Vibrating Freelander

Hello all, I'm new to the forum but wonder if anyone can help with a problem. I have a 2003 5 door Freelander. A vibration begins at 45mph and vibrates through the whole car in waves at all speeds upwards. The wave lasts about 3 seconds with a 1 second gap between successive waves. The vibration is constant at any speed and does not increase with road speed. It is the same in any gear and even if I coast in neutral.

I have had the wheels balanced, the viscous coupling and bearings replaced and a broken rear diff bracket replaced all to no avail.

Has anyone got any ideas please?
Thanks in advance,
StuartJ.

Sounds like a knackered drive shaft.

Thanks for that Irish. Can you help further and let me know how to check them to find the one with the problem?
Many thanks,
StuartJ

does the misus complane ?

Only when it stops!

When my drive shaft started to act up it felt like all the wheels were going in different directions.The whole vehicle rocked unbearably.
When I checked the drive shafts they didn't seem to rattle too much,until I had it up on the lift atthe tyre place,I went there to get all the wheels balanced.I could feelthe shaft rattling around in the cup that goes into the ird.It didn't feel too bad a few days before when I had the front wheels off the ground.
You can pick up new drive shafts for under £60,but it could also be something else

Thanks once again Irish. I'll get the car up on jacks tomorrow and see if I can find this movement you mention where the shaft goes into the IRD. My garage was making noises about replacing the IRD but I wasn't convinced. I'll let you know what I find.
Many thanks,
StuartJ

It was more like the cv joint on the ird end,where the shaftgoes into the cup,which is part of the drive shaft.Mine had lost all its grease and broke up the needle bearings.I hope I've made clear what I'm trying to explain.

Thanks Irish, you were spot on. Found the O/S front drive shaft has play in it at the IRD end. The N/S one has no movement so I'm guessing that the play is unacceptable. The movement was only apparent with the wheels hanging, on the ground everything appeared solid. Good call, I'll get onto it next week and post result on here in case anyone else is suffering the same problem.
Many thanks again,
StuartJ

Well, finally got round to replacing the drive shaft and got rid of one vibration only to find it was masking another! Gave in and asked the local LR guys to look at it - result knackered front prop. Bought a new one, put it on, runs like a Swiss watch. Thanks Irish for your help and also for the e-blag link re driveshafts- much appreciated.
StuJ.

I'm having a similar problem. The part of the main driveshaft that connects to the transmission (foremost coupling) is bad. The rubber boot inside is torn, and, of course, its all dried out. I've taken it (the driveshaft) to a driveline specialist and they're trying to see what remedies they have. The question I have is: now that the driveshaft is disconnected, does it do any harm to drive the vehicle for a few days, while the shaft is getting repaired?

Thanks for any answers.

It sounds like your refering to the prop shaft,yes its fine to drive with the prop removed.Imho it handles better and you get much better fuel consumtion,but you will be driving in 2w drive,so stay away from the wet green and brown stuff.

Guys,

Hope you dont mind me jumping in on this thread. I have had a vibration issue for MONTHS and trying to track it. felt like I was the only person in the world with this issue. However, this thread sounds exactly like the problem I am having. Today I removed the whole prop & CV joint. run the car up to 70 and feels like I am driving a washing machine on full spin. At lower speeds, say 35mph the car seems to wobble backwards and forwards and when I go round roundabouts to the right I also get the same slow wobble, obvously and 20-30mph, be silly to take a roundabout at 70 .

Do you think it sounds like a drive shaft. Like everyone else, I dont want to spend thousands on stuff thats ok. I see jacking up the car and checking the driver shaft connections is one way to check. Any other suggestions

Thanks in advance

its really not that hard to jack it up and try to rattle the cup that goes into the ird.

Hi again, ok I today jacked up the car with the wheels hanging freely. I shooks both drive shafts and niether seem to have excessive play. This problem has been driving me mad for months. I took it to Landrover who said... hmm can't see anything wrong, big watse of money!

I also shook the wheels to make sure the baring are not loose.

One thing I have noticed is a grindy, rattle noise when I pull of my drive to the left. not always, but on and off.

Also the car slowly wobbles back and forth around 30 mph.

Do you think this sounds like drive shaft or IRD?

Thanks

sounds like the brakes are binding or a warped disc

Driveshafts are known to cause vibration but it could be a tyre issue if you can feel the vehicle wobble. Grindy rattle noise? CV joint would fit with the vibration but I would expect it to make a noise on full lock every time. The thing with driveshafts is the only way to rule out is to replace. Warped disc would give steering wobble under braking so you can easily check that.
IIRC Darmain had an issue with noise and vibration which turned out to be a front driveshaft. Not sure if he could feel a wobble though. Perhaps he'll look in shortly and confirm.

when my drive shaft packed in it felt like all the wheels were going in different directions.It was a scarey wobble,it felt like it was going to shake itself apart.

Hi im very new to this forum. Ive got a freelander 1 2000 plate 1800 petrol ive just fitted a 35 mm suspension lift kit and nw I have a vibration when accelerating ive tried everything even changed both front shafts balanced wheels and done the tracking but its still there can any1 help?

I had similar on a 2005 1.8 and it was a cracked IRD bracket, as soon as I took it to Landrover they said thats what it would be and after replacement the car ran smooth as silk.