Freelander 1 HELP PLEASE

Nodge68 · Sep 13, 2023

I'd guess the output bearing is ok, as they're pretty tough. I didn't see anything in the video which made me think the output bearing was damaged, but replacing it would eliminate it as an issue in the future.

stevenson_94 · Sep 14, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
I dunno if that bearing should be replaced as a precaution. Others more knowledgeable may give advice.

I'm going on the basis that it will have taken a hammering and you don't want it to ruin your new driveshaft.

Dunno if it can be pulled from the diff - its likely that the diff would need dismantling to get at it.

Not so good news today... took the drive shafts and the prop shaft off and it was still clunking.... turns out the clunking type sound is the IRD transfer box.... is it worth fixing or leaving as this parts £500 give or take new.

Nodge68 · Sep 14, 2023

stevenson_94 said:
Not so good news today... took the drive shafts and the prop shaft off and it was still clunking.... turns out the clunking type sound is the IRD transfer box.... is it worth fixing or leaving as this parts £500 give or take new.

Ok, so as a rear drive shaft has failed, and the IRD has issues too, it's very likely the VCU has gone stiff. This will in time cause serious damage to drive line components, especially if odd tyres have been used.

The best action to take is to get a working second hand IRD, and replace the bearings before fitting it. You could then remove the propshafts and VCU and use it as a 2WD for a bit, or replace the VCU and make sure it has 4 identical tyres and use it without worrying again.

stevenson_94 · Sep 14, 2023

Nodge68 said:
Ok, so as a rear drive shaft has failed, and the IRD has issues too, it's very likely the VCU has gone stiff. This will in time cause serious damage to drive line components, especially if odd tyres have been used.

The best action to take is to get a working second hand IRD, and replace the bearings before fitting it. You could then remove the propshafts and VCU and use it as a 2WD for a bit, or replace the VCU and make sure it has 4 identical tyres and use it without worrying again.

When I bought the freelander it didn't have a prop shaft onit... I bought a refurbished one with new hanging bearings and new vcu so hopefully that's all still OK... I've sourced a second hand ird for £250 from a salvage company. One thing after another lol.

Nodge68 · Sep 14, 2023

stevenson_94 said:
When I bought the freelander it didn't have a prop shaft onit... I bought a refurbished one with new hanging bearings and new vcu so hopefully that's all still OK... I've sourced a second hand ird for £250 from a salvage company. One thing after another lol.

There was a reason the propshafts were removed. The IRD was on its last legs.
Did you make sure that 4 identical tyres were fitted, with the least worn on the rear? This AWD system is excellent, but running with odd tyres, or incorrectly positioned tyres shortens it's life massively

GrumpyGel · Sep 14, 2023

stevenson_94 said:
Not so good news today... took the drive shafts and the prop shaft off and it was still clunking.... turns out the clunking type sound is the IRD transfer box.... is it worth fixing or leaving as this parts £500 give or take new.

stevenson_94 said:
When I bought the freelander it didn't have a prop shaft onit... I bought a refurbished one with new hanging bearings and new vcu so hopefully that's all still OK... I've sourced a second hand ird for £250 from a salvage company. One thing after another lol.

TBH You look to know what you are dealing with. So your call is probably the best advice. You'll know the price of the bits etc.

1 thing I would say, is that you should not drive the car (which presumably you did to hear the noises) with the drear drive shafts removed. If they are removed, and the stubs are not left in the hubs, the wheels will fall off. Hope it wasn't the wheels wobbling that you heard.

stevenson_94 · Sep 14, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
TBH You look to know what you are dealing with. So your call is probably the best advice. You'll know the price of the bits etc.

1 thing I would say, is that you should not drive the car (which presumably you did to hear the noises) with the drear drive shafts removed. If they are removed, and the stubs are not left in the hubs, the wheels will fall off. Hope it wasn't the wheels wobbling that you heard.

Cut the drive shaft off with a angle grinder close to the wheel leaving the spline still in the wheel bearing but fully removed it from the diff... took the prop shaft off and lifted the motor up again. Span both front wheels and it clunked really bad even making the full engine wobble. Keeps getting caught on something inside the ird box. While looking at that found a front drive shaft that was a little wobbley with a split boot so ordered a new shaft for the front too...

My only issue now is swapping out the IRD unit as I've never done one before.

