Imminent IRD failure?

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Russell Jupp

Russell Jupp

New Member
Posts
242
Location
Devon
Hi all,
about 4 weeks ago I replaced the VCU and bearings on my FL1. 80,000 miles, and although everything was working perfectly, (no clunks / knocks / whines etc), i felt that the transmission was very tight on full lock forwards and reverse.
So new VCU. Didnt really seem very different, but peace of mind!!
Today, however, it has developed a quiet whirring noise!! Sounds just like binding brakes, but checked, and they are fine. Does it in forwards or reverse, coasting or powered. All 4wd is working fine, with no other odd noises.
Had it on a wheel free ramp, changed IRD oil, and found 3 small bits of very thin steel attatched to the magnet. Not good.
Also ran it when on ramp in all gears, and no noise.
Was wondering if this is first signs of IRD failue?
Thanks in advance,
Russ
 
I have read on hear that it's paramount that the bearings are fitted exactly at 90 deg. to the shaft .
Is it possible that one isn't and is slowly deteriorating ?
I found the front one on mine was worn and making exactly that noise/ symptom.
I'd get it back up on the lift and run it and listen to the bearings using a good old stethoscope or broad blade screwdriver with the handle directly onto your ear.
When mine was making the grinding whirring noise I and a garage owner mate of mine swore it was the fns wheel bearing or sticking caliper.
Good luck and here's hoping it's not the IRD.
Cheers
 
Thanks, will get it checked on Monday. Like i said it sounds just like a sticking brake or similar, and i did wonder about a wheel bearing. The noise does not increase in pitch or volume with increase in road speed. Also very difficult to pin point exactly where its coming from.
Fingers crossed!!
Cheers
 
Russell Jupp said:
Thanks, will get it checked on Monday. Like i said it sounds just like a sticking brake or similar, and i did wonder about a wheel bearing. The noise does not increase in pitch or volume with increase in road speed. Also very difficult to pin point exactly where its coming from.
Fingers crossed!!
Cheers
Click to expand...

Sorry Russ , I should maybe have been clearer. I meant the VCU bearing(s)
I actually bought a caliper repair kit in readiness to overhaul the calipers prior to pinpointing it to the forwrd VCU bearing. It was very misleading.
 
I also replaced my VCU bearings and within 3k miles they have started to make a similar whirring noise at any speed up to 50mph. Above that I don't notice it. I am (almost) convinced that the reason is because I bought the cheap VCU bearings which don't have the rubber noise insulators like the OE versions. I did this because I thought the VCU might have failed or be on the way out and I would have to buy a new vcu and another set of bearings. Big mistake! When I stripped it all I found that the reason I started all this was a noise caused by a broken vcu damper.

So now I am left with a good vcu fitted with new £60 damper and cheap and noisy bearings. Oh well! when the weather warms up I will fit the expensive oe ones.

Anyone got an old and failed vcu that I can use to chop in for a recon unit? that way I can keep my noisy one as back-up.
 
Steely Dan, thanks for that!!
I knew what you meant, just did'nt make myself clear!! I'd had a couple of beers so maybe that was it!!
Will get the VCU bearings checked.
 
Happyhippo said:
I also replaced my VCU bearings and within 3k miles they have started to make a similar whirring noise at any speed up to 50mph. Above that I don't notice it. I am (almost) convinced that the reason is because I bought the cheap VCU bearings which don't have the rubber noise insulators like the OE versions. I did this because I thought the VCU might have failed or be on the way out and I would have to buy a new vcu and another set of bearings. Big mistake! When I stripped it all I found that the reason I started all this was a noise caused by a broken vcu damper.

So now I am left with a good vcu fitted with new £60 damper and cheap and noisy bearings. Oh well! when the weather warms up I will fit the expensive oe ones.

Anyone got an old and failed vcu that I can use to chop in for a recon unit? that way I can keep my noisy one as back-up.
Click to expand...


