What am I?

I started to get a noise from my drive train & looking for indications as to what it may be before taking it to get looked at/fixed.

I sound like a dry bearing but there is no associated rumbling feeling & it is not affected by steering or braking.
The gearbox feels ok, no vibration through gear lever & no problems engaging or holding gears.
There is no change in pitch or noise level based on speed of vehicle – except when just about at stand still when the noise disappears.
The noise is present when in neutral & when clutch is depressed.

I sound very much like a sticking brake pad/shoe but there is no drag felt or smell from anywhere.

What am I?

propshaft centre support bearing? (the ones either side of the VCU).

Just to clarify:

Noise when stationary, in neutral, with clutch depressed/down.

Does this mean that when stationary, in neutral, with clutch pedal up, there is no noise.

If the above is correct - then I suspect your problem is the clutch release bearing.

had exact noise on my freelander - vcu support bearings chief, get a bit of sand in one and they start to sound like a dry growling noise from under your gearstick area?!

Singvogel said:

Just to clarify:

Noise when stationary, in neutral, with clutch depressed/down.

Does this mean that when stationary, in neutral, with clutch pedal up, there is no noise.

If the above is correct - then I suspect your problem is the clutch release bearing.

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other way round. defo not a release bearing, i know the signs of those from past cars.

joe27979 said:

had exact noise on my freelander - vcu support bearings chief, get a bit of sand in one and they start to sound like a dry growling noise from under your gearstick area?!

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any idea cost wise what i'm looking at?

Hi are your tyres all the same make/model/size ?

if it is your prop bearings then they are about £66 for the pair.
Try removing your VCU and props-take it for a spin and see if noise disappears

Ian jones said:

Hi are your tyres all the same make/model/size ?

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not sure Ian, i dont think so but i know that can cause problems. the issue has only just surfaced after 6 weeks of owning the car

fatblokexl said:

not sure Ian, i dont think so but i know that can cause problems. the issue has only just surfaced after 6 weeks of owning the car

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Hi take the car for a run , then get under and feel the vcu (in the middle of the propshafts) if it is very hot , you have a problem , i had a drone on mine caused by mismatched tyres , worth a check , if left would have killed my drivetrain

still done anything with this yet but have established the following since i initially posted.

1) the noise is present during any form of forward motion - powered or unpowered. i have switched of the engine on the road and drifted along, engine off and it's still present.

2) the noise has gradually over time started to increase/decrease in pitch with vehicle speed. slightly higher the faster you are and visa versa.

i dont think it is the VCU support bearings as i assume the prop shaft will only turn when the vehicle is in gear and powered up. as per point 1.

starting to think it is someting to do with the front nearside drive shaft. not to sure of the terminology on 4x4's but the part where the drive shaft leaves the gearbox section of the engine. the noise seems to come from that area of the cabin when i'm driving.


is it possible that part of the drive train has its own oil and maybe this is dry or as in the original post could a bearing be dry if they have any...im sure they would.

has anyone any experience of this or replacing this?

not to keen on garages as i know they like to rip people off if they think they have a non educated customer. if i have a better idea of the issue this may help

I think you have made a wrong assumption in item 2.

If the wheels are turning the prop-shaft is turning and the VCU support bearings are turning too.

The symptoms you describe are typical of worn VCU support bearings - possibly only the one - usually the front one.

I had the same symptoms last September.

Top quality GKN mounts with FAG bearings are only £38 a pair from from Foundry4X4 delivered next day.

Get a local independent garage to fit them - easy job on a hoist - 2 hours - sometimes difficult to separate the shafts from the VCU.

i take it your troubles were cured?

fatblokexl said:

i take it your troubles were cured?

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Oh yes - problem solved - car is quiet again.

I had trouble diagnosing the fault - I suspected wheel-bearings, IRD - all srts of things.

Local independent had it raised up with all wheels off the ground and set it running - the mechanic found the source in less than 2 minutes.

Confirmed by taking the bolts off the VCU mounts and lowering the VCU just enough to spin the bearing mount on the shaft.

Beware - the VCU and shafts are pretty heavy and this is a 2-man job. Don't lower it too much as you will risk damage to the UJs at each end of the shaft - diff and IRD.

I was greatly relieved that it turned out to be an easy 'cheap' repair.

Good luck.

Singvogel.

cheers, the bearings on that website are cheaper than the price you suggested, are they the same make as you got? hard to tell

fatblokexl said:

cheers, the bearings on that website are cheaper than the price you suggested, are they the same make as you got? hard to tell

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That's a surprise!!!!

On eBay the same Foundry4X4 are selling the bearings at £40 post free??
eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

The bearings are pretty heavy so on F4X4s website that would be £8.50 to deliver so the total would be £35.50

When you take into account eBay and PayPal fees that explains it.

You could always phone and check of course - but I suspect they are the same GKN mounts with FAG bearings.