Juddering and clunking noises on 90.

How come as soon as you get one thing fixed another thing bloody goes wrong .

Ive recently fitted a new rear prop and this is still tight and good (even though its ****part) and the front prop is fine with no play whatsoever. But on taking up drive i can hear a clunk which certainly sounds like a UJ or loose prop but its neither. I thought maybe the A frame balljoint but im not sure if this would cause my other problem too which is a juddering or rattling noise that only happens sometimes and when im turning at speed, say about 20mph. It seems to be coming from the right side more than anything.

Ive got a new A frame balljoint there ready to be fitted but id appreciate anyones thoughts on what my new problem is.

Cheers muchly

Might be worth looking at the bushes at the bottom of the A frame. Mine went with similar problems

i've guessing you've checked both diffs? mine just went and thats exactly how it sounded.

Well I've figured out that the rattling and juddering was my new exhaust rattling off the chassis.

Still haven't identified the clunk though, any other way I can tell if its the a frame balljoint? If its a problem with the diff what should I be looking for?

Springs gone in the clutch plate maybe? Had that before, I'm sure you know this but if not, then I will tell you anyway. The springs in the clutch plate take up the bite of the plate between the flywheel and clutch pressure plate as you lift the clutch pedal. You wont get the clunk so much when moving, as the transmission is already turning obviously. If the springs are shot, the two faces where the ends of the springs would normally sit, slam into eachother, hence the clunk! Only a possibility. Please let me know if this IS the problem. And as to, how come as soon as you get one thing fixed another thing bloody goes wrong? Welcome to owning a Landrover!

baffled said:

Springs gone in the clutch plate maybe? Had that before, I'm sure you know this but if not, then I will tell you anyway. The springs in the clutch plate take up the bite of the plate between the flywheel and clutch pressure plate as you lift the clutch pedal. You wont get the clunk so much when moving, as the transmission is already turning obviously. If the springs are shot, the two faces where the ends of the springs would normally sit, slam into eachother, hence the clunk! Only a possibility. Please let me know if this IS the problem. And as to, how come as soon as you get one thing fixed another thing bloody goes wrong? Welcome to owning a Landrover!

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Ref the last part yeah you're telling me lol spend the past year sorting bits and bobs. It's like painting the forth rail bridge.

Not sure if it would be the clutch, that's still working fine. The clunk as I said is when I take up drive and/or let off the accelerator so Im moving when it happens and not when I'm using the clutch.

the_wolf said:

Well I've figured out that the rattling and juddering was my new exhaust rattling off the chassis.

Still haven't identified the clunk though, any other way I can tell if its the a frame balljoint? If its a problem with the diff what should I be looking for?

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Are you still driving it? Mine was clunking and shuddering while moving then, loss of all drive unless put into diff lock. It should be easily noticeable if you take a gander at where your prop attaches to the back of the diff. Mine was leaking and you could shake my prop up and down it was so bad.
If its still driving fine then then I'm wrong.

Not sure if it would be the clutch, that's still working fine. The clunk as I said is when I take up drive and/or let off the accelerator so Im moving when it happens and not when I'm using the clutch.[/QUOTE]

Yep thats almost definitely got to be a worn diff on its way out. Or a UJ
If its not a diff then I would also like to know what it is, as mine clunks as well. I'm in the process of sourcing a new diff and fixing mine at the moment. I will tell you how it goes and if I finally get rid of my annoying clunking noise.

As i said theres no movement whatsoever from either prop or the UJ's so ive ruled them out for the time being. Nothing i can notice on the diff end either, not externally anyway. The flange connecting the diff to the prop is still solid with no movement and theres no leaking either (well, except from the usual).

Im still thinking it might be prop related as it has that sound and would certainly fit all the criteria i.e clunk when i first press the accelorator and a clunk when i let off the gas. I reckon i might get it up on the ramp at work and have a gander. The mechanic here suggested the diff pinion and asked if the backlash was set correctly since i replaced the prop. My answer was f*cked if i know lol.

Anyone that can elaborate on this?

Well as I said. The clutch plate springs do exactly that. As you take up drive, they cusion the imedate drive from the flywheel/pressure plate. If the springs were gone the two faces the spring would sit on, slam clossed (as if the springs were not there or broken that is) and when you let off the throttle (in gear) they slam open. As crazy as it sounds, engine running, put the T box in neutral, 1st gear, get someone under there to listen out from where the clunk is comming from. Then forcefully use the clutch (bring the pedal up hard and fast). If it clunks once, then not the second time, I put money on it, its the clutch plate springs, it may do it each time you lift the clutch pedal. It would depend how free and loose your transmission is. You will have no drive through the transmission of course. But if you still have the clunk, its very likely to be the clutch plate springs. With the T box in neutral, the clutch still operates, but obviously there is no drive. If I was there I could tell you. I know landrover transmissions very well. Its the crap electrics thet screw me over. MAKE SURE THE TBOX IS IN NEUTRAL IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE UNDER THERE!!! Haha, I'm not coming to court if you squash your misses.

