Freelander 2 rear diff problems

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Update on rear diff....
Land Rover confirmed the diff needed the pinion input bearing repair - as per the technical bulletin for this problem LTB00342. Their way of dealing with the issue is to put the onus back onto the purchaser of the vehicle rather than own up to the fact that their earlier FL2 models had a big issue with diff integrity. They try to assess how loyal you are to LR by asking if this is your first LR and whether you get the vehicle serviced with them - then they proceed to tell you that they will cover a percentage of repair costs - in my case 25% as I clearly wasn't loyal enough for them. Well....I recommend pushing them much harder and also talking to LR headquaters (since this is where any dealership assessing your problem has to go to escsalate any issue anyway). I did this and without much effort LR were willing to cover 85% of the repair costs i.e. I have to pay less than £80 for the diff repair which should have cost ~£500. Basically they want to avoid saying they'll go to 100% as I guess this would be like saying they know they have a big issue and should recall all FL2 vehicles of a certain age.
I hope this helps anyone else with the same issue who also has LR trying to make them cover the costs of a LR problem. Hopefully LR monitor these threads and will start listening to their customers.......
 
I've got one that seems as though the diff lock is engaged and only dissengages if unplugged at the rear diff lock motor. Any ideas on this one

You have a short circuit, or the control unit is causing the Haldex pump to run constantly for some reason.
 
Hi im fitting a rear diff to a freelander 2 and wondered if it needs the software programmed in after fitting

My son is about to replace his diff on his 07 with 80k on the clock, for the same reasons as many other posters in this thread. He is going to attempt it with a mate who is good with the spanners. Straight swop with a low mileage diff from a write off, rather than a rebuild which may not be the best way of solving the problem?
Can't see why it would effect the software, but would be interested if someone actually knows for a fact.
 
That is a very easy job should not take longer than 2 hours. With what model year vehicle is he getting the diff from. From 2009 the Haldex was improved, never tried what he is going to do, cant see that it wont work, for me its easier to renew all bearings and seals.
 
On second thought the basic principals between the gen3 and gen4 diffs are the same the gen4 has quite a mouth full of improvements, I hope this works and would like to now its possible, opens doors for other Freelander 2 owners. It will be interesting to see if the software also works with each other.
 
My son is about to replace his diff on his 07 with 80k on the clock, for the same reasons as many other posters in this thread. He is going to attempt it with a mate who is good with the spanners. Straight swop with a low mileage diff from a write off, rather than a rebuild which may not be the best way of solving the problem?
Can't see why it would effect the software, but would be interested if someone actually knows for a fact.

Well the diff has been changed (Apparently it had been reconditioned and not from a damaged car) and the noise is still there. There were metal fragments evident in the old casing so although the change has not solved the problem, it has at least eliminated one possible future fault.
I guess the next step is to look at the Haldex, although I am still not convinced that the front wheel bearings are blameless???
RCV in Kent originally diagnosed the rear diff as the problem and it makes me wonder what would have happened if we had allowed them to change it and they found it was not the solution?
Doesn't seem as there are any software concerns after the change, so that's one question answered!
 
That is fantastic.....the software and obviously the wiring was plug and play, thanx for that.
What noise are you hearing, have you run the vehicle on a two post hoist with the wheels free to the speed you hear the noise and try and track the noise down.
 
Have to say that I am posting a bit third hand here as my son is in Kent and I am in Cornwall.
Apparently, this started with a bearing type noise that increased with speed and seemed load dependent on cornering but has lately developed into a "thunk, thunk, thunk" noise alongside the "whirring" noise but only over 30mph.
I haven't driven it for a while but clearly remember thinking it was a front wheel bearing going at the time.
He found that the rear shoes were sticking on as well and everything was shot to pieces so he has replaced the braking system on the back while the thing was in pieces.

He is working on his driveway, so no chance of a hoist. Guess he may have to put it into a specialist after all!
It really ****es me off that car manufacturers (not just LR) build expensive vehicles with no sense of responsibility for faults (safety excepted) after the expiry of the warranty.
A £30k vehicle should last more than 5/6 years with average mileage, without major replacement parts being required. They should at the very least make the parts available at a reasonable price?
 
Just to put my part of this to bed, my son took his 07 FL2 into Guy Salmon, Maidstone today to properly diagnose his knocking/bearing noise that RCV had said was a knackered diff...Turns out that it is a nearside wheel bearing which will be replaced tomorrow.

I have no axe to grind with RCV as I have found them to be very reliable in the past, but just goes to show how difficult noises are to trace......Rear diff v front bearing:der:
 
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Just to put my part of this to bed, my son took his 07 FL2 into Guy Salmon, Maidstone today to properly diagnose his knocking/bearing noise that RCV had said was a knackered diff...Turns out that it is a nearside wheel bearing which will be replaced tomorrow.

I have no axe to grind with RCV as I have found them to be very reliable in the past, but just goes to show how difficult noises are to trace......Rear diff v front bearing:der:

The youngsters of today.........or am I wrong.
 
I have a 2008 Freelander. It recently developed rear diff noises. Went to an independent garage - quoted c.£1,500 to repair. Rang LR customer care after reading forums and was told to take it to local LR garage and tell garage I'd been in contact with LR CC. Was quoted £500 by garage to repair inc VAT. LR CC agreed to contribute £250 - didn't have to pressurise them much into doing so other than say I'd been on the forums. £250 for this repair after 66K miles seems fair - but a recall for this particular age of vehicle would perhaps have been better customer PR.
 
I have a 2008 Freelander. It recently developed rear diff noises. Went to an independent garage - quoted c.£1,500 to repair. Rang LR customer care after reading forums and was told to take it to local LR garage and tell garage I'd been in contact with LR CC. Was quoted £500 by garage to repair inc VAT. LR CC agreed to contribute £250 - didn't have to pressurise them much into doing so other than say I'd been on the forums. £250 for this repair after 66K miles seems fair - but a recall for this particular age of vehicle would perhaps have been better customer PR.


That's interesting to know mine has Ben noisy for ages, might try and do the same
 
My experience with this diff problem is that they have painted the inner diff housing and with time and heat the paint makes grinding paste. Strip remove paint and crud fit new bearings and all is well . D3'S have the same problem. would have thought they had learnt from their LT 77 gearbox issues.
 
Hi all,

I have a 2008 freelander with an annoying diff noise....been quoted from LR dealer £1500 to repair the problem. WHY does it cost so much if its only bearings.
Any info gratefully received.
 
That's a quote for a complete differential assembly.

We are discussing the low level repair.

If your vehicle has front pinion bearing noise caused by pickup on the races, then a low level repair is viable. This is 90% of the time the level of repair required.

There is a LTB detailing this repair, accessible to all main dealers, so im not sure if you just rang up and asked how much to replace a diff or what? I'd definitely go get a second opinion though.
 
If we come up with a fix we'll put it up ere so we can fix the problem ourselves.
 
Hi Vissie,
Thanks for the reply, will take your advice regarding the second opinion, I have also contacted LR Customer care and they are looking into the possibility of contributing towards the cost. Will post the outcome in due course.
 
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