but how would you know you wouldnt
reconditioned IRD and VCU?
- Thread starter bluewheels
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£3.10 that's cheap as chipsLOL, I do a recon for £3.10.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
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- Northern Ireland
I'm not free but I'm very very cheap.
Hi Bluewheels. What was going wrong with your IRD that persuaded you to replace it? And that goes for the VCU too?I pretty sure my IRD is knackered so I was planning on buying a reconditioned unit with reconditioned VCU as this is probably gone too.
Has anyone used the web site "freelanderirdspecialists.com" if so what's your feedback?
Can anyone recommend a good supplier of reconditioned units?
I carried out a refurbishment of my car's VCU myself, made a Thread of it, and it's still working perfectly.
I wonder if it's at all possible to personally recover an IRD, should it ever need doing?
Alibro
Well-Known Member
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- Northern Ireland
@GrumpyGel is the expert there.
GrumpyGel
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lol.
You do need a finely tuned ear to pick out problems though.
If it goes BANG BANG BANG BANG this is the first symptom that something is up.
Once an issue has been diagnosed, the solution is very simple.... throw money at it, and quite a bit more than £3.10.
Actually, the first symptom I had was the car "not feeling right" - wandering a bit, steering not quite as precise as usual. Nothing much just a feeling. We were on a road trip though with visitors, didn't seem to dramatic, so leave it till after they've gone. Then after about 400kms, a rattle developed, thought the exhaust was falling of its mount at the back. Then a k or 2 later it went BANG.
I believe the "not feeling right" was a tyre low on air. When I got out of the car, the RHR tyre was rather hot and severely worn. We had navigated a lot of very twisty roads, mountainous roads and flat open roads in that 400kms and I didn't notice anything really wrong until the rattle.
The banging was gears slipping in the IRD. I pushed the car off the road and every 2 meters or so there was a horrendous metallic bang.
I didn't test the VCU, but presumed it had been cooked and was U.S.
The IRD case didn't shatter, it was fully intact. Oil was grey as. Bearings toast and I believe gears damaged. On removing the props and taking it for a drive round the block, this is what it sounded like...
Obviously no good. A replacement IRD & VCU here was going to cost about £3.5k - so not an option. Getting a VCU, IRD recon kit (bearings, seals & cooler) and Crown/Pinion gear set shipped from the UK was the only option to get it back 4WD and still to expensive. So I got a recon kit sent over, got a diff shop to install it and while they were doing that to remove the crown gear off the pinion. I put it all back together including rebuilt IRD and original pops/VCU. Its been running fine for 5 years since the rebuild - but it is 2WD.
In the UK you may be able to get away with removing the IRD rear pinion and installing a blanking plate. Over here (and I believe NI) that mod would have required certification ($$$). Also I'm sure the prop dampens the engine some.
My experience is why I'd never own a 4WD Freelander without a TPMS system fitted. It would have told me there was a problem way before it became an issue and I'd have never had that pain.
Jeezus-frigging-Christ! Blasphemy - I know, but given from the flaming heart! I just hope my own LR doesn't suffer the same! I reckon I would buy a gun and put-it-down for good!! Expensive!!! And very sad.
Grumpy... I expected you to look like the photo you use. A fur coat and long fluffy ears. lol And looking kind of Grumpy.
Your explanation says it all. The video? That too. With the oil changes I do, with all my care-and-attention as well, I really hope I do not have to suffer what you have just shown.
Although, I must admit to enjoying a challenge, I would rather not go down that road. Please excuse my pun.
At least you have helped to answer my question of what to listen for as well as your experiences.
Thanks, Grumpy.
RHILL1983
Member
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- 57
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- United Kingdom
Ordered a VCU from bell engineering yesterday afternoon and it's arrived before 9am this morning. fantastic service!
Bell do a top notch service , ordered VCU and arrived next day to N.Ireland ,fitted and works great , 2nd time I've used them for VCU and bearings 1st time was in another Freelander I owned , service was as good then as now , they give good advice and assistance, great company. No bullsh1t engineering company
RHILL1983
Member
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- 57
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- United Kingdom
My v6 freelander went kaput before I could fit the VCU. However got a 1.8 now. The new unused VCU I have doesn’t have the damper ring on it. Will fitting this to the 1.8 cause and problems?
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- Embasinga stocæ
No. But you can always get the damper ring and fit if you want.
The damper won't fit on the V6 VCU, as there's no mounting flange for the damper on the shaft.
I'd fit it and see if there's any vibration. If not then you've got your answer.
Last edited:
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I thought it was fitted by 3 bolts, but it’s a long time since I had one.
Ian burritt
Active Member
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- 116
- Location
- clacton on sea
After reading through a "bit" of posts about VCU`s and IRD`s I must confess.
So, I was going to buy a local TD5, looked so nice, on the outside, and had the underside jet washed to death to show how bad the chassis was, so I in my 71 year old state thought - I dunno, maybe a month of spare time laying on my back in the coming winter and I could repair it - be good as new (but inside thinking - what the hell do i want to be doing all this all over again) then the local seller started mucking me about even as I was on my way to his to look further, so, turned round, saying unprintable things and,
saw a shiny black hippo for sale.
stopped, looked round it, saw it was auto (No.1 Priority now)
saw it was a TD4,
phoned the seller, he arrived took me for a drive, so I asked to take a sharp left turn with my listening, nothing heard, done the deal, Had another auto, but the hippo HSE was mine.
I was in no rush as It was mid month to tax it, still had my mondeo estate auto, so was learning about the servicing, and the need to buy stupid big short sockets to fit oil filter, anyway got all that done, bought 4 new matching tyres, was happy - no noises apart from a clunk from nearside (still not looked at it - maybe roll bar rubbers & link arms), anyway, while under it I saw a flange coming out the "front gear box"
then a flange at the diff..
No noisy VCU or IRD then..lol
No prop either
lol
Still learning about it, but not rushing as its cold out.
Sorry its so long,
but thats me...
Done some miles in it now, finding its quirks
finding its likes.
Seems happy all round for a while then..
Do have some things to ask about, but not In any rush.
Just like reading comments that entertain..
Happy New Years all coming soon to a place near you.
So, I was going to buy a local TD5, looked so nice, on the outside, and had the underside jet washed to death to show how bad the chassis was, so I in my 71 year old state thought - I dunno, maybe a month of spare time laying on my back in the coming winter and I could repair it - be good as new (but inside thinking - what the hell do i want to be doing all this all over again) then the local seller started mucking me about even as I was on my way to his to look further, so, turned round, saying unprintable things and,
saw a shiny black hippo for sale.
stopped, looked round it, saw it was auto (No.1 Priority now)
saw it was a TD4,
phoned the seller, he arrived took me for a drive, so I asked to take a sharp left turn with my listening, nothing heard, done the deal, Had another auto, but the hippo HSE was mine.
I was in no rush as It was mid month to tax it, still had my mondeo estate auto, so was learning about the servicing, and the need to buy stupid big short sockets to fit oil filter, anyway got all that done, bought 4 new matching tyres, was happy - no noises apart from a clunk from nearside (still not looked at it - maybe roll bar rubbers & link arms), anyway, while under it I saw a flange coming out the "front gear box"
then a flange at the diff..
No noisy VCU or IRD then..lol
No prop either
lol
Still learning about it, but not rushing as its cold out.
Sorry its so long,
but thats me...
Done some miles in it now, finding its quirks
finding its likes.
Seems happy all round for a while then..
Do have some things to ask about, but not In any rush.
Just like reading comments that entertain..
Happy New Years all coming soon to a place near you.
The damper won't fit on the V6 VCU, as there's no mounting flange for the damper on the shaft.
I have a V6 recon VCU mounted on my 1.8 FL working fine for some years; the guy which sold it told me that they fit.
The VCU from the V6 will fit the 4 cylinder models. Only the VCU damper from the 4 cylinder models doesn't fit the V6 VCU.
Ian burritt
Active Member
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- 116
- Location
- clacton on sea
Off subject slightly
As I don`t have a prop-shaft or any connection between IRD and rear axle,
and TBH not really bothered abut it as I dont really want to go offroad
is it worth buying the IRD blanking plate and fitting after unbolting and taking out the bevelled IRD drive that`s doing nothing now ?
As I don`t have a prop-shaft or any connection between IRD and rear axle,
and TBH not really bothered abut it as I dont really want to go offroad
is it worth buying the IRD blanking plate and fitting after unbolting and taking out the bevelled IRD drive that`s doing nothing now ?
Don't you need to drive in snow?
No need to blank the IRD output.
But personally I can't see the point in running the FL1 in 2WD. There are much better 2WD vehicles out there for the same running costs, which don't have the issues that FL1 does.
Just my opinion of course.
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Buy a Corsa. Your insurance may well be invalid!
