Freelander 1 VCU

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AFS1

AFS1

Member
Posts
89
Location
Middlesex, England
OK, an old subject but still haven't been able to ascertain what happens when the VCU decides it has had enough. I understand the VCU stiffens up, but what are the symptoms? I assume it gets hot when driving, but does it actually seize up, locking the rear wheels? if not, what are the signs that it is on the way out? Apparently, the one-wheel up test is of no use and does not identify a knackered VCU!
 
For what it's worth, when I first got my hippo I was driving around a corner and I could hear tyre squeal as if the inside rear wheel had locked up. Then I tried the reverse lock test and sure enough I stopped dead. Changed vcu shortly after. Didn't do owut as those symptoms (and what i'd discovered about its history) were good enough for me to decide it was time to change.
 
It's really simple. The VCU has approx 55 metal disks around the size but a bit thinner than a CD. Half are toothed so they rotate with the outer case and half rotate with the shaft. The VCU is full of fluid which gets between the disks and depending on who you listen to it either expands when you twist the VCU causing the disks to lock together or it has properties which mean it resists shearing and the harder you twist the harder it resists. I suspect both happen as the amount of fluid seems to be as important as the CST number ie 30k, 50k or what we usually use 100k.
Why does it stiffen? The fluid ages and becomes like glue.
How can you tell if it's stiff? Try to turn the VCU and if you can't it's stiff. Choose for yourself if you want to turn it by doing the OWU test or reverse in a circle test or like me do both.
 
If you reverse in a circle the front and back wheels turn at a slightly different speed so the VCU has to turn to compensate.
The OWU test does exactly the same thing except you can watch it happening and take measurements. Neither test is full proof but they are the best we have.
 
AFS1 said:
How do you suggest turning the VCU, underneath the car and with 2 hands turning one of the props?
Click to expand...
Its easy really, you lift a back wheel, put a 32mm socket on the hub nut with a 1.2m bar and turn. If you want to compare your VCU with others, put a 5kg weight on the end of the bar and see how long it takes to turn 45 degrees to horizontal.
 
GrumpyGel said:
Its easy really, you lift a back wheel, put a 32mm socket on the hub nut with a 1.2m bar and turn. If you want to compare your VCU with others, put a 5kg weight on the end of the bar and see how long it takes to turn 45 degrees to horizontal.
Click to expand...
If you watch the VCU while doing this you can see it turning slowly.
 
Alibro said:
If you reverse in a circle the front and back wheels turn at a slightly different speed so the VCU has to turn to compensate.
The OWU test does exactly the same thing except you can watch it happening and take measurements. Neither test is full proof but they are the best we have.
Click to expand...
OK, so going in reverse, in circles, what would one expect to see or feel? Will it be the same in circles in either direction?
 
That's strange because I did a combo test - OWUT, Turnip and Tipex. The VCU was cold and I turned the back wheel but the tipex marks didn't move......

I really wish BB would shift this to AG so we can have a no hold barred "discussion" on the VCU. We've been dilly dallying around on the Freelander forum for far to long.

I made that first bit up, which is par for the course when discussing VCUs :)
 
Admin: I obviously posted this in the wrong forum, as the VCU is not a Freelander only issue, but a general problem, so if it is at all possible, could this be moved to a more appropriate forum. my apologies for my initial error in creating it in here.....
 
AFS1 said:
Admin: I obviously posted this in the wrong forum, as the VCU is not a Freelander only issue, but a general problem, so if it is at all possible, could this be moved to a more appropriate forum. my apologies for my initial error in creating it in here.....
Click to expand...

Do a forum search.

You never know, there might be a little forum chatter about VCU's in the depths of the archives :)
 
Alibro said:
You itching for a fight Grumpy? :p





fight! fight! fight!
Click to expand...
Nah not really - but I've read all the fights about VCUs within the Freelander community and it gets boring. Thought opening it up to AG would make it a bit more interesting again.
AFS1 said:
Admin: I obviously posted this in the wrong forum, as the VCU is not a Freelander only issue, but a general problem, so if it is at all possible, could this be moved to a more appropriate forum. my apologies for my initial error in creating it in here.....
Click to expand...
Assuming its not a Troll thread to create a load of arguing and fighting, you posted in the correct forum.

But it is a subject done to death - and death again - and death again.....

Just cos the subject gets resurrected on a monthly basis, doesn't mean to say anyone is going to be told anything different. Its the same old - then a load of arguing and fighting.

