new owner and forum member

[flinchy87]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and land rover experience.
I bought a 2000 freelander XEDi in November (my first car) I'm really not a fan of daft little sporty things, so the only car for me was going to be a land rover, and finances led me to the freelander.
And in all honesty, I know wouldn't have had this much fun in any other type of car!
I've enjoyed every minute of owning it, I've been offroad afew times in it and I'm really happy with it's performance (nothing too taxing just yet) and I'm really impressed with the MPG, expecting it would be thirsty, especially for it's age.
But this friday whilst driving home from picking up a bull bar for it, I fell victim to what seems a very common problem with these, my IRD and VCU decided they no longer wanted to play! The outcome being that the repair is going to cost me what I paid for the car! So I'm having to just have th IRD replaced and run it on 2 wheel drive for a few of weeks
Just until I can afford a new/recon VCU, I'm hoping to change this myself as it doesn't seem like too much of a big job, just wondering if anyone would like to share any experiences of taking this on?

Thank you, and I look forward to many more happy days in my Landy, and inevitably sharing many more problems with you guys haha :lol:
(Sorry for long first post)

 

[Littelwill]

Great intro welcome.

 

[v8geoff]

Hello welcome

 

[davcud]

Hello and Welcome

 

[flinchy87]

Thanks for the welcomes, I hope to get to know you all a little better over the course of owning my land rover!

 

[Hippo]

Welcome to the forum.

Lots of info on vcu's and ird's in the main Freelander section. In brief, the front wheels on a Freelander turn slightly faster than the rear wheels. The difference in prop shaft speed front to rear is taken out by the vcu. If the resistance across the vcu is too high it creates excess transmission wind up (stress) in the transmission. Something has to give. Normally the ird and/or rear diff. Sadly incorrect tyres can also cause the same issue. You need to make sure yer running the same make/model/size and they're at the correct pressure. If not this can change the difference in prop ratio and causes similar problems.

 

[flinchy87]

Cheers Hippo, that's really useful to know. Definitely something to look at when i get her back, fairly sure it's running on 4 different tyres (from previous owner) so that's something i will get sorted as soon I can. I will have to do some research in how to look after it properly, would love it to last me a good few years, just fear it may be expensive! Thanks again

 

[flinchy87]

Can you recommend any specific tyres? Or is just having all 4 the same alright?

 

[Vincemcdonald]

A set or BFG all terrains would be nice for it.
If you can put up with the hassle, run it in 2wd and refit the prop for off-roading or when it snows.
The early Diesel engine is I believe deemed to be the most reliable engine fitted to the Freelander 1.

 

[flinchy87]

A set or BFG all terrains would be nice for it.
If you can put up with the hassle, run it in 2wd and refit the prop for off-roading or when it snows.
The early Diesel engine is I believe deemed to be the most reliable engine fitted to the Freelander 1.

Thanks, I was thinking about some all terrains, my dad has had some on his 300 for about 2 years and they still have about 20mm tread on them! Yeah that would be a bit of a hassle to keep taking it off and on, not quite as much hassle as having it stuck in a garage for a week though haha nice to hear that about the engine though, as i say, i would love to keep it for another few years, so knowing the engine is reliable is comforting!

 

[Hippo]

I have Pirelli scorpion str fitted. I had general grabber at2 before but the ride was terrible. I put up with it for a while and then drove another Freelander and realised just how bad they were. Driving to Wales to go oft road was a bor. Removed quickly with not may 1000's of miles on them. MPG increased, acceleration increased... I remember the wheel alignment man at the main dealer telling me not to go rougher than the original michelin xpc which is no longer made. He was right. they were the bestist tyre available for the FL1. Tyre choice varied between owners.

If you have a look in the main Freelander forum you'll find a fred where peeps list the tyres they have. Freelander suspension won't take out the vibration from rough tyres in the same way a disco or rr will.

general buying info:
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/what-to-lock-for-on-freelanders.163164

vcu replacement:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/freelander-1-vcu-bearing-replacement-how-guide-156068.html

have a look at the rear diff mounts while yer there:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/rear-diff-mount-replacement-how-guide-101774.html

main Freelander forum fer Freelandering questions over ere:
Land Rover Freelander - Land Rover Zone

Freelandering bible:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/rave-disk-maintenance-manual-260227.html

 

[flinchy87]

I have Pirelli scorpion str fitted. I had general grabber at2 before but the ride was terrible. I put up with it for a while and then drove another Freelander and realised just how bad they were. Driving to Wales to go oft road was a bor. Removed quickly with not may 1000's of miles on them. MPG increased, acceleration increased... I remember the wheel alignment man at the main dealer telling me not to go rougher than the original michelin xpc which is no longer made. He was right. they were the bestist tyre available for the FL1. Tyre choice varied between owners.

If you have a look in the main Freelander forum you'll find a fred where peeps list the tyres they have. Freelander suspension won't take out the vibration from rough tyres in the same way a disco or rr will.

general buying info:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/1620217-post9.html

vcu replacement:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/freelander-1-vcu-bearing-replacement-how-guide-156068.html

have a look at the rear diff mounts while yer there:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/rear-diff-mount-replacement-how-guide-101774.html

main Freelander forum fer Freelandering questions over ere:
Land Rover Freelander - Land Rover Zone

Freelandering bible:
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f69/rave-disk-maintenance-manual-260227.html

Haha cheers mate that's champion, you sure have some experience.
I'll have a shop around once i get her back and get some money saved up again! May have yo put the VCU on hold for a couple more weeks, think it'd be wise to get my tyres sorted first, front 2 are little questionable, only had it 3 months so I've not got it to how i want it yet. Hoping to get my bullbar on it this weekend when i get it back, then i can get a photo for my profile.

 

[Hippo]

Just make sure yer keep yer insurance aware of mods like removing the prop/vcu. Front wheel drive (mondo) is ok but feels different. Best remove the prop/vcu now to reduce stress in the transmission and put it back when tyres are sorted.

 

[flinchy87]

Just make sure yer keep yer insurance aware of mods like removing the prop/vcu. Front wheel drive (mondo) is ok but feels different. Best remove the prop/vcu now to reduce stress in the transmission and put it back when tyres are sorted.

Well both VCU and IRD are knackered, so it's in the garage getting the IRD replaced and prop removed, as I can't afford to replace both at once. Hoping to have the money within the month to get a VCU sorted and back to 4WD.
But i shall take your advice and do the tyres first.