VCU Torque test results

Just bought on 04 Freelander 1.8 with 103000 miles. Tried the test but it wouldn't move at all so pulled the drive shaft off. It might not be seized solid but ain't far from it.

Alibro said:

Just bought on 04 Freelander 1.8 with 103000 miles. Tried the test but it wouldn't move at all so pulled the drive shaft off. It might not be seized solid but ain't far from it.

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Did you do the test by lifting 1 rear wheel?

Hand brake off during test?

If you lift both rear wheels do they spin freely?

Shamefully I have had my FL since October last year and I have still not done this test yet, I must get round to it what have done though while I have the rear up on axle stands to fit a back box exhaust, was spin one wheel in the forward motion as I did this the opposite wheel rotated spun rearwards.

Should this happen ?

Arctic2 said:

Shamefully I have had my FL since October last year and I have still not done this test yet, I must get round to it what have done though while I have the rear up on axle stands to fit a back box exhaust, was spin one wheel in the forward motion as I did this the opposite wheel rotated spun rearwards.

Should this happen ?

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Yes. It does this because there's a diff in the middle of the rear wheels, and both wheels are lifted oft the ground.

Hippo said:

Yes. It does this because there's a diff in the middle of the rear wheels, and both wheels are lifted oft the ground.

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Thanks that's a relief at first I thought that cant be right, still leaning a lot about these FL I must say though it is the first time I have owned one and so far am really enjoying it.

I intend to slowly replace all the bushes as they must be getting old now after 10 yrs but will do test asap and report back cheers for all the help Arctic2

Hippo said:

Did you do the test by lifting 1 rear wheel?

Hand brake off during test?

If you lift both rear wheels do they spin freely?

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Yes, one wheel off the ground and handbrake off. I tried slowly pulling the wheel around but it would only turn a little before springing back. Didn't try both wheels off the ground.

Alibro said:

Yes, one wheel off the ground and handbrake off. I tried slowly pulling the wheel around but it would only turn a little before springing back. Didn't try both wheels off the ground.

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not good

My VCU test results.
2004MY Freelander facelift TD4, no tow bar, 139k miles, ambient temperature 4 Celsius.
1.2 meter bar with 5.0 kg of bricks on 32mm wheel nut, one wheel lifted, handbrake off, time to go from 45 degrees to horizontal: 42,40,41,39 seconds.

So my VCU is okay for now.?

landyhaze said:

My VCU test results.
2004MY Freelander facelift TD4, no tow bar, 139k miles, ambient temperature 4 Celsius.
1.2 meter bar with 5.0 kg of bricks on 32mm wheel nut, one wheel lifted, handbrake off, time to go from 45 degrees to horizontal: 42,40,41,39 seconds.

So my VCU is okay for now.?

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Sounds like it's a hell of a lot better than mine anyway,
With that mileage it's probably been replaced already or it would be seized solid. Mine was seized and my car 04 K series has 103,000 miles.

I managed to do a couple of tests yesterday on the VCU, first time I have done one of these tests.

The first test Fl1 TD4 jacked up handbrake off first gear selected, breaker bar and a length of wood 1.2 metes, I used a 7.5kg weight, it took 1 minute 32 seconds to reach the ground.

What can you glean from that advise please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcHaBd3OX4A

The second test I used 12 kg weight and it took 45 seconds to reach the ground again does' this make my VCU ok ? cheers Arctic2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxm97H99hEU

I did the same as above and it took 2 minutes 2 seconds. :/

Arctic2 said:

I managed to do a couple of tests yesterday on the VCU, first time I have done one of these tests.

The first test Fl1 TD4 jacked up handbrake off first gear selected, breaker bar and a length of wood 1.2 metes, I used a 7.5kg weight, it took 1 minute 32 seconds to reach the ground.

What can you glean from that advise please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcHaBd3OX4A

The second test I used 12 kg weight and it took 45 seconds to reach the ground again does' this make my VCU ok ? cheers Arctic2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxm97H99hEU

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hippochris said:

I did the same as above and it took 2 minutes 2 seconds. :/

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What can we conclude from these tests you and I took, hopefully one of the more experienced members whom know more on the subject will tell us cheers Arctic2

anything of 30 secs for 90 degrees needs investigating further - over a minute, I would get it checked professionally, it could already be serious.

I've just done the test with a 7.5kg weight and got the following results -

1:53
2:00
1:45

I think my original test was flawed somewhat, but it still isn't looking good!

edit - Didn't see your post. This one is from a garage and has two months of a three month 'mechanical warranty' on it, this coupled with a banging noise from below the drivers seat, and oil coming out of the drivers side driveshaft from the IRD definitely does not look good, now just to convince the garage that the VCU is buggered and the IRD needs attention!

Out of interest, how much play should the propshaft bushes have? I can move mine quite a lot by hand...about an inch either direction.

(also, thanks for making this thread and getting everyone posting!)

What is serious ? the VCU as it as only been fitted as far as I know for 18 months before I bought the Fl ? drives great picks up all through the gear range and where would the best place be to have it checked in the West Midlands than you.

Some of the figures coming through recently are quite high. I would be looking to check if the rear brakes are rubbing. Lift both rear wheels and check they spin easily with the handbrake off. If ok then the next line of questioning would be the vcu.

I'll give that a go, I do have a slight whiring (is that a word?) noise from the rear when going along, could be that or a bearing perhaps? Or even the diff? Oh so many things to go wrong.

hippochris said:

I'll give that a go, I do have a slight whiring (is that a word?) noise from the rear when going along, could be that or a bearing perhaps? Or even the diff? Oh so many things to go wrong.

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Bearing or rear diff potentially. You could test for play in the diff by turning the prop connection flange without the prop connected.

Does it do it when turning left/right or both?

Just when I'm driving along straight, I don't think it changes appreciably when turning. It occurs at around 30mph upwards, although I think it tapers off around 50mph, but that could just be road noise drowning it out.

Will go out into the cold and test with both sides up now!

Edit - it's off to the garage as it's in warranty, shall see what happens.

hippochris said:

Just when I'm driving along straight, I don't think it changes appreciably when turning. It occurs at around 30mph upwards, although I think it tapers off around 50mph, but that could just be road noise drowning it out.

Will go out into the cold and test with both sides up now!

Edit - it's off to the garage as it's in warranty, shall see what happens.

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Hi please report back and let us know if you will thank you, I found that my brakes are in fact dragging I have ordered some new shoes, brake cables, already fitted the drums, and found at the same time the centre rear front bush as failed so have ordered all three to change I will then do another test, FL not being used until the above jobs have been completed.