Whistler
Member
- Posts
- 98
- Location
- Devizes, Wiltshire UK
Hello, I'm looking for some advice please.
I've got a 2001 Freelander 1, the 1.8SE petrol version. Its got 75k miles on it. I bought it as a non runner because the timing belt had snapped, and ended up repairing that and replacing the head gasket. All good, runs really well now. But, once up and running I noted the transmission was tightening up a lot when reversing around a corner on full lock. I did enough forum searches to frighten myself into disconnecting the propshaft and ordered up a VCU from Bell Engineering. Disconnecting the prop made the problem go away. Whilst the prop was off I noted the rear diff whined from 30 - 50 mph, so replaced the oil in that and replaced the gearbox (manual) oil and IRD oil at the same time. Anyway, VCU arrived from Bell and I fitted it. According to Bell, the oil in the one I'd exchanged had thickened, but it was not as bad as most they see. I reversed out of the drive - and it was still really tight on full lock, with I can best describe as a "graunch" coming from the rear.
When we had the snow/frosty conditions, I reversed out of a parking space, on full lock, and as expected everything tightened up - then outer rear wheel "skipped" on the slippy surface and the tightness went away. I continued to reverse and it tightened up again, the same wheel (on the outside) skipped again.
So to me, this seems like a rear diff problem ? Its like the rear wheels will not go at different speeds when going round a corner.
Every where I've searched relates the tightness reversing around a corner to a knacked VCU. But mine has been replaced and its still bad, with the outer rear wheel skipping if the surface is slippery. Is there anything else that could be the culprit ? Driving in a straight line everything is fine, just a whine from the diff at about 40mph now the prop is connected.
I've got a 2001 Freelander 1, the 1.8SE petrol version. Its got 75k miles on it. I bought it as a non runner because the timing belt had snapped, and ended up repairing that and replacing the head gasket. All good, runs really well now. But, once up and running I noted the transmission was tightening up a lot when reversing around a corner on full lock. I did enough forum searches to frighten myself into disconnecting the propshaft and ordered up a VCU from Bell Engineering. Disconnecting the prop made the problem go away. Whilst the prop was off I noted the rear diff whined from 30 - 50 mph, so replaced the oil in that and replaced the gearbox (manual) oil and IRD oil at the same time. Anyway, VCU arrived from Bell and I fitted it. According to Bell, the oil in the one I'd exchanged had thickened, but it was not as bad as most they see. I reversed out of the drive - and it was still really tight on full lock, with I can best describe as a "graunch" coming from the rear.
When we had the snow/frosty conditions, I reversed out of a parking space, on full lock, and as expected everything tightened up - then outer rear wheel "skipped" on the slippy surface and the tightness went away. I continued to reverse and it tightened up again, the same wheel (on the outside) skipped again.
So to me, this seems like a rear diff problem ? Its like the rear wheels will not go at different speeds when going round a corner.
Every where I've searched relates the tightness reversing around a corner to a knacked VCU. But mine has been replaced and its still bad, with the outer rear wheel skipping if the surface is slippery. Is there anything else that could be the culprit ? Driving in a straight line everything is fine, just a whine from the diff at about 40mph now the prop is connected.