Freelander 1 GKN VCU part number dating

I have recently bought my first Freelander and suspect that the VCU is starting to tighten up.

I have noticed some drivetrain windup with full lock turning, I suspect more than the design characterist of Freelanders. I have performed the socket and bar lever test with 8.5kg weight on a 1m bar, the time averaged about 45 seconds for a 45 degree turn. I have inspected the rear diff mounts and both the rear mounts are sound, the front centre mount has slight deterioration of the rubber. This appears to be the cause of the occasional knock from the rear end on deceleration and cornering.

I have exhausted all the numerous threads on VCU testing and have come to the conclusion, that for my peace of mind with 103,000 miles in the clock, I shall change it for a genuine GKN unit and GKN bearings.

On inspecting the VCU yesterday I noted that it looked surprisingly clean and not very old. I saw some GKN numbers on the unit with odd spacing between the various marks of the number such as 04 etc. The vehicle was first registered January 2004 on a 53 plate.

My question is this. Can I work out the date the VCU was made from the numbers on the unit?
Needless to say I don't want to change the VCU if it has been done. The seller had no record of it being changed in his 2 years of ownership.

Any help greatly appreciated.

You can work out the year from the numbers. Info over ere > https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/serial-number-location.231153/

If it's not been welded around the edge, or the push in to seal bearing ball things haven't been tampered with, then you can assume it's the original. If there is some sign of rework then naturally the original date code no longer counts.

I doubt you will be able to pinpoint the exact date but I suspect the No 04 would mean it was a 2004 as you can see from the photo's below I changed mine this year suspecting it was the VCU but it turned out to be rear diff mount, along with the middle bearings, which I had changed by Bell Engineering first, that did not solve the problem so I changed front and rear props, in the end it turned out be a compilation of binding brakes rear diff mounts, but the VCU seemed to be ok.

So much so that a family friend had his VCU outer ring tear away so we used the one we took off my FL and his was perfectly ok, we have since found out it is/was only the outer ring on his that is faulty, pics show dates of mine and his below, mine as GKN-V 405520 03 778 / the friends is GKN-V 405520 05 084 I think the last numbers must be the ones of the line out of a 1000 ? maybe someone else will know more hope this helps someway cheers Arctic2.

PS check for binding brakes first
Number maybe but the 05 one came off a 1.8 so take what we can from that,
405520 is for TD4
405558 is for v6

Many thanks Hippo and Artic2. I suspected that the 04 meant that it was the year of manufacture. The unit doesn't appear to have been welded or reconditioned. It quite surprising how little it has weathered for 11 years and 103,000 miles. Testimony to the quality of GKN parts no doubt.

For peace of mind a have ordered a new GKN VCU and GKN bearings.

Cheers

When I checked mine I thought it may have been replaced as it looks so fresh (just like yours) - but the number is V 405520 05 101 - on my 05 plate - The car has done 26K and the one wheel up test was quite good - so maybe if they have a kind life they last well!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Dfossil, probably true however, it's playing on my mind what it may do to the IRD and Diff so a replacement it is for peace of mind.

I bought mine with 105000 miles and it was completely (or near as dammit) seized. When I tried the one wheel up test it didn't move at all, so I whipped off the prop shaft and drove it Mondo mode until I managed to repair the VCU. My way of repairing it may not be approved of by everyone but I'm happy it is working well enough for me.

dfossil said:

When I checked mine I thought it may have been replaced as it looks so fresh (just like yours) - but the number is V 405520 05 101 - on my 05 plate - The car has done 26K and the one wheel up test was quite good - so maybe if they have a kind life they last well!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Silly bugger - I meant 126k miles -not 26k