Similarly, above 50mph, i too cannot hear the noise.
What does the VCU damper do? My garage who fitted the VCU, and PATTERN bearings, made no comments about the damper.
Thanks,
Russ
 
probably your vcu bearings,ive just done mine was making same noise,looked at bearings and rear one had been replaced at some time as it looked newer than front one and the rubber on front one was perished so presumed it was that one making noise,got two new bearings anyway,replaced them and it turned out it was the newer one that was knackered,so just because they were only done 4 weeks ago dont mean one of them aint shot already,if the were chaep ones!!!!
 
Russell Jupp said:
Similarly, above 50mph, i too cannot hear the noise.
What does the VCU damper do? My garage who fitted the VCU, and PATTERN bearings, made no comments about the damper.
Thanks,
Russ
Click to expand...

The VCU damper is there to try to smooth out some of the torsional vibration probably caused by hookes joints (universal joints). It is simply a heavy metal band attached by a rubber diaphragm which is bolted onto the VCU. When the rubber perishes the metal band starts to move about and causes clonking noises. I understand that later models don't have this, so it can't be that important. BTW I did't trust myself to fit the bearings with a club hammer, but had them fitted by an engineering company. I assume that the pressed them on.
 
The ultimate answer to all Freelander nosies is buy yourself a large 18" sub and 300watt amp and turn up the music. If you can t hear it, it don t matter. If it needs replacing it will fall off in the end and then you will know.

I have had a Freelander 2 years now and nearly got divorvesed cause of the time I spend chasing those damn whininh grinding crunching noises that appear the more you try and sort them.

Trust me turn up the music !
 
Angry-Swan said:
The ultimate answer to all Freelander nosies is buy yourself a large 18" sub and 300watt amp and turn up the music. If you can t hear it, it don t matter. If it needs replacing it will fall off in the end and then you will know.

I have had a Freelander 2 years now and nearly got divorvesed cause of the time I spend chasing those damn whininh grinding crunching noises that appear the more you try and sort them.

Trust me turn up the music !
Click to expand...

LOL!!!
Funny you should say that, but the amp and 2 subs fitted in the cubby hole have also failed, due to water!!
I have sounds, but no bass!!!
Grrrrr.....
 
Photos below of some genuine LR vcu support bearings. Would be interesting to hear from those who have others, to know what the difference is?

pYuV4TJ.jpg

P2211802 pYuV4TJ

JOapZ6I.jpg

P2211803 JOapZ6I
 
Last edited:
Hippo
the OE bearings are in a much stronger housing and they have a thick rubber insulator. Your pictures show this well. I believe you can press out the bearings and just take the number and renew the bearings from a bearing supplier. I think the reason the cheap sets are noisy is that they do not have this rubber insulator.

Any idea which way the ali washers or "flingers" go round. I fitted mine with the convex side against the bearing.

My original 2000my XeDi bearings came fitted with an extra part which was like a metal cone pressed into the housing which acted as a protector to the bearing. I didn't refit that part.
 
Hi Happyhippo

I'm not sure which way round the washers or fingers fit. I've been searching here and the web and couldn't see a photo showing which way round they fit. This is a little worrying, as I don't want to risk damaging them with mud off road, if I go and fit them the wrong way. My currently fitted vcu bearing is pictured below. They have a different style of washer, but it's close to the new shape. I have a hydraulic puller, but not a pushing device so I look forward to fun at the weekend trying to fit them.

vcubear.jpg


fixx
 
Last edited:
Hippo
thanks for posting that. Its pretty much what I expected and confirms that I did fit mine the right way round. The purpose, I assumed was to fling off any mud or crap before it got into the bearing. I found the bearings very difficult to shift off the VCU and wish I had just given the whole lot to the engineering shop to change. I might then have saved the original bearings!
 
£68.84+vat each. I get a discount due to an alligence card so I paid 61.96+vat each. All main stealer prices from last friday.
 
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