knock on gear change;

just wondered if there's a common fault that could cause this;

1998 300tdi, manual.

When I change gear there's a bit of a "clunk" as drive is taken from the wheels and again as I re-engage the clutch, it's worse when accelerating hard or uphill. My first thought was u.j's but they all seem fine, I did notice the front prob shaft can be turned more than I'd expect - about 11:50 to 12:05 would be my guess, could that be it? and can it be adjusted out?

I can't see anything obvious really, I went round most of the bushes quickly and can't find any play anywhere. And I'd say it sounds more like transmission. To be honest though, this is my first landrover, for all I know it could be normal

it could be the splines worn on the transfer box , its quite common , mine has it too , later models were fitted with a cross drilled bearing or something for better lubrication to solve this problem .
i'm sure someone that knows knows more than me will be along shortly ...

It's your A Frame ball joint worn.
The play in your front diff input is normal.

If you have identified the sound as originating from the gearbox area that it will probably be gearbox related - especially if you have checked UJ's.

It could indeed be the output shaft of the main box and the input gear of the transfer box have worn. You can fix this by fitting a later type inputgear with splines cut further along the input gear - it then engages on more of the output shaft and thus no more clunk - if you are unlucky enough to have this already fitted then fitting a new one will take some of the clunk out but not all and it will get worse. New gearbox time.

It could be an output bearing on the transfer box, see if there is excesive lateral movement on one of the output bearings that will create this sound.

It could be the backlash in the transferbox...

Treworgey 90 said:

It's your A Frame ball joint worn.
The play in your front diff input is normal.

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How can you be so sure? I had a bit of a wobble of it earlier but it seemed o.k. I'll have a better look, obviously, but it sounded further foreward than that.

Still none-the-wiser really guys, the only significant play I've found is the slack I mentioned in the front prop shaft - which turns at both ends (transfer box and diff), if I turn it sharply I get quite a clunk mostly from the front diff which isn't unlike what I've noticed when driving it.

If I were to take the front prop shaft off and drive it (will it even go anywhere?), and the clunk went away - would that tell me that the problem isn't a serious transfer box problem but is play in the front diff and some in the transfer box - but not really a serious problem?

It could also be worth checking the cv joints and drive flange, If you pull the rubber caps off, get someone to turn the prop and see if there's any wear in the splines .

if you take off your front prop for a test drive make sure you select difflock before driving....

it could be a combination of all of the above... it's an 11 year old motor and they wear eventually

I'm not being rude or taking the **** Thin Trucker, but I recon the problem is in the cockpit All Land Rovers need slow gear changes, you need to let the engine rev freely before changing up, let the gear change take it's time to slot in and put the gas back on gently.

Soloby Rob said:

I'm not being rude or taking the **** Thin Trucker, but I recon the problem is in the cockpit All Land Rovers need slow gear changes, you need to let the engine rev freely before changing up, let the gear change take it's time to slot in and put the gas back on gently.

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No offence taken mate and a fair point, as you've probably guessed I'm a lorry driver so I'm ok with gear changes but you've got a point; it's an old (ish) car and Im probably expecting a little too much from it

All suggestions welcome though, I used to be a mechanic but I know very little about four wheel drives (well, diagnosing problems with them).

Got same problem had a look and it is worn cv's , if checking be prepared to get covered in nice sticky smelly filthy oil COOOOOOOL !!!!! :bounce: