VCU fitting

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C

c13tay

New Member
Posts
354
Location
Standish, Lancs
Well cant guarantee the condition of my VCU and dont want to damage the IRD or diff so looks like the props coming off until the funds allow for a new VCU

Is it the common feeling that the Ashcroft ones are the best ??

whats involved in fitting - is it a DIY or is it one for the pros with special tools and all that ??

My main concern would be that if repacement VCUs arent any better than the original, after forking out my £375 or whatever they are at the moment, it could go again at any time

Chris
 
it is a do-it-yoself jobby. Fully covered on gazillions of threads - so do a search and yu will find instructions and pictures. I would suggest you test your vcu - again easily done and covered in detail here.

My own opinion is that VCU's are inherently a bad design, but its the best yu got (at the mo) - but thats another story :D

to recap - SEARCH on vcu - and read.
 
Thanks Hat Man

Ive tried all the documented tests but they contradict each other and so are inconclusive.

Ive no excessive noise but do have quite a marked braking effect when on full lock and some castellation.

Just found a step by step pic guide to VCU replacement and it seems easy enough.

Does the prop need to be marked before removal - Ive asked this before but again had some folk say yes and some say no
 
the reason for the yes and no is this.

It is always best to re-assemble exactly in the same position that it was dismantled - so yes - but as the prop shafts should be individually balanced items - it shouldn't matter!
My own opinion , for what it is worth is that if you can, then mark them - if you cant - dont worrit too much.
Does that help - or just confuse yu more?
 
Clear as mud !!! Ill bow to your experience and mark it then.

Ill probably get hooked on driving a 2wd hippo !!!

Itll be a busy weekend then - have to take bumper off to remove A Bar and then remove prop - well at least its better than the alternative of fitting new skirting board
 
Have you tried marking the two propshafts with some tippex or paint. I did this to mine and I can clearly see that the VCU is moving.

Might be worth a try before purchasing a replacement.

Regards,

Steve
 
G13SJC said:
Have you tried marking the two propshafts with some tippex or paint. I did this to mine and I can clearly see that the VCU is moving.

Might be worth a try before purchasing a replacement.

Regards,

Steve
Click to expand...

Nice one G13, I believe it is known as the Taipan method, think he was one of the first to suggest it LOL
 
LR1796 said:
Nice one G13, I believe it is known as the Taipan method, think he was one of the first to suggest it LOL
Click to expand...

Thanks matey - forgot where I first saw it. (on these forums of course)

I was getting paranoid after reading the horror stories, but mine seems ok and I have covered 7,000 miles since purchase in July.

Regards,

Steve
 
reet c13tay flipps right about the balance ,but i fink they are manufactured balance and not dynamic, so dont worry bout it. . .but ickle tip, mark the position of ya vcu mounts 4off , as best you can [it will save you re- aliening when reassembling] un best oh luck. . . .:)
 
ming said:
reet c13tay flipps right about the balance ,but i fink they are manufactured balance and not dynamic, so dont worry bout it. . .but ickle tip, mark the position of ya vcu mounts 4off , as best you can [it will save you re- aliening when reassembling] un best oh luck. . . .:)
Click to expand...

You can only fit the rear part of the prop one of two ways, the bolt holes are offset so you have a 50:50 chance of alligning it to the original position.

The front has 6 possible permutations
 
This is strange.

Was all set to remove prop this weekend. Thought, I wont bodge it, so drove down to a friends who is a mechanic to borrow his Torx sockets.

On the way back I went the "off road way". It was about a 4 mile trip, 3 miles of it unsurfaced track with the final mile being an up hill section, verry narrow, quite deep ruts and quite slippery. Car got up no problem.

Here is the strange bit - got back on the road for the final half a mile home then came to reverse onto the drive - Hardly any braking effect on full lock - tried this in forwards and reverse and the amount of braking has definately reduced.

Is it possible that the "off road" excursion has freed something or have I broken something ??

I jacked up one rear wheel, and tried to turn it. with the initial load I could see the rear half of the prop taking the strain then this load seemed to be taken away - the rear half was deffinately moveing independantly from the front (think I must have put my tippex markes in the wrong place cos they still lined up !)

Car had done 90K by the way and as far as I know all is original.

Chris
 
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