VCU is tight, should I disconnect the 4WD?

GrumpyGel · Nov 21, 2013

Brack said:
Rubbish

I look after my cars pretty well. My 80,000 miles Freelander is currently on axle stands having just put my IRD back in last night. Thats after a couple of weeks wait for bearings from the UK, couple of weeks wait for the shop to fit them, a couple of weeks wait to get the cash together to have it done and a couple of weeks wait procastenating as to whether its worth doing anyway. I had about 2 miles of a mild knocking before it all went bang - no tight reversing or any other sign anything was up.

Think I'm entitled to a mildly sarcastic opinion based on my experience and reading the many many threads on here!

Having owned Discos for over 10 years before the Freelander, loving them and would preferrred to have got another, I took 2 peices of advice before I bought the car...

1) My brother who had about 250 guys working for him building JLR prototypes, he said - GET A DISCO NOT A FREELANDER - primarily because of this issue.

2) My wife who has been great pumping the trolly jack whilst I manouver the IRD but other than that knows nothing about cars, she said - I WANT A FREELANDER.

Well, we can see who won, and we can see who was right!

Having said that, and I do find the Freelander a bit 'boring' after the Discos, I can't help but like the car. If it wasn't for the reliability problems of drive to the rear wheels, it would be a fantastic little package.

Freelaner · Nov 21, 2013

musky81 said:
You're right Freelaner......im patiently waiting for the promised snow!!

me too

musky81 · Nov 21, 2013

The Mad Hat Man said:
look in the CFAQ section - all is revealed.

Good reading. Im just glad I got mine changed recently, regular one wheel up tests from here on in.

Brack · Nov 21, 2013

GrumpyGel said:
I look after my cars pretty well. My 80,000 miles Freelander is currently on axle stands having just put my IRD back in last night. Thats after a couple of weeks wait for bearings from the UK, couple of weeks wait for the shop to fit them, a couple of weeks wait to get the cash together to have it done and a couple of weeks wait procastenating as to whether its worth doing anyway. I had about 2 miles of a mild knocking before it all went bang - no tight reversing or any other sign anything was up.

Think I'm entitled to a mildly sarcastic opinion based on my experience and reading the many many threads on here!

Having owned Discos for over 10 years before the Freelander, loving them and would preferrred to have got another, I took 2 peices of advice before I bought the car...

1) My brother who had about 250 guys working for him building JLR prototypes, he said - GET A DISCO NOT A FREELANDER - primarily because of this issue.

2) My wife who has been great pumping the trolly jack whilst I manouver the IRD but other than that knows nothing about cars, she said - I WANT A FREELANDER.

Well, we can see who won, and we can see who was right!

Having said that, and I do find the Freelander a bit 'boring' after the Discos, I can't help but like the car. If it wasn't for the reliability problems of drive to the rear wheels, it would be a fantastic little package.

Of course you are entitled to make your comment, it was not obvious to me (anyway) that you were being sarcastic hence my reply of Rubbish

Zigster · Nov 21, 2013

When I bought my hippo, it was sold to me as 2wd.
I have known the guy I bought it off for over 20yrs and he was perfectly honest. Explained that the rear diff had gone on him whilst driving home from Liverpool, so he removed the prop and VCU and cut the rear driveshafts.

I recently had it put back to 4wd by a good friend and mechanic who has been looking after freelanders for many years, using a s/h diff, prop and VCU he just happened to have lying around.

After driving it a week or so and taking it offroading for some SERIOUS fun, I have now had him take the prop and VCU back off, mainly because after digesting as most if not all of the fantastic amount of info and advice on here, I am 99% convinced the VCU is stiff, and the bearings were shot and rumbling.

Luckily he happens to have another couple of VCU's so I ordered new bearings last night and as soon as they are delivered we'll be trying VCU no.2

I too am waiting impatiently for the forecast snow...

Hippo · Nov 22, 2013

thizzlemania91 · Nov 22, 2013

Man you guys have it easy for replacing a rear diff and prop bearing in the UK I payed about $900 US dollars. I searched everywhere for te cheapest and best value :/

teddywood1 · Nov 22, 2013

Zigster said:
When I bought my hippo, it was sold to me as 2wd.
I have known the guy I bought it off for over 20yrs and he was perfectly honest. Explained that the rear diff had gone on him whilst driving home from Liverpool, so he removed the prop and VCU and cut the rear driveshafts.

I recently had it put back to 4wd by a good friend and mechanic who has been looking after freelanders for many years, using a s/h diff, prop and VCU he just happened to have lying around.

After driving it a week or so and taking it offroading for some SERIOUS fun, I have now had him take the prop and VCU back off, mainly because after digesting as most if not all of the fantastic amount of info and advice on here, I am 99% convinced the VCU is stiff, and the bearings were shot and rumbling.

Luckily he happens to have another couple of VCU's so I ordered new bearings last night and as soon as they are delivered we'll be trying VCU no.2
I too am waiting impatiently for the forecast snow...

I hope they were not from Freelanderspares or you will keep replacing them

Zigster · Nov 22, 2013

teddywood1 said:
I hope they were not from Freelanderspares or you will keep replacing them

No, luckily, they are what's left from the many that he has broken over the years.
Got myself an undertray, some folding mirrors and the newer style clear indicator headlights too

Nodge68 · Nov 22, 2013

Freelaner said:
mine was refurbed with some "new and improved" viscous fluid, apparently.

the best thing for vcu health is to get it working every now and then by off roading to get it actually doing summat.

tarmac kills vcu's by keeping them inactive.

I tend to agree. I'v just tested mine after it's sat on my bench for 6 months. It's stiffer than it was before it was laid up!!

Hippo · Nov 23, 2013

If you were to take it for a drive on tarmac the vcu would turn enough to solve this, even if the fluid had sunk to one side. Mine was oft the road on 2 occasions for a year. The second time it had a drive of 5 miles only at the half way point. That was years before I first tested it.

VCU is tight, should I disconnect the 4WD?

Should I disconnect the VCU until I replace it

Yes

No

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

Freelaner

Landy Driver

musky81

Active Member

Brack

Well-Known Member

Zigster

Active Member

Hippo

Lord Hippo

thizzlemania91

Active Member

teddywood1

Well-Known Member

Zigster

Active Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

Hippo

Lord Hippo

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