Speed related transmission noise

I've recently bought the wife a Freelander, yes I know

There's a noise which I'm trying to locate and was hoping for a few suggestions.

It's road speed related, and sounds similar to noise you'd get from a warped brake disc, if that makes sense. It's most noticeable from about 40 onwards.

I'd had a look underneath and found the front rear diff mount was completely broke, so that was replaced, but no change.
A bit of searching pointed towards the VCU bearings, so I drop the prop off and took it for a run, but still the same.
Next I got the front off the ground and had it running turning the wheels. I stopped each wheel while doing it but the noise continued, so I'm guessing that must rule out the driveshafts.
It sounds like it's coming from the gearbox area, but it's hard to tell from above.
Any ideas chaps?

Could it be the tyres? I had a whine/rumble at about 65-70mph and it went into the garage (LR specialist) they did replace a diff mount which helped but it is greatly helps by haveing decent matching tyres and even pressures - mine don't hence the noise but am in process of replacing all 4 anyway!
Hope that helps - i should caveat this by saying i know very little mechanically!!!
Andy

okies does the noise get worse when slowing down from about 35-40mph?

mine did that was an IRD bearing, probably the pinion, but not sure which was changed.

Can you see any oil leaking from the IRD, either at the front half shafts of front the prop pinion?

If is sounds like a milk float, there's no oil in it......found that one out the hard way

Vcu bearings?

Vertuas said:

okies does the noise get worse when slowing down from about 35-40mph?

mine did that was an IRD bearing, probably the pinion, but not sure which was changed.

Can you see any oil leaking from the IRD, either at the front half shafts of front the prop pinion?

If is sounds like a milk float, there's no oil in it......found that one out the hard way

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IRD has been my thought.
It's not got any leaks, or signs of them. I've not dropped the oil yet, but I'm assuming there's some in there.

rhodie said:

Vcu bearings?

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I'd thought that, but I've run it with the prop off and it was still the same

AndyT321 (FL1) said:

Could it be the tyres?

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No, I've had 4 new ones since we got it, and the noise was the same as it was before they got fitted.


Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep em coming

big red said:

IRD has been my thought.
It's not got any leaks, or signs of them. I've not dropped the oil yet, but I'm assuming there's some in there.



I'd thought that, but I've run it with the prop off and it was still the same



No, I've had 4 new ones since we got it, and the noise was the same as it was before they got fitted.


Thanks for the suggestions so far, keep em coming

Click to expand...

Mine was doing exactly the same a couple of weeks ago, plus the stering was making a slight groaning noise after about 100 miles.
I checked all the fluids, and the transmission fluid was level with the low line, so I topped it up. Haven’t heard anything since. Origionally I assumed it was crap in the rear drum breaks.

Posible ird or wheel bearing mate!

I'm going to drop the gearbox and IRD oils at the weekend to see if there's any clues in there.

I've eliminated the wheel bearings from when I had it running on stands, and the noise was definitely from the gearbox/IRD area.

At the moment I'm assuming IRD, and if it's something cheaper then it'll be a pleasant surprise. I've been in touch with Bell Engineering and the plan is to take it over there in a couple of weeks to get their opinion.

I've changed the gearbox and IRD oils today. Both were as you'd expect, and have now been replaced.
No change with the noise though

I really have grown to hate this car.

I took it down to Bell Engineering who diagnosed the noise as being the IRD, so I handed over £700 for a new IRD and VCU.
Today I've fitted both, and guess what, it's made no differance at all.
There's only really the gearbox left that it could be, but I'm not wasting anymore money on it. Looks like it'll be getting part exchanged in the near future, and hopefully someone else can then get it fixed under warranty.

Thats a shame spending money to fix the problem only to find it's still there.

Is the noise proportional to speed of the vehicle or the engine revs?
Is it the same if your revng the engine in neutral or driving in gear with vcu/prop off and front wheels in the air?
Does it happen in certain gears?

The noise is related to road speed, it happens in all gears and becomes noticeable from around 20mph onwards.
With the prop off and the wheels off the ground it sounds the same as when it's on the road

Got there in the end. Turned out it was a bearing in the gearbox. It's been replaced today, and it is finally fixed.
We've put about a grand into in the end, and we've grown to hate the thing, so it's going up for sale. Someone will get a good motor now everything on it has been done.

Sorry to hear that!
As you say, someone will get a nice car!

such a shame. You could keep it now you have replaced the expensive bits!

I just hate the thing now.
I'll stick with a Series, I'm much happier doing jobs on them

make sure you put it up for sale here. I might soon be looking for another one if the right one turnes up

Will do. It'll be going up for sale on Saturday