Is my IRD FUBAR?

Hi All Freelander Fanatics, welcome to my first thread.

I own a 51 TD4, 145k, and have had it about 12 months. I first noticed a whine after about 3 months and checked out the forum here for some answers. A bit concerned about the VCU, I dropped it out along with the props. No difference, which was sort of encouraging. It sounded very 'wheel bearing-ish', but I have checked all, and there are no wobbles, and no roughness in spinning, no grinding etc. I also thought it might be the tyres, but having recently renewed the fronts and then swapped them to the rears...again, no difference. In fact the noise was becoming louder. I then noticed I had an oil leak somewhere and after searching the forums again, was concerned it was my IRD drive shaft seals. Worried that I may be running a dry IRD, and that it might be the source of my noise I jacked up the front and (after 4 days soaked in WD40) took out the filler plug to the IRD (18 inch breaker bar, and Halfords Pro, 6 sided 19mm socket). Oil dripped out straight away, hence not losing much. I then took out the drain plug, and drained the oil. The plug was all sludged up, and after cleaning off, the metallic particles seen are fairly large, about 6-7mm long, 2-3 mm wide and 0.5 mm thick. There are about 4 of these larger particles and a few smaller ones. I will try and put the pics on. Now, I used to fix Sea King helicopters and particles like this would have grounded the bird, but in a 10 year old Landy gearbox? Is this what I am to expect, or is my IRD knackered/on its way out?

I refilled the IRD with Halfords 75W90, and took it for a spin. No difference. The noise, by now also a vibration felt through the accelerator, really comes in at 40-55 mph, and still sounds like a wheel bearing, is louder turning left and quieter turning right, no difference if the car in gear or out of gear, clutch depressed ( like I am getting!) or out

If the IRD is on its way out, I am going to chop it in for a diesel estate! But I don't want to do this if this is typical of a 10 year IRD and its my wheel bearing that is the problem.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Paul

Sounds like the IRD is breaking up and in dire need of replacement

If there are big bits like that in the vcu then chances are the crown wheel and pinion are stripped. Take of the output to the rear prop and look at them. You can refit these yourself and leave the rest alone, but i would buy the refurb kit with all the bearings and recon the lot.
These kits can be expensive but you'll save a mint in labour charges.

Hi, thanks for the replies, have been away.

I took the car to a LR specialist who is convinced it is the FOS wheelbearing, and it is booked in for a replacement next weekend. I replaced the IRD oil, and having driven it around have rechecked the Mag plug, and there was minimal debris, a few very tiny bits, smaller then a grain of sugar.

I tested my VCU, off the car by fixing one side and turning the other flange with a long (3.5 ft) bar, it turned slowly, as previously described in other threads, so I am not concerned that it is shot. I reattached the rear props and VCU and went for a spin. Now, not only do I have the front end noise at 40-50 (wheelbearing), but I also have another lower freq drone/vibration at the back end! I am sure this was not aparant before I removed the rear prop, and was wondering whether I could have maliligned the prop in any way, causing a new vibration. I sounds like it is from the Diff, but it wasn't there before I removed the prop and its been in Front WD only for 6 months.

Any suggestions? Other than part-exing it!

Thanks Paul