h:i all, sorry for asking for help so soon after joining but my 04 Freelander td4 is vibrating like hell as soon as I get over 30mph, its not coming through the steering wheel and also isn't present at standstill when revving, which would leave me to believe its the rear wheels/ brakes, possibly drive shaft?

could this be something as simple as an unbalanced rear wheel? Also quite a bit of rust build up on outside of drums could this be related? Cheers for any help

Forgot to mention, there is also snow tyres on rear and standard on front, was like this when I got it not sure if that could also be a problem.

Is it 4WD or 2WD?

4wd as far as I know pal

Has it had replacement driveshafts recently? The cheap ones vibrate badly. (I have a sh!tpart one on the offside front and there was a pronounced wobble on acceleration. Almost disappeared when cruising.

Is there s split CV boot with no grease?

Could be wheels. Easy to check.

The 4WD system on the Freelander has basically a direct drive from the front to back wheels with a Viscous Coupling Unit splitting the prop shaft. It provides a small amount of continuous torque, and only allows a limited (very small) amount of 'slip' before it 'locks up'. Therefore on Freelander you should ALWAYS run 4 identical tyres and ensure they are pumped to the same pressure. If you don't you're liable to completely trash your transmission.

Check underneath to see if you've got props installed, and also jack a rear wheel and see if it turns - if it does its 2WD.

You may be lucky with that tyre mix - but I'd either change the tyres so they're all the same, or wip the prop shafts off until I could afford to.

However, that doesn't sound like this problem.

You're thinking its the rear because of lack of vibration in the steering wheel rather than it appearing to come from the back? So you can't tell where its coming from? It could be the rear transmission/suspension/wheel pieces, but if you do have props installed it could also be the prop/VCU support bearings (which are a common failure) or the prop UJs. If you're handy with the spanners its easy to drop the props & VCU as a single unit and you can check the bits.

I've got a mate who's land rover mad having a look this weekend think he mentioned vcu, am I looking at a fortune here? Hoping not just had a baby and crimbo on the way! Cheers for the help lads

Its good your mate mentioned the VCU - but the Freelander is a very different animal in its 4WD system to other Landies. In 'other Landie' terms - if the VCU 'locks up' it is like driving with diff lock engaged - it will trash the transmission with wind-up. They don't really lock up completely but they become stiff enough to create the same effect! I'm not saying your VCU has gone at all - they can last 20K miles or 250K miles - luck of the draw and you need to monitor them - research on here how to - eg "1 wheel up test", "turnip test" - checkout the cFaq.

As I said before a working VCU will allow a small amount of slip - this allows for different wheel speeds when cornering and tyre wear etc. If your tyres are different sizes - this creates a difference in speed between the front and rear axels and the VCU locks up - the outcome is the same as if the VCU was faulty.

Just because all 4 tyres say the same size (eg 198/80 15) it does not mean they are the same size. Different makes and models of tyre will have the same 'spec' but actually can have quite different rolling diameter. I guy on here even bought 4 'identical' tyres only to find out they were from different batches and it was enough to cause wind up in his transmission - so be careful.

I would NEVER drive a 4WD Freelander without 4 matching tyres. I drove mine with an underinflated tyre and it trashed my diff - I've learnt how important it is.

If I was in your position, I would remove the prop shafts until I could get 4 matching tyres on the car.

Removing the props is quick and easy. It will perform fine as a 2WD car and your transmission is safe. Once you've got the tyres, pop the props back on. Simple. The VCUs are about £250 and the diffs (IRD) £650 - so its expensive stuff to take risks with.

As I say, this has nothing to do with your vibration. The vibration may just be an unbalanced wheel or a bearing. I only bring all this up because you stated you were running 2 different types of tyre and did not appear to understand the consequences.

Cheers grumpy appreciate ur advice I'm new to landrovers! When you say same tyres do you mean same brand as well or will it be ok as long as they're all snow tyres?

mwoooten said:

Cheers grumpy appreciate ur advice I'm new to landrovers! When you say same tyres do you mean same brand as well or will it be ok as long as they're all snow tyres?

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Same brand, same model/version.

Nice one pal, just hope these tyres haven't been different for a long time and its messed anything up, you would think where ever the previous owner got then fitted would have advised on this. I'll get them orders tonight and check all tyre pressures etc.

Checked tyre pressures all ok apart front front passenger side, took it for a quick drive realized from 30 - 40ish its vibration then above that seems to go to a pulsating noise?