OK, I can't help myself.....
AFS1 said:
OK, an old subject but still haven't been able to ascertain what happens when the VCU decides it has had enough. I understand the VCU stiffens up, but what are the symptoms? I assume it gets hot when driving, but does it actually seize up, locking the rear wheels? if not, what are the signs that it is on the way out? Apparently, the one-wheel up test is of no use and does not identify a knackered VCU!
Click to expand...
Broken down....
AFS1 said:
OK, an old subject but still haven't been able to ascertain what happens when the VCU decides it has had enough.
Click to expand...
So why do you think you'll learn any more with another thread if you've been through the 100's of preceeding ones?
AFS1 said:
I understand the VCU stiffens up, but what are the symptoms?
Click to expand...
You say its an old subject - have you not learnt anything?
AFS1 said:
I assume it gets hot when driving but does it actually seize up, locking the rear wheels?
Click to expand...
If its not turning - why would it get hot? If you're driving how can the rear wheels be locked up?
AFS1 said:
if not, what are the signs that it is on the way out?
Click to expand...
You say its an old subject - have you not learnt anything? After all these threads, do you expect someone has been hiding a secret scientific analysis that will enable easy identification of a faulty VCU?
AFS1 said:
Apparently, the one-wheel up test is of no use and does not identify a knackered VCU!
Click to expand...
As I said, this is likely a Troll post. Why is it apparent?

And in summary.... Think before you post!
 
Just do the one wheel up test. Then if you get a time of under a minute, don't worry about it. If it's more than a minute, speak to Bell about getting a replacement. Just consider the VCU a service part, like a timing belt ;)
 
GrumpyGel said:
Nah not really - but I've read all the fights about VCUs within the Freelander community and it gets boring. Thought opening it up to AG would make it a bit more interesting again.

Assuming its not a Troll thread to create a load of arguing and fighting, you posted in the correct forum.

But it is a subject done to death - and death again - and death again.....

Just cos the subject gets resurrected on a monthly basis, doesn't mean to say anyone is going to be told anything different. Its the same old - then a load of arguing and fighting.

OK, I can't help myself.....

Broken down....

So why do you think you'll learn any more with another thread if you've been through the 100's of preceeding ones?

You say its an old subject - have you not learnt anything?

If its not turning - why would it get hot? If you're driving how can the rear wheels be locked up?

You say its an old subject - have you not learnt anything? After all these threads, do you expect someone has been hiding a secret scientific analysis that will enable easy identification of a faulty VCU?

As I said, this is likely a Troll post. Why is it apparent?

And in summary.... Think before you post!
Click to expand...

Firstly, no it is not a Troll post.
Secondly, it might have been done to death, but there appears to be no definitive answer...... hence why it gets resurrected.
Thirdly, thought this might be in the wrong forum, as it affects other models of LR........
Fourthly, same comment as in in second paragraph.
Fifthly, without knowing exactly how theVCU works, I assume it turns with the propshaft, so if the gloop inside is thickening up, then I'd assume it might get warm / hot. So also assumed at some point that the VCU packs up whilst driving - so what happens, does the VCU disintegrate, does it lock-up, does it just stop send drive to the back wheels - I don't know, that's why I asked!
Sixthly, perhaps I'm being optimistic, but was hoping someone may well have some sort of answer. If you read everything that's around concerning VCUs it moves from 'then last forever, mines done 200k, to load of crap, mine only did 30k, to I'm paranoid about it, so changed it - even though it didn't need doing! At £200 to £700 that's a lot of money for a 'service item'!
Seventhly, no this isn't a troll post - "why is it apparent", because I read it somewhere (Bell Engineering) who says the OWUT doesn't work, who's to say that they know what they are talking about though.
And finally, I did think before I posted, you may not like it, but WHO THE HELL ARE YOU............
 
There is loads of info available within numerous posts on this forum relating to the VCU, probably best to have another search. You'll even find videos too from memory. good luck and welcome btw
 
Bit of a delicate issue at the Mo. Don't get wound up by @GrumpyGel , he's just making sure your not trolling. We've had a bit of a problem lately.:(

But if I'm correct, your from the Freelander Facebook group, so pretty sure your sincere.:)

I'm in the "reverse it in circles camp" it's bleeding obvious if your vcu has died. It'll lock up or feel like the brakes are full on.
Also when you've been on a long drive, it'll be red hot, it should be warm to slightly hot.

I don't discount the OWUT. But believe I can spot a problem before having to do this. I'm fortunate in that I've had my Freelander a very long time and know it's little quirks very well.

As said, there is no definitive test, but if you check all the other components it could be, brakes etc, and they are ok, then it's your vcu.

Mike
 
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