Freelander 1 Vicious coupling age

Alibro said:

I used a 5 litre container to test mine and a bungey cord to hold the stick to the socket. On my 2nd homebrew repaired VCU I got around 6 seconds but I think that might be because it is leaky and will need rewelded.
My previous attempt was better sealed and took around 11 - 13 seconds.

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Can I ask Alibro. What viscosity fluid did you fill your VCU with? I've just received 400ml of 30,000 cts which is the grade used in the VW Synchro.
From research I've done on the Freelander VCU, most places recommend 100,000 cts. This is a bit thick I feel for a vehicle that spends most of its life on the road. Off road, it might take a bit more spinning at the front to wake up the rear but not much more than normal. Thinner is definitely kinder to the IRD and diff.

Not 100% sure, I can't remember which I ordered but it was less than 100,000. The jar came with 100,000 on it so I can only assume that's what it is. Having said that I thought the VCU was looser than factory so not sure what to make of that but happy anyway as the drive train had taken a hammering from the locked up VCU.

OK here I go,
Had a play on slippery ground tuther day, all way OK.
Today i did a 1½ mile trip to a dry area ( garageless at home)
Air temp about 5°c and VCU felt cold
VCU dated 05 on my 55 reg
1.2 m alloy bar
9kg took 15 sec
4.5kg took 24 sec
2.8kg took 43 sec
Feeling sort of comfortable with that (well as comfortable as you can be with a 11 year old VCU)
I'll be keeping an eye on it.
Now to eradicate the damn creek in my front l/h suspension (grr)

Papabear said:

OK here I go,
Had a play on slippery ground tuther day, all way OK.
Today i did a 1½ mile trip to a dry area ( garageless at home)
Air temp about 5°c and VCU felt cold
VCU dated 05 on my 55 reg
1.5 m alloy bar
9kg took 15 sec
4.5kg took 24 sec
2.8kg took 43 sec
Feeling sort of comfortable with that (well as comfortable as you can be with a 11 year old VCU)
I'll be keeping an eye on it.
Now to eradicate the damn creek in my front l/h suspension (grr)

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My maths ain't to the job of extrapolating that to the test I did, ie 1.2m bar and 5kg weight but a rough guestimate would have it between 30 and 50 seconds. I'd be happy with that so long as the tyres are in good condition.
re the suspension creek, I thought all Freelanders had that. Mine was fine til I took it to the MOT centre where they shook the b'jesus out of it. Had a creek ever since.

Alibro said:

re the suspension creek, I thought all Freelanders had that. Mine was fine til I took it to the MOT centre where they shook the b'jesus out of it. Had a creek ever since.

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Bought it with the creek thinking "ah a nice little creek to fix to start with".
A knackered drop link (it passed its MOT where I bought it and it was well pooped), bottom arm bushes, anti roll bar bushes, under bonnet n wing bolt check including strut top check and tighten the dashboard later and she still creeks. Sounds a bit like a bolt thread being dragged across an edge.. Ah well I now know nowt is gonna drop off in that corner lol

Papabear said:

Bought it with the creek thinking "ah a nice little creek to fix to start with".
A knackered drop link (it passed its MOT where I bought it and it was well pooped), bottom arm bushes, anti roll bar bushes, under bonnet n wing bolt check including strut top check and tighten the dashboard later and she still creeks. Sounds a bit like a bolt thread being dragged across an edge.. Ah well I now know nowt is gonna drop off in that corner lol

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I replaced the track rod end and am about to replace the wishbone so will report back afterwards but the noise in mine sounds like it is similar to yours. If you ever get it sorted please share how.

Alibro said:

I replaced the track rod end and am about to replace the wishbone so will report back afterwards but the noise in mine sounds like it is similar to yours. If you ever get it sorted please share how.

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I am beginning to think it might be the strut, can't see owf wrong with it but ya never know.
Yeah if I sort it I'll post it.

Papabear said:

I am beginning to think it might be the strut, can't see owf wrong with it but ya never know.
Yeah if I sort it I'll post it.

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If it is just a creek? Spray some silicone dry lubricant on the top spring seat. This is often the cause of such creeks. It happens because the spring rotates slightly as the suspension compressed then relaxed again.

Nodge68 said:

If it is just a creek? Spray some silicone dry lubricant on the top spring seat. This is often the cause of such creeks. It happens because the spring rotates slightly as the suspension compressed then relaxed again.

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Thanks for that Nodge68, I'll give it a go

I tried ours today.

Year 2002 TD4
about 130,000 miles
1.2 m bar
from 1:30 to 3 on the clock face, so 45 degrees
5 litres of water
apparently it's 15 deg C outside

29 seconds

I guess that this is not really a cause for concern?

Nodge68 said:

If it is just a creek? Spray some silicone dry lubricant on the top spring seat. This is often the cause of such creeks. It happens because the spring rotates slightly as the suspension compressed then relaxed agai

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Thank you Nodge68, a liberal does of silicone spray pointed past the spring to the top of the strut and some on the strut top nut and plate and bingo silent suspension. Give it a go Alibro
Now I can hear the rest of the noises lol

Alibro said:

replaced the track rod end and am about to replace the wishbone so will report back afterwards but the noise in mine sounds like it is similar to yours. If you ever get it sorted please share how.

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I don't know if you've read my post above Alibro, but the silicone spray worked for me, well worth a try.
Duh, I've just remembered this is how I stopped the wifes super reliable(whispers behind hand) CRV from creaking

pscan.eu said:

I tried ours today.

Year 2002 TD4
about 130,000 miles
1.2 m bar
from 1:30 to 3 on the clock face, so 45 degrees
5 litres of water
apparently it's 15 deg C outside

29 seconds

I guess that this is not really a cause for concern?

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To me that sounds reasonable but the only true peace of mind would be a new/recon VCU.

pscan.eu said:

I tried ours today.

Year 2002 TD4
about 130,000 miles
1.2 m bar
from 1:30 to 3 on the clock face, so 45 degrees
5 litres of water
apparently it's 15 deg C outside

29 seconds

I guess that this is not really a cause for concern?

Click to expand...

That's better than mine. Mine returned about 45 seconds for the same 1:30 to 3:00 position with the same weight and length.

Papabear said:

Thank you Nodge68, a liberal does of silicone spray pointed past the spring to the top of the strut and some on the strut top nut and plate and bingo silent suspension. Give it a go Alibro
Now I can hear the rest of the noises lol

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Thanks Nodge/Papabear, will give it a go but need to buy some silicone spray first.
Don't suppose WD40 or Plusgas would do the same job?

Alibro said:

Thanks Nodge/Papabear, will give it a go but need to buy some silicone spray first.
Don't suppose WD40 or Plusgas would do the same job?

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Yes until it dries out

pscan.eu said:

I tried ours today.

Year 2002 TD4
about 130,000 miles
1.2 m bar
from 1:30 to 3 on the clock face, so 45 degrees
5 litres of water
apparently it's 15 deg C outside

29 seconds

I guess that this is not really a cause for concern?

Click to expand...

I'd be happy with that.