Please help! Defender 90 knocking and can't find out why!

Hi there

I've finally taken the plunge and bought myslef a landy! After years of wanting one i decided that enough was enough and the moneys worth it. However...i now have a 1998 300tdi defender 90. Shes in absolutely mint condition with 97k on the clock. No problems at all until i realised that the knocking i was getting when changing gear or pulling away wasn't normal
Shes now been in my local landy specialist's workshop being worked on whenever they get chance to squeeze it in. They've tried the following:

• CV joints in prop
• Ball joint on rear axle
• Gear and shaft in transfer box
• Rear diff

And everything is fine?!! So what else could it be?
I would be really greatfull if anyone could give some advice, i miss driving her already
Thanks, Chris

all radius arm bushes, drive members for worn items

Sorry i guess ive put it down wrong in my post. Im sure thats the ball joint i ment at the back. They're trying everything they can think of. Its Cyril Groombridge in heathfield - a really well known landy guy around the area. Chris

it could be the mainshalft from the gearbox! The spline wears out!

Just from my own experience -

(1) hand brake is snapping at transmission or may even be locked onto it slightly. Symptoms include knocking when you are speeding up or coming to a halt - a sort of regular knocking/drumming sound whose rhythm speeds or slows with the vehicle's speed. Check the hand brake adjustment and get your man to take a look inside the drum.

(2) Worn bushes on the A-frame - the bit that looks like a metal wishbone with a big rubber washer type thingy in the centre at the rear of the vehicle. The bushes can wear out and you get knocking when taking off and coming to a halt.

Both these are easy to check out. Hope you find the problem.

Also - is the front propshaft ok???? The sound of something wrong with it can transfer through the t-box and make it sound like it is coming from the rear. Again, very easy to check - give it a good shake and check for any sideways movement at each end where it joins the transfer box or the diff on the axle. Also check it's not knocking in the centre of the prop itself. It will rotate a little which is fine, but you should look for wobbly joints/connections.

Cheers for the replys. Still in the garage and when i spoke to them earlier they were moving on to the front to see if they could find something up that end causing the problem. Just waiting for a call now with the news.
Will report back later!

Anti rollbar bushes. Mine did the same. Changed everything with no joy.
Took off anti rollbar to clean and paint and knocking stopped. Was the ball joints on the end of the front one causing the problem.

My guess would be A Frame Ball Joint.

Finding knocks and such like is the bread and butter of a Land Rover garage. Mebbe this Cyril Whatsisname isn't all he's cracked up to be.

Well i got it back after a couple of days... They checked everything and came to the conclusion that its the center diff thats got the slack in it. So for now im just driving it being very careful on the clutch and trying not to get a klonck. (But im sure its getting worse!) They said thats fine until it goes and then i can get it done. Or is driving it like this going to do damage somewhere else? Chris

Treworgey 90 said:

My guess would be A Frame Ball Joint.

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Agreed

easy way to check if the A frame joint is warn jack a back wheel up a tad (still on the ground but most of wieght off it handbrake on) then have a wheel brace with a piece of pipe on it and try to tighton up a wheel nut the axle will rotate slightly

If you want to stress the wheel stud and possibly break one off.

So i should check the A frame ball joint even though the garage says its the center diff?

jai_landrover said:

If you want to stress the wheel stud and possibly break one off.

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christ! i know i dont know me own strength but my wheel studs aint made from swiss cheese, was'nt meening stand on a 12 ft scaffold tube just a extended tommy bar and not even putting my full weight on it
when my A frame joint was fooked thats how i found out it was the culprit for the bumpin (as discribed )

chrismasters said:

So i should check the A frame ball joint even though the garage says its the center diff?

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it dont take but 5 minutes and could save you being shafted big style

chrismasters said:

So i should check the A frame ball joint even though the garage says its the center diff?

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Well yes..unless you believe everything a garage ever says to you...they do ''occasionally'' make mistakes...what you got to lose??

cheers guys i'll hav a look at the a frame ball joint how buckshot described. should get to have a go on sat. let you know how it goes

chrismasters said:

Well i got it back after a couple of days... They checked everything and came to the conclusion that its the center diff thats got the slack in it. So for now im just driving it being very careful on the clutch and trying not to get a klonck. (But im sure its getting worse!) They said thats fine until it goes and then i can get it done. Or is driving it like this going to do damage somewhere else? Chris

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If its not the Ball joint as mentioned above, are they sure it is the diff and not the mainshaft/transfer gear worn. That (aswell as the ball joint) is one of the main causes of bang/knock/clunk when taking up drive/changing gear. There is not much left to check, everyone else has mentioned most possibilities.