Freelander 1 How free should a wheel be?

Mot mechanic let me know that the drivers side front was binding a little so I jacked it up when i got home and sure enough he was correct. It wasn't solid but certainly wasn't free.

I took the caliper off and checked the guide pins, the lower pin was very crusty at the top and not moving freely so I've ordered a replacement set.

However, I checked the passenger side movement and that was better than the drivers side but still not as free as my other halves Clio which I also checked as a reference which is completely free and very easy to spin.

With this in mind I'm now wondering if both sides need work on my freelander, I've got a full set of guide pins coming anyway but wanted to get opinions from other owners as to how free the front wheels should feel within the slack of the transmission.

You can't spin a raised wheel, if the other 3 are on the ground. The VCU in the transmission prevents it. If you want to spin a wheel to check for brake binding. Then you need to lift at least two wheels off the floor.

what nodge said

I was able to feel resistance withing the slack or the transmission. It doesn't turn very far but it does turn. I was moving the wheel within this slack.

I'll jack both wheels up at the weekend and try some more but should they feel completely free to move? Or should there be some resistance?

lewis.landy said:

I was able to feel resistance withing the slack or the transmission. It doesn't turn very far but it does turn. I was moving the wheel within this slack.

I'll jack both wheels up at the weekend and try some more but should they feel completely free to move? Or should there be some resistance?

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There will be very slight drag from the brakes. Any binding needs investigating. It's quite common for the caliper pistons to rust in the bore and stick.

Cool thanks, good to know they'll be a very slight drag, the passenger side is probably fine. The pistons and seals were next on my list should the new pins not solve it.
I've got some red rubber grease on route too.

Nodge68 said:

There will be very slight drag from the brakes. Any binding needs investigating. It's quite common for the caliper pistons to rust in the bore and stick.

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I had exactly this on mine - one caliper was binding and the other, the rubber piston seal had perished - so I bit the bullet and replaced both calipers. I probably could have rebuilt them fairly easily, but it was certainly simpler/quicker to replace!