VCU Torque test results

Nodge68 · Nov 9, 2016

GrumpyGel said:
I wonder what GKN mean by "lifetime" as well!

The lifetime of the VCU possibly?

It's not uncommon to see auto gearboxs being described as "filled for life". However by not changing the fluid at reasonable intervals, the life of the box is drastically reduced. So they are in effect "filled for life".

No fluid lasts indefinitely, so periodic replenishment is needed.

DONNYDISCO · Nov 9, 2016

DONNYDISCO said:
Hi all,
Back in the land of money pit, sorry, Land Rover.
Got a pretty decent 53plate TD4s manual, 122k on the clock.
Not yet done many miles in it (thankfully !)
Removed propshaft and VCU after doing the one wheel test, found at that time that the amount of force needed to actually get the wheel to turn, was frightening, no binding of brakes etc.
Got the VCU off the shafts, drilled two smallish holes diametrically opposite in the end plate to see what comes out.
Looked like something from Quatermass and The Pit, very thick black treacle.
Now in the vice, the unit can only be rotated with LOTS of force and estimate that to turn 5degrees takes 2 minutes with a 17mm spanner on a refitted end bolt (and painful hand).
I recon this is well and truly 'goosed', a second hand complete prop now on its way to me, think I may just have saved the transmission..........going to open up the holes drilled in the VCU, got a variety of 'fittings' to fill the holes when done........hope the replacement has less resistance?????????

RC Shock & Diff Oils from CML www.cmldistribution.co.uk/shock-diff-oils/000d000b
Appears these have varying grades of the silicone fluid......................model shop, yes, but same stuff in small bottles?????????????

The Mad Hat Man · Nov 9, 2016

DONNYDISCO said:
RC Shock & Diff Oils from CML www.cmldistribution.co.uk/shock-diff-oils/000d000b
Appears these have varying grades of the silicone fluid......................model shop, yes, but same stuff in small bottles?????????????

is it non Newtonian?

DONNYDISCO · Nov 9, 2016

Website shows the different bottles with 'cst' numbers, in the hundreds up to 500,000 cst...........??????????????

monkfish24 · Nov 11, 2016

Uh ohhhh, seems my VCU OWUT is up at nearly 50 seconds

Alibro · Nov 11, 2016

monkfish24 said:
Uh ohhhh, seems my VCU OWUT is up at nearly 50 seconds

Until it's over a minute I wouldn't worry. If it were me I'd leave until around a minute and a half before worrying.
Joe will be around shortly to suggest reversing in a circle any time anyway.

monkfish24 · Nov 11, 2016

i'm going to refurb the spare VCU from your directions, glad that its not completely goosed, just half way there!

Alibro · Nov 11, 2016

monkfish24 said:
i'm going to refurb the spare VCU from your directions, glad that its not completely goosed, just half way there!

Great, report back how it goes.

monkfish24 · Nov 11, 2016

Alibro said:
Until it's over a minute I wouldn't worry. If it were me I'd leave until around a minute and a half before worrying.
Joe will be around shortly to suggest reversing in a circle any time anyway.

Sorry forgot to say, that was 5kg (5litres of coolant) at 1.2m

Nodge68 · Nov 11, 2016

monkfish24 said:
Uh ohhhh, seems my VCU OWUT is up at nearly 50 seconds

monkfish24 said:
Sorry forgot to say, that was 5kg (5litres of coolant) at 1.2m

That's about the same as mine, give or take. I reckon on doing mine next summer.

Giantdog · Nov 20, 2016

So just let me get this right as I want to try it tomorrow.

One rear wheel jacked off the ground.
Socket on the axle nut.
1.5m extension on the socket wrench.
5kg weight on the end on the extension bar.
Record the length of time the bar take to rotate from 45 degrees to 90 degress.
Less than a minute the VCU is OK.
If the the wheel doesn't more the VCU is fooked?

GrumpyGel · Nov 20, 2016

Use a 1.2m extension (or 1.2m along a longer extension but not to much longer because it will weigh something!).

Also the axle (hub) nut is 32mm - you probably won't have one unless you've had the need before - so a trip to Halfords may be needed.

If the driveshaft has been replaced at some point they come with replacement hub nuts - some (non OEM ones) are not necessarily 32mm.

Giantdog · Nov 20, 2016

GrumpyGel said:
Use a 1.2m extension (or 1.2m along a longer extension but not to much longer because it will weigh something!).