GrumpyGel · Sep 14, 2023

stevenson_94 said:
Cut the drive shaft off with a angle grinder close to the wheel leaving the spline still in the wheel bearing but fully removed it from the diff... took the prop shaft off and lifted the motor up again. Span both front wheels and it clunked really bad even making the full engine wobble. Keeps getting caught on something inside the ird box. While looking at that found a front drive shaft that was a little wobbley with a split boot so ordered a new shaft for the front too...

My only issue now is swapping out the IRD unit as I've never done one before.

Sounds like my situation.

The gearing in the IRD to the rear pinion wore out (not sure over how long, but I inadvertently drove quite a distance on a tyre that had deflated some). Made a right banging noise when it 'went'.

Removing the props and driving the car, there was a 'ticking' noise coming from the IRD - so it wasn't safe to leave it like that cos the pinion gearing was so bad it was going to jam or summat if I tried to use it.

It was fairly shortly after I had decided to "never use" garages again and do all my own maintenance and it was quite a daunting prospect. But I did it. I got the IRD off, sourced a bearing replacement kit, split the IRD and refitted IRD.

However, I gave the bits to a gearbox sghop for them to push/pull bearings etc. That knowledge I didn't have. It was the right call I think because the kit was missing some seals evidently (and possibly shims?) and they knew where to go to to get the fiddly bits.

You sound like you are much more capable than I was. So removing the IRD should not be a problem and fitting the bits probably.

I got the gearbox shop to remove the crown gear from the pinion. So although I put everything back together as it was, including original VCU, it was only 2WD. That was 10 years ago and the car has given boringly reliable service since.

Over here, if a car is 'modified' it needs to be certified. So removing the props would have needed that process. I think you may have similar problems in the UK failing MOTs is parts are removed. Removing the gear in the IRD 'masks' the 2WD conversion from WOF (MOT) testers so I haven't had any problems. You'll have to put replacement driveshafts in to create the same.

GrumpyGel · Sep 14, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
Sounds like my situation.

The gearing in the IRD to the rear pinion wore out (not sure over how long, but I inadvertently drove quite a distance on a tyre that had deflated some). Made a right banging noise when it 'went'.

Removing the props and driving the car, there was a 'ticking' noise coming from the IRD - so it wasn't safe to leave it like that cos the pinion gearing was so bad it was going to jam or summat if I tried to use it.

It was fairly shortly after I had decided to "never use" garages again and do all my own maintenance and it was quite a daunting prospect. But I did it. I got the IRD off, sourced a bearing replacement kit, split the IRD and refitted IRD.

However, I gave the bits to a gearbox sghop for them to push/pull bearings etc. That knowledge I didn't have. It was the right call I think because the kit was missing some seals evidently (and possibly shims?) and they knew where to go to to get the fiddly bits.

You sound like you are much more capable than I was. So removing the IRD should not be a problem and fitting the bits probably.

I got the gearbox shop to remove the crown gear from the pinion. So although I put everything back together as it was, including original VCU, it was only 2WD. That was 10 years ago and the car has given boringly reliable service since.

Over here, if a car is 'modified' it needs to be certified. So removing the props would have needed that process. I think you may have similar problems in the UK failing MOTs is parts are removed. Removing the gear in the IRD 'masks' the 2WD conversion from WOF (MOT) testers so I haven't had any problems. You'll have to put replacement driveshafts in to create the same.

What I would say is that I may have gone overboard replacing all the bearings. It may have just needed the pinion bearings replaced. However, they were all done, so no chance of getting it wrong!

stevenson_94 · Sep 14, 2023

GrumpyGel said:
What I would say is that I may have gone overboard replacing all the bearings. It may have just needed the pinion bearings replaced. However, they were all done, so no chance of getting it wrong!

Thank you for your advice... I'll pick up my second hand ird tomorrow and get it reconditioned (Extra cost lol). Going to attempt to remove the old ird and front shafts tomorrow. There's just something about freelanders I absolutely love so in my personal opinion it's worth spending on... probably not worth it financially as they aren't expensive 4x4's but I guess it's one of those situations.

GrumpyGel · Sep 15, 2023

Btw its not just bearings in the ird you have to worry about. You have to check the pinion and crown gears are not worn or broken. Just buying a refurb one will be cheaper if they need replacing.

Freelander 1 HELP PLEASE

Nodge68

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