Freelander Mk1 TD4 - I think my rear diff is buggered - Advice needed please

Hi everyone. I've been on here before but lost my account details so this is a new account.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me regarding our Freelander TD4. For a while now we have had this clunking sound (whenever we are moving) coming from what we reckon is the back. Last year our local garage noticed a leak coming from the rear diff and told us that it needed new seals and diff oil which we purchased and he fitted it. But now we are wondering if it was too late and that the damage had already been done.

Since then we have taken it to two garages and they couldn't diagnose it as the noise at that time was just happening when the car was warmed up or the steering was in hard lock.

Now it's getting worse I can hear it most of the time and when it's cold too.
The noises have changed as well. We still have the clunking but have occasionally heard a thumping sound on the floor of the car and sometimes a tinkling sound like a ball bearing or bit of metal pinging around some thick metal housing like a bell with a tiny clanger.

And finally we have been feeling and hearing vibration when the car is traveling around 50MPH and it seems to reduce when we go up to 60 and 70.

Last night I managed to demonstrate to one of my mates (who has built a kit car before so knows a bit about cars) and he said It sounds like the rear diff.
So my questions are:

Can I have a second opinion based on the evidence above?
If it is the diff then could a garage diagnosed this easily and how?
Is it worth getting a good second hand one from Ebay or where can I get a good price for a new one?
Finally what sort of price should I expect to pay for this and how hard it is to do?

Cheers in advance for any opinions and help offered.

Great forum you guys.

Paul

could be anything to do with the IRD, VCU, VCU Mounts, Rear Diff Mounts and Rear Diff.

Paul Randall said:

Hi everyone. I've been on here before but lost my account details so this is a new account.

Cheers in advance for any opinions and help offered.

Great forum you guys.

Paul

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Yeah - you should have posted in the freelander section, this is the 'I'm blocking the outside lane of the M25 and can't move' section

first things first

1) check VCU
2) look in the QFAQ section about rear subframe

Thumping on the floor would be the rear diff mounts, usually it's the front centre one that's gone but it better to change all three, I think you've got more than one problem, maybe someone else can chip in their thoughts

I'd be inclined to drop the propshaft out and see what the car does after that.
If it is the diff then I'd expect it to carry on making a noise even in 2WD mode, though the drop in tension from the prop may stop it complaining.
It is probably the easiest job to do that will start the process of elimination.
After that, change the diff oil and see what colour it is. Silver is bad.

biggeeeee said:

Yeah - you should have posted in the freelander section, this is the 'I'm blocking the outside lane of the M25 and can't move' section

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Yeah sorry about that. I see it's been moved now. Thanks guys. The forum has changed somewhat since last time I was on here and that was ages ago.

davidsmith1307 said:

I'd be inclined to drop the propshaft out and see what the car does after that.
If it is the diff then I'd expect it to carry on making a noise even in 2WD mode, though the drop in tension from the prop may stop it complaining.
It is probably the easiest job to do that will start the process of elimination.
After that, change the diff oil and see what colour it is. Silver is bad.

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Thanks. I'm guessing you can drop the prop just by chocking the wheels and getting under the car. Or does it need to be up on a ramp? I don't have one of those ;-)

Tiny1000 said:

Thumping on the floor would be the rear diff mounts, usually it's the front centre one that's gone but it better to change all three, I think you've got more than one problem, maybe someone else can chip in their thoughts

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Are the mounts easy to get at? I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get a Haynes manual aren't I? D'oh!

Search/download the rave manual on here, not a hard job to do under an hour and the mounts are quite cheap

LandyMan said:

could be anything to do with the IRD, VCU, VCU Mounts, Rear Diff Mounts and Rear Diff.

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Not too sure what IRD and VCU are so I google it

Tiny1000 said:

Search/download the rave manual on here, not a hard job to do under an hour and the mounts are quite cheap

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Wow thanks I will. Gonna get some grub then I guess I'm spending the afternoon doing some research and getting this rave manual

IRD = intermediate reduction drive = fixed ratio transfer box which takes the drive out of the gearbox and passed it to the front wheels, and to the rear wheels via a pinion on the rear of the ird. The pinion connects to the front prop shaft, which connects to the vcu viscous coupling unit, which connects to the rear prop, which connects to the rear diff. Taking one of the props oft will make it front wheel drive only, which will reduce the stress in the transmission, which may stop some of yer problems. As above rear diff centre mount and vcu bearings would be my first checks.

Make yerself some HippoRamps (TM) = https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/hipporamps-how-to-guide.257760/

Yer should be ok to get under a Freelander with just ramps unless yer a fat bastid like nig. Don't ferget to chock yer wheels.

rave manual = https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rave-disk-maintenance-manual.260227/

rear diff mounts = https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/rear-diff-mount-replacement-how-to-guide.101774/

vcu bearings = https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/freelander-1-vcu-bearing-replacement-how-to-guide.156068/

if you need a diff give me a shout,i bought one off ebay when i had a noise,changed it and made no diffference so i have one sitting on the floor in my garage...turned out to be wheel bearings in the end.

Hi. I would check the diff has oil in first then the prop shaft and bearings! None of the jobs are very difficult to do and if you need to get under the vehicle then I have used a couple of railway sleepers to drive onto. You need to have a nice flat area for this to work and chock the wheels before you start taking things apart. Like Xamtex I also have a good used diff and transfer box available. But best get to the root of the problem before you go buying parts. Good luck

I agree that removing the props will tell you quite a bit and is an easy & quick job to do. I'd do the 1 wheel up test first as if your VCU is stuffed you won't want to put the props back on till you've got a recon one.

I find the easiest thing to get the props off is to drive 1 side onto blocks to give a bit of space underneath. Undo the bolts on the diff & IRD that you have access to, then push the car along a bit (if need be onto more blocks) then you'll have access to the others. Just be careful cos all the bits are heavy and you don't ant to over extend the angles on the props. Tip is to lower the VCU on a trolly jack.

My initial though it that the mount of your diff has gone - but it could be lots of things as people have said.