Also the axle (hub) nut is 32mm - you probably won't have one unless you've had the need before - so a trip to Halfords may be needed.

If the driveshaft has been replaced at some point they come with replacement hub nuts - some (non OEM ones) are not necessarily 32mm.

Just been on Bell Engineering website as they are recommended on another thread regarding transmission issues and they kinda poo poo the OWUT?
Really confused at this point

blue beasty · Nov 20, 2016

Giantdog said:
Just been on Bell Engineering website as they are recommended on another thread regarding transmission issues and they kinda poo poo the OWUT?
Really confused at this point

It's a bit of a long running thing that often degrades into a Bells vs LZ row which I don't like but....

Austin from Bells was involved with the development of the OWUT and agrees in principle it's the same technique Bell uses to test recon units though they bench test before fitting.

They are held in high regard on LZ with a fine, quality product but they have their reasons for not encouraging testing before removal that are different to ordinary LZ members but that doesn't invalidate the OWUTs usefulness.

If you read their description and the reasons given its obvious that it is'nt talking about the OWUT as it's described here.

GrumpyGel · Nov 21, 2016

Giantdog said:
Just been on Bell Engineering website as they are recommended on another thread regarding transmission issues and they kinda poo poo the OWUT?
Really confused at this point

They do NOT.

They say that jacking up 1 wheel and trying to turn it by hand is a waste of time - which it is.

They recommend turning on lock which you have done - and going by that, your VCU is broken beyond belief - which it almost certainly is.

I believe they recommend this test because anyone can do it. Most people on here do not believe it to be the most accurate test though - that is the OWUT.

The OWUT is not discussed on Bell's website

GrumpyGel · Nov 21, 2016

I'm sure this is the "test" refereed to by Bells where people think they are referring to the OWUT, a really bad way of testing the VCU...

Giantdog · Nov 21, 2016

GrumpyGel said:
They do NOT.

They say that jacking up 1 wheel and trying to turn it by hand is a waste of time - which it is.

They recommend turning on lock which you have done - and going by that, your VCU is broken beyond belief - which it almost certainly is.

I believe they recommend this test because anyone can do it. Most people on here do not believe it to be the most accurate test though - that is the OWUT.

The OWUT is not discussed on Bell's website

They say this? Hence my confusion
It has been reported on some internet sites that to test the VCU if you jack the one back wheel of your Freelander without the handbrake applied you should be able to turn the rear wheel and that if you cannot turn the wheel your VCU has seized -THIS IS TOTAL RUBBISH! You would hardly be able to do this by hand as you would need a 2 foot breaker bar and stand on it, the wheel will move very slowly - this still does not indicate whether the VCU is any good or not as all wheels will turn regardless of the condition of the VCU.

Alibro · Nov 21, 2016

Giantdog said:
They say this? Hence my confusion
It has been reported on some internet sites that to test the VCU if you jack the one back wheel of your Freelander without the handbrake applied you should be able to turn the rear wheel and that if you cannot turn the wheel your VCU has seized -THIS IS TOTAL RUBBISH! You would hardly be able to do this by hand as you would need a 2 foot breaker bar and stand on it, the wheel will move very slowly - this still does not indicate whether the VCU is any good or not as all wheels will turn regardless of the condition of the VCU.

Not sure why your confused. There is no mention of the owut anywhere there.
The owut uses a 1.2m bar and a 5kg weight not trying to turn the wheel by hand.

Alibro · Nov 21, 2016

It's really simple. You want to know if your VCU is overly tight. If you took it off the car and put it in a vice you could test it with a long pole. This is what Bells do but most people can't or can't be bothered so to do the same test at home just Jack up one wheel and try it. Because of the gearing in the diff this isn't quite as good as doing on the bench but is the only alternative. The owut is just a repeatable way of doing this the same way others have so you can compare numbers.

Giantdog · Nov 21, 2016

Alibro said:
Not sure why your confused. There is no mention of the owut anywhere there.
The owut uses a 1.2m bar and a 5kg weight not trying to turn the wheel by hand.

Because it mentions jacking a rear wheel up? The OWUT does this.
That you'd have to stand (average UK male weighs 83Kg) on a 2 foot (609mm} bar to move it the wheel? The OWUT uses a 1.5m bar with 5KG
And that if the rear wheel moves it still doesn't indicate whether the VCU is any good?

If that's not talking about the OWUT it's pretty close to it?

VCU Torque test results

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Similar threads