Single Clunk / Thud when accelerating in low gears

Hello

I`ve just purchased my first Land Rover.... Freelander Serengeti TD 02 plate (117k on clock), and am looking for a bit of help please.

When I first pull off, or if pressing the accelerator quite hard after going into 2nd (sometimes 3rd) - I hear a single "clunk" noise which seems to be coming from somewhere around the drivers side front wheel (although I`m aware that sound travels oddly when it comes to cars!!)

The noise isn`t particularly loud.....it sounds very similar to the noise made when you haven`t moved your car in a while and the brakes release from a "jam".

The car passed its MOT last week (day before I bought it) - without any advisories..... so I assume that it is not engine mounts, gearbox mounts, suspension (or whatever else they check)

The propshaft was removed from the car by the previous owner about 6 years ago (to rule this out)

Any advise would be greatly appreciated - I`m not that good with cars.....but are there any things that I could check myself before having to take it to a garage to get looked at and fleeced.

P.S..... The gearstick seems a little wobbly when driving - Is this normal, or does it have something to do with the "clunk"..... and have I bought a lemon? :confused2:

Thanks for looking

could be the large bush on the bottom engine mount that connects to the bottom of the IRD on drivers side

i would def start by looking there,they seem to go often

Thanks.... is that something i could look at myself? How would I know it`s faulty?

And.... if that`s all it is - How much would I be looking at for a repair?

Thankyou

Mine has that clunk. Its a worn driveshaft from what I have been able to deduce.

DuncanS said:

Mine has that clunk. Its a worn driveshaft from what I have been able to deduce.

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Would this have not been checked on the MOT?

Wishbone bushes .... Drop links .....

C13tay1 said:

Wishbone bushes .... Drop links .....

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Again....aren`t these checked on an MOT?

peterb107 said:

The propshaft was removed from the car by the previous owner about 6 years ago (to rule this out)

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I'm assuming you mean it has been a 2W drive then for the past 6 years.
Removing the prop isn't without it's risks to the ird and other issues, so can't be ruled out at all.

clarkkent said:

I'm assuming you mean it has been a 2W drive then for the past 6 years.
Removing the prop isn't without it's risks to the ird and other issues, so can't be ruled out at all.

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Yes, it`s been 2 wheel drive for a while now.

Just to note.... it ALWAYS clunks when moving off in 1st gear.

Does it in 2nd about 1 in 3 times (especially if I put my foot down a little)

Has done it in 3rd once.

I had a listen with my head out of the window whilst driving......it now seems to come from the back!?!?

Really annoying, as I`m afraid that I`m doing it damage and/or, it could be dangerous as I do a lot of motorway driving.

peterb107 said:

Yes, it`s been 2 wheel drive for a while now.

Just to note.... it ALWAYS clunks when moving off in 1st gear.

Does it in 2nd about 1 in 3 times (especially if I put my foot down a little)

Has done it in 3rd once.

I had a listen with my head out of the window whilst driving......it now seems to come from the back!?!?

Really annoying, as I`m afraid that I`m doing it damage and/or, it could be dangerous as I do a lot of motorway driving.

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If it's been 2WD for 6 years it's probably the engine supports as I think the engine rocks more without the propshaft and it's probably knackered something. I just refitted my propshaft and the car was transformed. Not sure about the TD4 but the engine but on my K series they are the same as Rover tie rods.

aren`t these checked on an MOT?

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depends on the inspector ..
they could miss some things that are freelander specific
( e.g. would they notice play in the *rear differential front mount* )

* that's often a cause for a 'clunk' when pulling away ..
or again from the rear of the vehicle .. could be the subframe mounting bolt(s)

take it to a landrover specialist ..
might cost a bit more but they will know what to look for

the various bushes / mounts that wear are not usually very expensive
( labour might cost more at an LR specialist )

The noise you have described sounds exactly like one I was experiencing. I was convinced it was coming from the front but it turned out to be the rear trailing arm bushes. Worth checking those out maybe

When i had the prop of my k series it did that all the time 2nd gear was worst.I put my prop back on and it stopped it but im gonna change my lower engine mount just so i know its done cous i cant see anything in my paper work to say it has been. But i would check ya rear diff bushes aswell, when i brought mine it was clunking going round corners and pulling off sometimes so the dealer changed the bushes and it solved it. I think the lower engine mounts are about £60 ish and they look quite easy to do.

Hope this helps

Thanks for the replies so far.... really helpful, and nobody has scared me with big £ signs yet!!!

I`ve got a mate of a mate coming over on the weekend (mechanic)..... so I`ll pass on these suggestions and ask him to have a look.

Will update if/when solved.

Thanks again

If it helps, I had similar (probably the same) thing with my Freelander (though mine is from 1998). I wasn't bothered by the noise but everyone else was complaining, it got kinda loud in the end. The clunk noise was happening going from 2nd to 3rd gear mostly and then my mechanic told me some bush needs changing, I didn't know that thing was making the noise but when they fixed it, it stopped. The total cost wasn't much, can't remember the figure from the top of my head but definitely was less than £200.

Now I am starting to hear lot softer clunk when pulling off, always happens when I release the clutch after certain point (unless I do it real slow), so will have that checked on Wednesday.

Rear subframe mounts ...?

I saw my mechanic earlier and he said there are three of those bushes, and thought the noise I have now is one of them because they changed only one before and the other two are also worn out and could use replacing.

peterb107 I have probably the same issue and I am wondering how to fix it. Please let us know how did your friend`s mechanic do on the matter and what did he find. I changed all bushes in the front , drop links, both front axle drives with aftermarket ones (allmakes 4x4) and I dont know if they are not to blame. Mounts of the engine and tie rod were not changed.

Update please

SOLVED!!

It was the rear centre (front) diff