Also, with the Tbox in neutral, and you still have the clunk. That at least rules out the diffs and props.

baffled said:

Well as I said. The clutch plate springs do exactly that. As you take up drive, they cusion the imedate drive from the flywheel/pressure plate. If the springs were gone the two faces the spring would sit on, slam clossed (as if the springs were not there or broken that is) and when you let off the throttle (in gear) they slam open. As crazy as it sounds, engine running, put the T box in neutral, 1st gear, get someone under there to listen out from where the clunk is comming from. Then forcefully use the clutch (bring the pedal up hard and fast). If it clunks once, then not the second time, I put money on it, its the clutch plate springs, it may do it each time you lift the clutch pedal. It would depend how free and loose your transmission is. You will have no drive through the transmission of course. But if you still have the clunk, its very likely to be the clutch plate springs. With the T box in neutral, the clutch still operates, but obviously there is no drive. If I was there I could tell you. I know landrover transmissions very well. Its the crap electrics thet screw me over. MAKE SURE THE TBOX IS IN NEUTRAL IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE UNDER THERE!!! Haha, I'm not coming to court if you squash your misses.

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Thanks mate ill try that today and see how it goes

I had a strange clunk that I couldn't pin down, thought it could be the A-frame ball joint, but it turned out it was the top bushes on the rear shocks, had an intermittent clunk, but especially when going round corners, might be worth a look

Another point is, you clutch will still give drive as the plate itself is still there. Its the springs in the middle of the plate. Look at a pic of a clutch plate. You will see what I mean.

Checked it out at lunchtime there and theres no clunk whatsoever coming from the clutch. I had a quick look at the backlash on the diff and its minimal, i read that ideally it shouldnt be more than 1/8th so i dont think its that. Also checked out the bushes on the rear shocks just incase and theres no movement there either. Only other thing i can imagine it would be is the A frame balljoint

Ok, not the clutch plate then. Ok try this. Again, get someone under it (Behind the rover and close to the back axle) foot brake on, (not handbrake) FIRST! gear, and lift the clutch pedal to biting point to take up the backlash in the transmission, nearly till the engine stalls. Keep moving the clutch pedal up and down quickly to take up and relese the backlash, you should see something moving or rocking and hear the clunk. If it is the A frame, you will see it moving. If not at the back, then get someone at the front BUT IN REVERSE THIS TIME, and do the same again. Wish I could see and hear it mate, then I could tell you. There are loads of things to make noises in the drivetrain. Here are a few more possibilities: Remember I havnt seen or heard it but here goes. A frame joints as said before, too much play between the pinion and crown wheel in the diffs, void bushes in the front or rear axle tie rods. Grab hold of the tie rods, and pull like your pulling a horse off your mum! if there is any play there, that can give a clunk under load, use a lever bar in the tie rod joints too. Please dont take this the wrong way mate, I assume your a landrover veteran and you do know that ALL landrovers will clunk a bit if you havnt mastered the fine art of clutch and throttle control? Im sure you know this, but just checking. Let me know the outcome please.

I checked the tie rods at the rear and there was no movement, i know that the whole vehicle was polybushed just before i got it. Ill give them another yank though and checked the front also. My missus is already ecstatic at the thought of lying under my landy in the dark .

Thanks for the help, ill have a look and let you know how i get on

Tried to get the clunk to happen the way you suggested but it wouldn't. It's only when I'm actually moving. Here's an example: I'm driving down a straight road and if I lift off the accelerator it will clunk, when I press the accelerator again it clunks. I'm not touching the clutch or the brake during this. If I lift off or press the accelerator very smoothly it won't do it but probably because this is a very gradual take up or drop off in drive, again leading me to believe its the a frame balljoint. Unless you can think of something else?

Yep weight transfer from front to back or back to front KLUNK will be the A frame ball joint
Get one that you can adjust

This was part of my reply earlyer. As I said, please dont take this the wrong way mate, I assume your a landrover veteran and you do know that ALL landrovers will clunk a bit if you havnt mastered the fine art of clutch and throttle control? If you drive a new landrover and throttle on and throttle off quickly, they will clunk a bit too. Im sure you know this, but just checking. ???