I'm planning on making a mechanical replacement for the VCU!

Would need a new transfer box too, and then it just gets complicated

SES88 said:

Would need a new transfer box too, and then it just gets complicated

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Asking as I don't know not being a cock.., but why surely all this will do is engage and disengage the 2props? As and where the vcu does and fits now?

thequeenscheese said:

Asking as I don't know not being a cock.., but why surely all this will do is engage and disengage the 2props? As and where the vcu does and fits now?

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To be honest, I haven't got a clue either, either way it'd work out more expensive than a new vcu

I'm guessing with no knowledge, but these haldex's are li!e mini clutches engaging and disengaging, would be somewhat dearer yep but surley in the long run, and for off raiding it would be a bit better?, not needing to spin up the wheels to engage the vcu, and you could get 4wd when the fronts won't spin with such a system?

Haldexes are 'better' units than VCUs - but they have their problems. They are complex things that do go wrong, and when they go wrong, you'd be wishing it was just a VCU you were replacing because they are very expensive. They also suffer from overheating when used for extended periods of time, so if you go off road they can just turn themselves off and leave you 2WD.

They are usually bolted onto the front of the rear diif and the diffs are designed to have then there. So its not as if they are 'stand alone' items, you need a diff and Haldex combo - which would have to match the rations of the Freelander's IRD and be able to hook up to the Freelanders rear driveshafts etc. The unit is also tied into the car's comunications systems in the same way ABS is - so it also needs to be able to 'talk' to the car.

All in all - very complex and very expensive.

My Yeti had a Haldex gen 4 system fitted. It was very good, but there were loads of electronic gizmos and hydraulic pumps all tied into the traction control and ABS.

They would cost more than the car is worth to fit, and I'm talking about my later 2006 one, not an early one!!!

£200 for a recon VCU from bell engineering is very good value. If you want a Haldex system in your car, then buy a car with it in already. Several VW group vehicles, and Volvos amongst others use Haldex.

My thoughts are that if you have a mechanical 2/4 wheel drive, you will also need a low transfer box as well.

If you want a Freelander with that, put the body on a Disco chassis. Job done.

Jumping straight into this thread, sorry if this has been discussed before, but what about a system that is "on/off", i.e. 2WD or 4WD 100% lock? Searching a couple of years ago, when I was thinking about buying a 4WD T3 VW. See this link: Zuschaltb. Allrad - Der VW Bus T3 Bully und Syncro Spezialist Bernd Jaeger

ThomasDK said:

Jumping straight into this thread, sorry if this has been discussed before, but what about a system that is "on/off", i.e. 2WD or 4WD 100% lock? Searching a couple of years ago, when I was thinking about buying a 4WD T3 VW. See this link: Zuschaltb. Allrad - Der VW Bus T3 Bully und Syncro Spezialist Bernd Jaeger

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too complicated - read the threads

The Mad Hat Man said:

too complicated - read the threads

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Will do - sorry

if yu got a week or two

Seems like a good idea if it could be adapted tbh, the peeps that dies the vcu also collectively dies every idea thrown out there every great piece of kit starts with an idea, no doubt some dickwad will now say go and do it it the, cos obviously its that easy for the average Joe in a garage(which I ain't got)..

Perhaps if peeps would positively seek out and idea that can replace the vcu wedall be better off, ??
At the end of the day a simple2wd 4wd variant is going to be better that they wife's school run option we have now..

I know how we could do it, an Iphone / Android app that switches on set of bluetooth controlled free wheeling hubs on the rear. The Android version could also offer a free download of U2's new album. I think I'm on to something here.............

Ive only scanned through this thread as it was not much intrest to me....

But I just picked up a cheap freelander...prop is in the boot so unknown if its good or bad.

Anyway....
lada niva and probably others, Suzukis maybe?, seperate transfer boxes with diff lock. Lada was permanant 4x4 with diff lock. now that transfer box would work, kinda in reverse if it was hacked in to the middle of the rear prop....leaving you a center diff so still permanant 4x4 but with a lever operated diff lock...same as a defender transfer box would just its a bit big

I'll have to dig the lada one I have out the shed and investigate

It must be possible to make something that connects and bolts up where the vcu does there's more than enough room and the mountings are already there, it just needs a system that engages and disengages on a lever or a switch-magnetic, spring, vacume, selenoid, however but theres room for it and its prob not that technical in operation, a half decent engineer with a bit of electrical knowledge for a switch system would design this in their sleep...

I can't remember why this thread was started now.

Am I missing something, or is there something wrong with the VCU that I don't know about?

Its cheap and cheerful and works. Bit like my Freelander.

Yeah the constant worry it might have stiffened and is currently trashing yr ird etc.. It does what it has to it works, defenders work but plenty put lifts on and wiggly axels among other stuff, so what's wrong with upgrading a poor system which was probably done from the back of the LR accountants not because of design, if there was one on the market everyone on here would have bought one once the vcu had failed or was due for renewal a simple clutch system would be a lot better, at the end of the day fl2, sacked it off I wonder why???

If nothing else, it's a project for someone.

thequeenscheese said:

Yeah the constant worry it might have stiffened and is currently trashing yr ird etc.. It does what it has to it works, defenders work but plenty put lifts on and wiggly axels among other stuff, so what's wrong with upgrading a poor system which was probably done from the back of the LR accountants not because of design, if there was one on the market everyone on here would have bought one once the vcu had failed or was due for renewal a simple clutch system would be a lot better, at the end of the day fl2, sacked it off I wonder why???

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That uses a Haldex system which wasn't invented in the mid 90's They have their own problems though

I get ya, but if the van was awesome they wouldn't have used another system would they, it's a soft roader I know this I just don't think everyone needs to be so negative or pessimistic about ideas for an upgrade.
All you guys that do a lot of off road in reality wouldn't you rather have a switch for 2wd or 4wd than the vcu? How much more life will you get from an I'd also., and no more worrying about tyre sizes so much front to rear these are good reasons to look for options, there must be a site option that will work as we need it that's better than a vcu..

The VCU is great. But we want more. The Haldex system reacts much, much faster than the cheap & cheerful VCU. One of the reasons the FL2 was a lot more expensive.

I am happy letting the car choose when it needs 4wd. I am not now bothered about telling it which to use.

I've been out with Defenders and they have had big problems getting their diff's to engage or disengage. They can damage their transmission by not turning it off as well. So they are no better than our little Land Rover.