Freelander handling problem

I am encountering a very strange handling problem on my Freelander TD4. If you take going across a roundabout as an example. You enter the roundabout and steer left initially and then turn the steering right. When you come to exit the roundabout you start to turn the steering to the left. When you do this the vehicle feels like it is either tracking in a rut or understeering. Suddenly the vehicle seems to grip and turns to the left but violently causing the whole vehicle to get into a nasty wobble which rocks the whole body.

Does anyone have any ideas on this? It does not happen all the time but I am concerned that this is the start of something worse.

Could this be a tracking issue or steering rack? From what I can see the suspension is not seized at any corner.

Any help appreciated.

Dunno the Freelander at all, but it sounds like a Disco on road with the difflock engaged, so it's possibly the viscous coupling not working properly?

Also, have you checked the wheels and wheelnuts are properly tight?

Thanks Paul. I have checked the wheel nuts etc. Is there anything that VCU's don't try to effect? Trouble with VCU is there is no definitive way of checking if they are working or not!!

Yes there is, take the propshaft off completely and drive it in FWD only. If the problems gone then the VC is highly suspect. If its still there then you've got sommat else wrong.

To take the prop off is easy enough. Disconnect the flanges at the IRD and the read diff, then release both central bearings and lower the whole lot down. Do a search for MONDO mode for more information.

Further to that I reacon there is high possibility that this is transmission wind up effects. If the removal of the prop fixes the problem then do not put it back on until you've got the VC replaced, otherwise you'll goose the IRD and / or the rear diff in no time.

Another trick to try is to reverse the car on full lock (either way). Does it 'bog down' when turning but free up when reversing in a straight line? If the answer is yes then there is some slip in the VC. If you notice no difference then stop driving and get the VC off the car prompto.

Just what I'd have said, D .. :hysterically_laughi



... if I'd known what I was talking about ...

But you did know what you're talking about. As you said, its like a Disco with the centre lock engaged, and you're right.

Ahhh, he's gone!! Hope he got the message before one of us discovered a trail of cogs in the road and dead Freebie in the layby

Thanks everyone. Looks like I need to take a good look at the VCU.

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Thanks everyone. Looks like I need to take a good look at the VCU.

Click to expand...

there's nothing to see ! it's just a sealed unit, unless it's really damaged then it'll be in loads of pieces!

could also try tippex test, but think dropping prop as suggested by darmain is the way to go, you could be in a world of hurt before you get anywhere near an answer from the tippex test.

there is also a way of testing the vcu by jacking one rear corner up only, with car in gear/park and handbrake off. You should just, and I mean barely just, be able to turn the wheel off the ground against considerable resistance. If it's easy to turn, your vcu has failed safe and won't lock up, but also won't damage IRD. If, however, it can't be turned, you are either too weak, or the vcu is siezed. Drop the prop and go from there.

good luck

Just checking, are all your tyres the same? Different tyre combinations can cause problems.

Rear tyres are slightly larger but the set up has been like this for over 10K miles. Strange this problem has suddenly occurred. Stranger is it does not happen all the time only very occasionally.

Ideally all tyres should be same size. Slightly larger on the rear is not worst case scenario, but could have done some minor damage over last 10k which is now becoming evident. I would agree with others and guess your VCU is on its way out.

As far as looking after the transmission is concerned it's actually better to have newer tyres on the back than having all four the same, no damage will have occurred due to that.

Sorry I forgot to update this call.

In the end I replaced the front tyres and this solved the problem. Strange as the tyres were completely legal but they seemed to have been creating understeer. The snatching as the car straightened out seems to have been from the amount of turn that had to be applied to the steering.

In that case I would suspect tracking. Thanks for the update Chris and happy freelandering.