Freelander 2 bearing noise

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Matt BB

Member
Posts
83
Location
North Devon
Hi guys, we have bought a freelander 2 to go with our freelander 1’s.

bought it with a list of jobs needing doing. All fixed now and just passed it’s mot.

But….. there is a noise front the front somewhere starts around 35/40mph (wur-wur-wur) noise. If I speed up noise is less noticeable. Does anyone know what’s likely on these to be the issue. I can feel it through the steering wheel. Which makes me think wheel bearings but I can’t feel any play at the wheel or they don’t sound rough spinning them. Noise it there in a straight line and doesn’t seam to change much turning wheel. Prop bearing or uj? Anything else?
 
The wheel bearings are known to fail, and aren't always easy to identify, as they often only make a noise, when the weight of the vehicle is on them.

The PTU can also make a noise, but I wouldn't think you'd feel that in the steering.
 
Would explain why when I jacked all 4 corners and ran it I couldn’t hear anything. It’s on 115k, it does feel like wheel bearings. Just was surprised as could t feel any play or hear anything when spinning wheel.
 
Fair enough, do you think the give away to wheel bearings would be feeling it in the steering wheel?
I'd say so, unless you have an issue with the PS pump or something.
The wheel bearings are know to fail, so that would be my first port of call, unfortunately they're expensive, or short lived, depending on what option you choose, i.e. full hub assembly, or messing about pressing bearings in.
 
I've got the exact same thing and I know it's not the PTU as this has just been replaced.
I rang Bell Engineering this week and Austin said his first port of call would be the front wheel bearings and he told me to hold the spring when spinning the wheel while checking them.
Just need the weather to improve...
 
Oh really, I just jumped on it again today and I swear it’s impossible it’s the bearings they sound and feeling fine.

I did however notice that the offside drive shaft was slack as you like, loads of play in and out. No play on other side . So I’ve ordered one up and I’m hoping it’s that??

should the shaft just move in and out easily?
 
What does holding the spring do? I will try tomorrow
It amplifies the wheel bearing vibration, so you can feel it.

And yes, there's always some in and out slop in a drive shaft, or the suspension movement would wear the bearing in the gearbox. There shouldn't be much axial movement though.
 
Ok but why is the passenger side not loose but drivers is slack (seams to move very easy)
Which way is the slack? Axially or radially? Have you measured the slack with the wheels on the ground, or with them in the air?
Got any videos of them?
 
Nodge, your bang on mate Ns front bearing shot! Take brake calliper off and spin the wheel.
They're like that. The bearings can feel fine when carrying out normal checks, they even pass MOTs just fine too. However hold the spring and spin the wheel, and it becomes evident there's an issue.
Are you pressing the old bearings out, and the replacement back in, or just replacing the whole knuckle assembly?
That's the way I'd go myself, the bearings are too easily damaged in fitting to an old knuckle assembly, so I'd just replace the whole lot. It's more expensive, but will normally last much longer.
 
Got my bearings already, and they are currently residing with the veg in deep freeze lol

smashed the old one out with the lump hammer, see how it goes tomorrow…. Fingers crossed.
 
All done nodge mate, went ok to be fair. Both went in straight and without too much pressure so I assume they will be ok.
 

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Just done the spring holding while spinning the wheel test which has confirmed my suspicion the the NSF wheel bearing is not 100%
Looks like I'll be making use of the warranty once again...
 
Surely wheel bearings are wear and tear items and not covered by warranty.
You have made me think and I've just dug out my warranty document which is actually a little ambiguous as far as wheel bearings are concerned...
It came from a Renault main dealer with a 6 month warranty which so far has proved its worth, but on the flip side I did pay a decent amount for said FL2.
Worst case I'll push for a contribution and could always drop a line to Renault UK...
 
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