Unknow rumbling noise....help needed.

I have a 99 1.8 Freelander 1 which is causing me some headaches....latest issue is a rumbling noise when moving. I have checked through a number of threads and can't find anything to match so hoping someone out there can help.

Garage 1 said front wheel bearings, Garage 2 has said VCU and rear diff (although noise comes from front - I know it can transmit down the shaft but seems excessive?) - also said it is dangerous to drive. Have had a third spannerman have a look and he is perplexed and seems to be pointing at the IRD. It is not tyre rumble and we have ruled out wheel bearings now. There is no knock, or bang, just a low drone that picks up with speed - fades slightly on a roundabout - and is getting worse. It feels like it is coming from the location of the VCU and the damper ring is loose but this seems too small an issue to make this much noise?

Thanks for reading and any ideas welcome!

remove prop and try it ,check ird rear drive flange while under there see if it feels notchy

Had similar problem last week i thought it was front passenger wheel bearing,ended up being the front carrier bearing on vcu,as above remove prop and inspect.

Is the noise proportunal to speed?

Not really; it gets slightly louder as you start off but the but above 10-20 mph its a static drone/rumble that does not increase the faster you go.

I have to say.. is it made by the driver?? Pretending to be a race car driver??

:crazy_driver:

Sorry!!

You evidently have not driven the underpowered petrol version! Would love that to be the case though....it would save me quite a few hundred pounds as nothing seems cheap to fix on these things!