rear wheel with it stood on its wheels, look at the front end of the subframe near where the flexible brake hose is.

You will see the head of the front mounting bolt which passes through the subframe.
Between the subframe and chassis there is a gap of approx 15-20mm.
Insert the crow bar in the gap between the two and press downwards and you should hear a click.


To Fix.....

Take off the rear wheel, you will see a stabliser bar that goes from the hub to the cross member near to the diff mounts. remove this bar and you will see where the crossmember bolts up at the end ... check to see if this is tight .. and I mean really tight.. if not undo the bolt and poke a long pointy drill bit or spike up and through the rubber grommet in the boot floor.. there are loads of them I cant remember which one it is.

Under that grommet is the nut inside the subframe.. tack weld it back and rebuild

thankyou, thankyou .no-one could tell me exactly what this clicking noise is. yet how to fix it once again thankyou

Thanks Mad Hat Man

for those that cant see the pic in post #2 - here it is.

and further info....

and yet more info - a ytube vid - shows it quite well.....

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XyzOgRz1-0&NR=1"]YouTube - ‪freelander subframe creaking cracking noise‬‏[/nomedia]

neil54 said:

thankyou, thankyou .no-one could tell me exactly what this clicking noise is. yet how to fix it once again thankyou

Click to expand...

hi the clicking you hear is what has been described a bolt not tight enough these bolts into the floor are 190 lbs tightened maybe some one has renewed the diff rubbers and not tightened them properly hope this helps

or maybe the captive nut has ripped out?

Tech Bulletin 0112 can also be found at https://www.scribd.com/doc/251336749/Tech-Bulletin-0112-Creaking-Clicking-of-Frame

I have been looking for an answer to the noises at the rear of my FL1 Td4. Everyone says it is the VCU. What is described above sounds exactly like mine. Is this also common on facelift models or not at all? Mine is a 56 plate.

Alex Blyth said:

I have been looking for an answer to the noises at the rear of my FL1 Td4. Everyone says it is the VCU. What is described above sounds exactly like mine. Is this also common on facelift models or not at all? Mine is a 56 plate.

Click to expand...

Should have been fixed by then, but it is a landrover!!! Easy to check though.