Freelander 1 Rear diff. hangers

Hi all, I've just replaced the three rear diff. hangers & would like to know if you tighten them up with the wheels on the ground or can I torque 'em up while I've still got the wheels off. Thanks in advance.

I would say whilst wheels off. The diff doesn't move with the suspension.

Correct.

andyfreelandy said:

Correct.

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I've just looked in the Haynes manual & it mentions LR use a 'special centralising jig to align the final drive with the prop shaft when re-fitting'. Having bowled in there & just replaced the hangers without making any reference marks, although Haynes says make these marks on the hangers, which would be of no use as I've replaced them ! So is it just a case of checking the prop alignment ? (I didn't remove the prop to change the hangers).
Thanks all.

Just replacing them should will be ok, which new ones did you go for ? poly bush or rubber again.

Arctic2 said:

Just replacing them should will be ok, which new ones did you go for ? poly bush or rubber again.

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Hi, I just went with the original type as I could get them locally same day. I might refurb the originals with poly bushes as I did the rest of the suspension with poly about 3 years ago & looking underneath yesterday they still look perfect with no movement.

Interesting pics. Not seen many posts about the rears failing like that over the years.

kernowsvenski said:

Interesting pics. Not seen many posts about the rears failing like that over the years.

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I've had a slight intermittent knock for a little while & a bit of vibration, I thought the knock was suspension related & the vibration maybe from the prop. support bearings. I wanted to take the rear drums off, check the shoes & adj. the handbrake so while I was under it I checked the suspension bushes/prop bearings which were fine then found the diff hangers as per the pics, centre one was the worst. Replacing them has certainly cured the knock & vibration. Not sure when they were last changed it's done 172,000 of which I've done 35,000 in 4yrs.

Andy Warren said:

Not sure when they were last changed it's done 172,000 of which I've done 35,000 in 4yrs.

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If the VCU is in good condition, and the tyres are always kept as complete sets with least worn on the rear, then the rear diff hangers should give a long life. I've seen many with well over 100k on them, and they're fine,l. I reckon it's down to how the previous owners have looked after them.

Nodge68 said:

If the VCU is in good condition, and the tyres are always kept as complete sets with least worn on the rear, then the rear diff hangers should give a long life. I've seen many with well over 100k on them, and they're fine,l. I reckon it's down to how the previous owners have looked after them.

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The VCU was changed @ 134,600 (the original GKN was on it & replaced with a Bell Eng. inc supports) just after I got it, after reading some of the horror stories on here. A new set of Geolandar G95's @ 141,000 .Since then it's been a pleasure to own (& maintain) & if I do say so myself a very underrated vehicle.