Hi everyone, especially Freelander 1 owners. I’ve just carried out an exercise that could be said to be ‘questionable’. Please allow me to explain.
When I parked my FL1 on a slope, the engine seemed to shut down with a vibration, causing the exhaust to knock and the bodywork to shake.
I suspected the engine-mounts were to blame, so went through a process of discovery and illimination.
All the mounts seemed to be 100%, - including the lower mount. However, when I drove that car after my efforts to discover what and if any mounts might be suspect, the car drove differently. It was a different beast. It was quieter, smoother and very comfortable. Until I switched off the ignition! The engine did its usual vibratory dance as it shut-down. Hmmm, I thought.
After thinking about this problem, overnight ( you wouldn't believe what I dream about - lol ), I decided to carry out a makeshift repair, using information gleaned from ‘YouTube’. A great source of valuable information.
I’m writing now - as having removed the lower mounting – again, to clean the rubber with a course file to make it rough. This would help to make it more acceptable to sticking to a substance that would help to make this unit better at absorbing vibration and my car better. I hoped.
See the pictures.
I used polyurethane from a tube to strengthen the shock-absorbing rubber of the original unit, and it was as sticky as anything could possibly be. I squeezed a level of the liquid into the cavity around the rubber-bush, both sides. Ensuring it was completely surrounded and engulfed. Allowing it to set, which took a couple of hours; I refitted the unit to the car and left it for the rest of the day & night.
Then I tested it. BRILLIANT!!!!!! My car was okay to begin with, except for a vibration when starting and shutting-down. Now it’s smooth in every direction. The drive is like that of a new car.
So, save yourself a few quid by using liquid polyurethane filler. It’s cheap and does miracles, in my opinion. Check it out on YouTube. I did. And... it works!
When I parked my FL1 on a slope, the engine seemed to shut down with a vibration, causing the exhaust to knock and the bodywork to shake.
I suspected the engine-mounts were to blame, so went through a process of discovery and illimination.
All the mounts seemed to be 100%, - including the lower mount. However, when I drove that car after my efforts to discover what and if any mounts might be suspect, the car drove differently. It was a different beast. It was quieter, smoother and very comfortable. Until I switched off the ignition! The engine did its usual vibratory dance as it shut-down. Hmmm, I thought.
After thinking about this problem, overnight ( you wouldn't believe what I dream about - lol ), I decided to carry out a makeshift repair, using information gleaned from ‘YouTube’. A great source of valuable information.
I’m writing now - as having removed the lower mounting – again, to clean the rubber with a course file to make it rough. This would help to make it more acceptable to sticking to a substance that would help to make this unit better at absorbing vibration and my car better. I hoped.
See the pictures.
I used polyurethane from a tube to strengthen the shock-absorbing rubber of the original unit, and it was as sticky as anything could possibly be. I squeezed a level of the liquid into the cavity around the rubber-bush, both sides. Ensuring it was completely surrounded and engulfed. Allowing it to set, which took a couple of hours; I refitted the unit to the car and left it for the rest of the day & night.
Then I tested it. BRILLIANT!!!!!! My car was okay to begin with, except for a vibration when starting and shutting-down. Now it’s smooth in every direction. The drive is like that of a new car.
So, save yourself a few quid by using liquid polyurethane filler. It’s cheap and does miracles, in my opinion. Check it out on YouTube. I did. And... it works!