Freelander 1 Refit propshaft or not?

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HarryCarry

HarryCarry

Member
Posts
18
Location
Perthshire
well I've had my Landy for a week. It's only had 2 owners from new, the second owner had it for 15 years and it's been regularly serviced. Its had the head gasket done. It's covered 78000 miles and we have all the old MOTs to back this up. I contacted the garage who serviced the car to find out why the propshaft had been removed. The VCU was on the way out and as the owner drove roughly 2500 miles per annum they decided not to replace it. I've been assured the ird is fine.
My question....Do we replace the propshaft and put the car back to 4 wheel drive or, as has been suggested, just buy winter tyres for it?
I've been told they are prone to wheel spin in 2 wheel drive.
Basically, we just want to be able to get out and about locally should we get snow. Our main car is automatic and is useless in snow as we have a small hill to climb to get on to the main road.
Any advice would be most welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Ann
 
you can replace the VCU quite cheap with either a good recon' one about £200 [Bell's Engineering viewed positively on here] or a new one from a parts supplier. Then you will be completely ready for winter's worst.
 
*requires / wants 4wd car for snow
*buys 4wd car and asks if it should be left in 2wd.


I really do wonder about this forum sometimes.
 
dave21478 said:
*requires / wants 4wd car for snow
*buys 4wd car and asks if it should be left in 2wd.


I really do wonder about this forum sometimes.
Click to expand...
Well Dave, some of us are new to this. We didn't know the propshaft had been removed when we bought the car. I'm here looking for advice. Thanks for your input!
 
htr said:
you can replace the VCU quite cheap with either a good recon' one about £200 [Bell's Engineering viewed positively on here] or a new one from a parts supplier. Then you will be completely ready for winter's worst.
Click to expand...

Thank you htr. If the car gets a good report on Monday after its service then this is the route we are likely to take.
 
We often come across vehicles where the vcu has been removed as it's said to have failed, or the owner thinks it's going to save them money on fool. It's more likely the rear diff and/or the IRD has a problem and removing the vcu has hidden the problem so it can still be driven. Often peeps don't realise the vcu and/or props have been removed until they come on ere. Easy mistake to make but not many peeps research vehicles until they've bought them, or find they have a problem.

IRD = intermediate reduction drive = fixed ratio transfer box.
 
Hippo said:
We often come across vehicles where the vcu has been removed as it's said to have failed, or the owner thinks it's going to save them money on fool. It's more likely the rear diff and/or the IRD has a problem and removing the vcu has hidden the problem so it can still be driven. Often peeps don't realise the vcu and/or props have been removed until they come on ere. Easy mistake to make but not many peeps research vehicles until they've bought them, or find they have a problem.

IRD = intermediate reduction drive = fixed ratio transfer box.
Click to expand...

as above , plus not being rude but are all the tyres the same size, type and tread depth the same , very important
 
If yu bought it from a garage it is their responsibility to ensure its fit for purpose and replace vcu/prop shaft. If the IRD or rear diff has gone, it could be an expensive job
 
Guys thank you all for the info. To put you in the picture, the vehicle has been well maintained by is previous owner of 15 years. He is no longer able to drive it due to ill health and it was sold for a pittance by his son in law who knows even less about Landys than we do. We have spoken to the garage that serviced it over the 15 years and he confirmed the propshaft was removed as the VCU was/ had failed. He assured us no damage to ird unit. The car has obviously been well looked after. The inside is immaculate, the only thing no working( this is covered by a red cardboard cutout) is the passenger side window. We have yet to investigate this. The car sits on a healthy set of Bridgestone grabbers. It has been used (2500 miles per annum) for trips to the shops and local running about.

I am trying to establish whether it's worth our while replacing the propshaft( with a risk to problems down the line plus the expense) or
Get a set of winter tyres and drive it as is.

Thanks all for your comments.
 
You might want to get more info on the "failed" VCU and how they know it failed. Most people think they will notice a difference if they fail but unfortunately the first sign you'll notice is the loud bang as the drive train explodes. The VCU is supposed to allow the front and rear prop shaft to turn independently on the road and lock up on slippy ground. A failed VCU will still be locked up on slippy ground but unfortunately will be locked up on the road too, hence the drive train ie IRD and/or the diff give up instead.

Edit BTW A Freelander in 2WD is rubbish on anything but a bone dry road as it will spin the wheels everywhere and may also give a jumpy drive.
 
In my opinion a Freelander in 2 wheel drive is not worth owning (like a watch with one hand)
An estate car would be a better option.
As a 4 wheel drive they are a very capable and versatile vehicle.
 
HarryCarry said:
Guys thank you all for the info. To put you in the picture, the vehicle has been well maintained by is previous owner of 15 years. He is no longer able to drive it due to ill health and it was sold for a pittance by his son in law who knows even less about Landys than we do. We have spoken to the garage that serviced it over the 15 years and he confirmed the propshaft was removed as the VCU was/ had failed. He assured us no damage to ird unit. The car has obviously been well looked after. The inside is immaculate, the only thing no working( this is covered by a red cardboard cutout) is the passenger side window. We have yet to investigate this. The car sits on a healthy set of Bridgestone grabbers. It has been used (2500 miles per annum) for trips to the shops and local running about.

I am trying to establish whether it's worth our while replacing the propshaft( with a risk to problems down the line plus the expense) or
Get a set of winter tyres and drive it as is.

Thanks all for your comments.
Click to expand...
It sounds like a good garage if they've kept it going all those years. If they know the vehicle and trust it then get them to give it a once over (play in pinion etc - sounds like they know about Freelanders anyway) and if they give it good health then get a prop/vcu etc fitted. They'll be able to test drive it for you if yer not too sure. They will be able to check the vcu but it sounds like it needs replaced anyway so get another fitted. It's the only way to find out if there's nothing wrong when they inspect it. Get new bearings fitted on the vcu too. If a problem shows then get the props/vcu taken oft again. Sounds like you've got yerself a luck find.
 
Thank you hippo. We know the chap that owned the car. He is a car enthusiast and also owned a Mercedes 200t which he has again had for a number of years. We haven't been able to speak to him since he moved into a retirement flat but he's not that far away and we intend speaking to him soon so he can tell us more about the car. I'd love to put it back to 4 wheel drive. As far as I can gather from the garage the owner had trouble with the steering being stiff when reversing. I know this is usually attributed to the VCU. I'm guessing that because he was doing such a small mileage it was a cheaper option for him just to remove the propshaft.
 
My freelander is currently in 2wd mode as I am doing some maintenance on my prop, I will also be replacing the VCU.

The car is rubbish in 2wd, apart from being slightly more economic on fuel, but not by much. It handles like poo in the dry and will be even worse in the wet and snow!

I can't wait to get the prop back on. for a couple of hundred quid it is well worth the money to put back to 4wd ... in my opinion :)
 
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