Noises from behind when full steering

Hello everybody! So I have 2003 Freelander, TD4 engine, automatic gearbox. I hear a noise from the back of the car, rear central. It's a crackling/popping noise, every half a second, when I steer/turn the car almost max left and right. It's not very loud but you can definitely hear it. This does not happen in reverse, even when the steering wheel is completely turned.

The VCU has been reconditioned last week, has new fluid inside now and should be fine.

Has anybody experienced something similar? Or advices on what should I check next? Thank you!

Have you done 1 one wheel up test on the reconditioned VCU?

Are all your tyres the same make and version and (tested to be) pumped to the same pressure?

Have you examined the IRD for wear? eg drained the oil and checked that the bearings are not mashed and suspended in it. Always loosen the fill plug before draining with a tight fitting hex socket (its a soft plug). Also checked the rear diff oil.

The tests are mentioned on here...

Did it do it before VCU recon?

Who did recon recon?

Then as above. VCU one wheel up test figures.

Could it be the chassis cracking in the point it does or is that only on the earlier 98-2001 models.

Another interesting fact: for one week I drove the car without the propshaft, because the VCU was being reconditioned. And during that week there was absolutely no sound.

andyfreelandy said:

Did it do it before VCU recon?

Who did recon recon?

Then as above. VCU one wheel up test figures.

Click to expand...

Yes, the sound was ever louder before VCU recon. That's why I decided to get it reconditioned.
Recon was done here in Romania, recommended by people from the local club.

OK. Well worth doing the test but previous VCU sounds like it has damaged the rear differential gears.

andyfreelandy said:

OK. Well worth doing the test but previous VCU sounds like it has damaged the rear differential gears.

Click to expand...

I think this might be the case... I took the car today to a workshop and they will take the diff down. When I bought the car, one year ago, I did the VCU test with the weight and stuff and everything was running smooth. Are we supposed to test it every x months? In my case, it looks like a the VCU stopped working and destroyed other parts.

Test every 6 months is ideal. It goes from getting bad to very bad quite quickly.

Tight VCU firstly destroys the front diff mount rubber bush, then either the IRD or the Diff or both.

Diff is cheaper and easier to replace !!!

You will get a lot of (damaging) wind up and the VCU will deteriorate very quickly if you have mismatched tyres or you loose air in a tyre and drive on it.