Freelander 1 Rear diff bracket and prop support bracket bushings u/s - poss damage to diff?

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

Hi all,
A rear diff bushing (front one) on my '05 Freelander 1 had gone and the diff was moving - took prop off for MOT - one of the prop support bushings is also u/s.. this vehicle was probably driven like this (not by me) for a few thousand miles - VCU "test" is ok.
My question : Before I replace the brackets and return to 4WD (which I would like to do) what are the chances that the diff (and/or the IRD for that matter) may have been damaged by driving with buggered bushings and how do I tell ?
With thanks for your advice
krgds
Rob

GrumpyGel · Sep 1, 2022

Which "test" did you do on the VCU?

The bushes/mounts/bearings can go all by themselves, but they are often casualties of the VCU being to tight.

I shouldn't imaging any damage would be done to the IRD. The F1 diffs can go, but are generally pretty good, so shouldn't be damaged. So long as the damage was not caused by a tight VCU.

Have you recently taken ownership of this car then?

Alteredtech · Sep 1, 2022

Hi,

Put a new vcu bearings and a new front diff mount. If the VCU is to tight the rubber part on the diff mount will not last months …

Look if the mounts have the same age as the car, so is normal that they need to be renewed.

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

GrumpyGel said:
Which "test" did you do on the VCU?
The bushes/mounts/bearings can go all by themselves, but they are often casualties of the VCU being to tight.
I shouldn't imaging any damage would be done to the IRD. The F1 diffs can go, but are generally pretty good, so shouldn't be damaged. So long as the damage was not caused by a tight VCU.
Have you recently taken ownership of this car then?

Thanks Grumpy, the "test" is the one mentioned here and elsewhere: timing the fall of a weight on a lever attached to the VCU - which is also said to be crude (hence the quotation marks)
Not long got the car back from loaning it out, been sorn for a while - just done mot and now sorting bits out, would like to get her to last as long as poss.[/QUOTE]

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

Alteredtech said:
Hi,

Put a new vcu bearings and a new front diff mount. If the VCU is to tight the rubber part on the diff mount will not last months …

Look if the mounts have the same age as the car, so is normal that they need to be renewed.

thanks - do you know of a way to properly test the VCU?

GrumpyGel · Sep 1, 2022

Rob Burns said:
thanks - do you know of a way to properly test the VCU?

If you timed attaching a weight to the VCU - where did you get the data for to know if the result was OK?

All the data on here relates to a known weight on a known rod length attached to the wheel (the "1 wheel up test"). If you used that data it will not be accurate - for example there is gearing of (iirc) 3.2:1 in the diff.

I don't think there is any data on LZ for checking a VCU that has been remove from the car - I may be wrong.

There's various threads about testing and in particular the 1wut - a link I have handy is ...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-1-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

andyfreelandy · Sep 1, 2022

Bench test is approx 1/3 of the time at the wheel. Diff ratio and only one wheel turning.

On bench a good one with 1.2m rod and 5kg takes about 10 to 15 seconds to cover 45 degrees.

Sad I have that in my head !!

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

GrumpyGel said:
If you timed attaching a weight to the VCU - where did you get the data for to know if the result was OK?

All the data on here relates to a known weight on a known rod length attached to the wheel (the "1 wheel up test"). If you used that data it will not be accurate - for example there is gearing of (iirc) 3.2:1 in the diff.

I don't think there is any data on LZ for checking a VCU that has been remove from the car - I may be wrong.

There's various threads about testing and in particular the 1wut - a link I have handy is ...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-1-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

hey Grumpy - brilliant - thanks for the link - I googled vcu test freelander and got a youtube video ..

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

andyfreelandy said:
Bench test is approx 1/3 of the time at the wheel. Diff ratio and only one wheel turning.

On bench a good one with 1.2m rod and 5kg takes about 10 to 15 seconds to cover 45 degrees.

Sad I have that in my head !!

Thanks Andy - I have just the rod - will run that test - 45 deg from where to where on the clock ? [1:30-3 ?] cheers ps NOT sad ! my head is full of that sort of stuff

Nodge68 · Sep 1, 2022

Rob Burns said:
With thanks for your advice

Does it have identical tyres on each corner, with the least worn on the rear?
If not then the VCU can transfer torque constantly, which causes damage to the diff mounts, and eventually the IRD.
Change the oil in the IRD (make sure you can remove the filler plug before removing the drain plug) and see what colour it comes out.
If it's just black and smelly then the IRD is ok to refill with fresh 75w90 fully synthetic GL5 gear oil.
If the oil comes out with a metallic sheen, then the bearing are breaking down and it'll need a rebuild. You can use it as a 2WD unit you are ready to rebuild the IRD or replace it, but obviously you'll need to put new oil in it while using the car as a 2WD.
If you don't have identical tyres on every corner, then don't reinstate 4WD until you do, as odd tyres is the fastest way to trash the AWD system.

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Does it have identical tyres on each corner, with the least worn on the rear?
If not then the VCU can transfer torque constantly, which causes damage to the diff mounts, and eventually the IRD.
Change the oil in the IRD (make sure you can remove the filler plug before removing the drain plug) and see what colour it comes out.
If it's just black and smelly then the IRD is ok to refill with fresh 75w90 fully synthetic GL5 gear oil.
If the oil comes out with a metallic sheen, then the bearing are breaking down and it'll need a rebuild. You can use it as a 2WD unit you are ready to rebuild the IRD or replace it, but obviously you'll need to put new oil in it while using the car as a 2WD.
If you don't have identical tyres on every corner, then don't reinstate 4WD until you do, as odd tyres is the fastest way to trash the AWD system.

thanks Nodge - I have yokahama geolanders on all four corners - would you recommend regular rotation front to rear to even wear ?
I will get onto the IRD and check the oil. Diff probably ok you reckon? I'm getting the jist that its pretty robust?
cheers

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

hmmmmmm the new diff hanger bushes I have to replace the old ones are polyurethane ... not too stiff are they?

Nodge68 · Sep 1, 2022

Rob Burns said:
I have yokahama geolanders on all four corners - would you recommend regular rotation front to rear to even wear ?

I used swap mine every 3k miles, which was about 1mm of wear. The VCU seemed to handle this difference ok.

Rob Burns said:
I will get onto the IRD and check the oil. Diff probably ok you reckon? I'm getting the jist that its pretty robust

The rear diff is more robust than the IRD. If it's in distress, it normally throws its oil out the breather.

Rob Burns · Sep 1, 2022

Nodge68 said:
I used swap mine every 3k miles, which was about 1mm of wear. The VCU seemed to handle this difference ok.

The rear diff is more robust than the IRD. If it's in distress, it normally throws its oil out the breather.

thanks for the advice Nodge - I will start swapping front to rear every 3k

Freelander 1 Rear diff bracket and prop support bracket bushings u/s - poss damage to diff?

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