Vcu torque test

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ccoaton said:
OK Fitted a second hand IRD a few weeks ago,..Today I fitted a new VCU,.When finished i thought i would try the Torque Test,,.

This is a New VCU No driving done prior to test..

Set Torque at 100LB and it clicked no turn..:mad:
Set Torque at 130LB and it clicked no turn..:mad:
Set Torque at 160LB and it clicked

160 is the highest mine goes,.but if i keep the pressure on the rear wheel does turn and it moved the tipex marks i had put on..:)

Also i still get the tightness on full lock..:cool:
Click to expand...

At least you started with the lowest torque and worked up.

I feel some doing the test have torqued down, which doesn't set the wrench correctly

My FL feels tight on full lock in Mondo mode LOL
 
ccoaton said:
OK Fitted a second hand IRD a few weeks ago,..Today I fitted a new VCU,.When finished i thought i would try the Torque Test,,.

This is a New VCU No driving done prior to test..

Set Torque at 100LB and it clicked no turn..:mad:
Set Torque at 130LB and it clicked no turn..:mad:
Set Torque at 160LB and it clicked

160 is the highest mine goes,.but if i keep the pressure on the rear wheel does turn and it moved the tipex marks i had put on..:)

Also i still get the tightness on full lock..:cool:
Click to expand...
The lowest reading so far is 20 lb/foot my reading was 75 lb/ft
and you have got a new vcu and it does not turn at 160 lb/ft
sounds like something wrong with that
when you apply the tourqe you are not looking to turn the wheel very fast
it will move at a snails pace
 
Something for all you chemical engineers out there. Is it possible that the silicon fluid looses viscosity as it gets old, which allows the VCU to slip too much, eventually causing it to overheat and seize !!!????
Damn this Hobgoblin is good!!!
 
Just done my periodic "Tippex Test" and back half of prop shaft moves relative to front half, so not seized.
Thought I would try this new method, took the wheel off and got out torque wrench.
75 to 80 foot/lbs is about the minimum torque to turn the wheel very slowly with the torque wrench just breaking.
Vehicle is a 2002 TD4 with 120,000 trouble free miles, if you ignore the fuel pump, water pump and loose wire on the starter solenoid!!!!!!!!

Chris.
 
75 to 80 lbs/ft is a lot higher than mine but about the same as most people on this thread. It would be nice if we could find out what value it should be.
 
hhhmmm,not sure if i done it right?i had front wheels chocked,in 1st gear and put torque wrench on hub nut and the wheel turned about an inch as if taking up slack then it clicked but the wheel was starting to move and i could see the vcu starting to turn but the torque wrench was on 210nm which seems very high?i am wondering if the wrench is faulty as it did not seem much pressure when pushing,it does feel a bit tight on full lock and i done the tippex test and the marks did move??any ideas????
 
Hmmmm, vcu held in vice with 24mm socket on spline.

You have to be very careful when posting results MAX reading i had was about 90 lbsft MIN reading i could get by being very gentle was around 15lbsft.

Obviously the VCU responds to torque input the higher the torque in the more it applys to the rear. So i assume mine is fine as it works like it should.....

Thats on approx 50,000m VCU on a 188,000m freelander, that does go slightly tight but not lockup when reversing tightly.

I guess if you were brutal with a torque wrench you could get readings over 200 lbsft if you try and turn the VCU quickly.

Also when testing ON VEHICLE you have to take into account extra resistance of diff /wheel bearings/ brakes binding etc........
 
Last edited:
Well that's similar to the minimum reading I got testing the same way. I had 20lbs/ft turning as slow as possible but was unsure of the accuracy as that was at the lower limit of my torque wrench.
As you commented its all about the speed the VCU will slip. If it's too slow then transmission damage is more likely. If it's too fast rear drive torque is reduced.
 
Just did mine.

The car is a 2000 1.8 Station Wagon. Mileage is 101K. History unknown - but has been in storage for a few years before recent recomissioning. No tightness on lock - reverses on full lock no probs.

Jacked the NS, car in first. 32mm socket and short extension on NSR hub nut.

Readings taken using Sealey digital torque wrench in tracking mode.

Gentle steady pressure - wheel moves at 72 ft/lb. Continues to move under steady pressure, with torque reading reducing by about 4 ft/lb.

Was thinking of replacing my VCU as a matter of course but, based on these readings, don't think I'll bother.
 
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