Squeaking from IRD/Pinion

Hi chaps,

When I bought my 2002 td4 in sept 2013 right from the start it had a slight squeak that turns into an egg timer type of ticking sound as I go faster.

This noise seemed to be coming the engine area directly below the centre console.

I haven't really given it much thought until recently but I have taken the prop off to change the bearings and am staring to think its my ird.

The noise is getting louder and am wondering if it's the pinion that is squeaking as it's rotating and is possible to oil the pinion shaft?

Or am I clutching at straws and my ird is about to explode?

Thanks for any advice

llay101 said:

Hi chaps,

When I bought my 2002 td4 in sept 2013 right from the start it had a slight squeak that turns into an egg timer type of ticking sound as I go faster.

This noise seemed to be coming the engine area directly below the centre console.

I haven't really given it much thought until recently but I have taken the prop off to change the bearings and am staring to think its my ird.

The noise is getting louder and am wondering if it's the pinion that is squeaking as it's rotating and is possible to oil the pinion shaft?

Or am I clutching at straws and my ird is about to explode?

Thanks for any advice

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So there's no difference to the sound with the props removed? If so, I'd say its more likely to be something other than the IRD - but I'm usually wrong! If the ticking is directly proportionate to speed, then presumably it must be in the drive train as oposed to (say the) suspension.

When my IRD went, I had about a mile of a rattling/clicking sound (that I thought was the exhaust starting to rattle against something at the back of the car) - then bang! Huge metalic banging grinding noises. After I took the props off I was left with feint ticking increasing with speed - this was resolved by new bearings in the IRD.

Don't know about others experiences, but I do find that the Freelander is very difficult to assess where noises are coming from.

GrumpyGel said:

So there's no difference to the sound with the props removed?

Click to expand...

No, taking the Prop off has had no effect.

Was having the IRD bearing changed expensive?

llay101 said:

No, taking the Prop off has had no effect.

Was having the IRD bearing changed expensive?

Click to expand...

Over here there is nobody selling reconditioned IRDs and to get one shipped from the UK would have been very expensive. So I bought a kit containing the bearings, oil cooler and seals from Home | One Stop Gearbox Shop for about 130 quid and had it shipped over. I got the IRD off the car (and refitted it) but had a local workshop install the bits in the IRD which cost me about 250 - 300 quid. So all up it cost me about 400 quid and its going fine now.

Clutching at staws, but "ticking" would indicate CVs to me (possibly an inner CV if the sound is central in the car) - maybe check the boots see if there's any damage. A garage might be able to put it on a hoist and 'feel' for the problem as they turn the wheels.

Having said that, going by threads on here, unusual sounds are often due to worn out drop links.

GrumpyGel said:

Clutching at staws, but "ticking" would indicate CVs to me (possibly an inner CV if the sound is central in the car) - maybe check the boots see if there's any damage. A garage might be able to put it on a hoist and 'feel' for the problem as they turn the wheels.

Having said that, going by threads on here, unusual sounds are often due to worn out drop links.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.

Gives me something else to check out.

I would also check the disk brake rotor back shield. It was bent and touch the rotor on mine.

With the prop removed and both front wheel jacked up, can you rotate the wheels by hand ? Does it make any sound then ?