Vibration at 50mph (VCU support bearings just replaced)

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K

KGM

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Firstly, Hi... :)

I'm hoping some of you could help or have seen something similar. I have just had the VCU support bearings replaced on my 2004 Freelander as the rubber had disintegrated, but now with everything back on, there is a vibration coming through when driving at 50mph+. Under 50mph = no vibration. Remove the VCU and prop = no vibration.

I've had the prop and VCU sent away to a balancer and all is good but they did notice 'oily stuff' dripping from front cv boot when on the balancer. Apart form that, all seems perfect.

Anyone seen something similar? Have any ideas?

Many thanks in advance.
 
Just had the same thing happen to mine but at a higher speed. Mine started vibrating at 65mph. Found the front part of the front prop that is sealed inside of the end of the prop that fits into the IRC had collapsed. You can buy a repair kit but this didn't work for me and I ended up buying a new front prop. £85 off ebay. Not genuine part but has done the job.
Might not be same failt but sounds very similar.
Regards
Paul
 
I've just done the same job replaced 2 x new vcu prop bearings and 3 x new UJ's. I used x aftermarket prop bearings from rimmerbros and got the 50 plus vibration.
Took rear prop off same result. Took from prop off and checked it, all good. Dropped the vcu and placed it on a bench supported by 2 identical steel box section battens and rotated it. The result is it wobbles which I believe is the crappy aftermarket bearings from rimmerbros so now decided to get a pair of GKN ones. Has anyone had similar problems with these crap bearings.
 
John5710 said:
I've just done the same job replaced 2 x new vcu prop bearings and 3 x new UJ's. I used x aftermarket prop bearings from rimmerbros and got the 50 plus vibration.
Took rear prop off same result. Took from prop off and checked it, all good. Dropped the vcu and placed it on a bench supported by 2 identical steel box section battens and rotated it. The result is it wobbles which I believe is the crappy aftermarket bearings from rimmerbros so now decided to get a pair of GKN ones. Has anyone had similar problems with these crap bearings.
Click to expand...
I haven't, but lots have - bit like cheap diff mounts and various other bits.
 
Avoid cheap for anything drive train related. The results are never good with cheap stuff. Cheap VCU bearings don't last long, so it's false economy to use them.
 
Hey, vibrations can be caused for lots of reasons. I’ve had a few on both of my landys. Couple things to add to the “check list”

1) wheel bearings
2) imbalanced wheel/s.
3) buckled wheel/s.

Mine vibrated for a year only around 55mph, was fine at other speeds, I then got a puncture randomly, putting the spare on instantly cured the rumble. When new tyre was fitted to that wheel etc, the wheel nearly jumped off the wheel balancer it was that warped, but looks fine to the eye.

Cheers
 
Any update on this? My money is on the VCU bearings being at fault - either not quite in line or not OEM quality. GKN were the OEM supplier IIRC and would be the ones I would seek out (and will likely need to - I have a hunch that the constant bearing noise my FL1 has is related to the VCU bearings...)
 
John5710 said:
I've just done the same job replaced 2 x new vcu prop bearings and 3 x new UJ's. I used x aftermarket prop bearings from rimmerbros and got the 50 plus vibration.
Took rear prop off same result. Took from prop off and checked it, all good. Dropped the vcu and placed it on a bench supported by 2 identical steel box section battens and rotated it. The result is it wobbles which I believe is the crappy aftermarket bearings from rimmerbros so now decided to get a pair of GKN ones. Has anyone had similar problems with these crap bearings.
Click to expand...
I recently ordered a GKN prop bearing and was sent an aftermarket one instead. The bearing itself (unbranded, should be FAG) was mounted off-centre in the mount and slightly tilted to one side as well. The seals on the aftermarket bearings are inadequate, so they lose grease, take in water and fail within a year.

The bearing mounts should be fitted so they sit perpendicular to the axis of the VCU, not the prop.
 
rob_bell said:
Any update on this? My money is on the VCU bearings being at fault - either not quite in line or not OEM quality. GKN were the OEM supplier IIRC and would be the ones I would seek out (and will likely need to - I have a hunch that the constant bearing noise my FL1 has is related to the VCU bearings...)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice, you were "bang on" the aftermarket bearings i got from Rimmer Bros were crap, when I had the vcu on the bench between two timbers and gave it a good spin, it wobbled from side to side !! This being transmitted through the props would have been the root cause of the vibration. I managed to get two OEM ones which after fitting ran as smooth as new so job done.
Lesson learnt - NEVER USE AFTERMARKET CRAP for anything !!
Thanks again for your help and this great forum, Im now tackling fitting a new (OEM) oil cooler which is leaking and an intercooler clean up.
Im getting more and more friendly with this TD4 it runs like a dream !
 
guineafowl21 said:
I recently ordered a GKN prop bearing and was sent an aftermarket one instead. The bearing itself (unbranded, should be FAG) was mounted off-centre in the mount and slightly tilted to one side as well. The seals on the aftermarket bearings are inadequate, so they lose grease, take in water and fail within a year.

The bearing mounts should be fitted so they sit perpendicular to the axis of the VCU, not the prop.
Click to expand...
Thanks m8 ive fitted 2 OEM ones and the job is done, its running like a new car now, lesson learnt DONT USE AFTERMARKET CRAP EVER !!
 
Glad you got it sorted.

John5710 said:
DONT USE AFTERMARKET CRAP EVER !!
Click to expand...

Steady on! Aftermarket stuff has its place, but there are certain products that are not fit for purpose. Suppliers seem to confuse the issue with words that mean nothing, like ‘quality aftermarket’, ‘OEM quality’ and the like.

Best to pop a question on here if you’re planning a repair - I ordered that GKN prop bearing from a site I’ve been using for ten years. I posted a pic on here and got it confirmed that it wasn’t GKN. Sent straight back.

On the other hand, you wouldn’t usually bother fitting a genuine LR air filter or brake discs as the cost of these bits and bobs would very quickly exceed the value of the car.
 
guineafowl21 said:
Glad you got it sorted.



Steady on! Aftermarket stuff has its place, but there are certain products that are not fit for purpose. Suppliers seem to confuse the issue with words that mean nothing, like ‘quality aftermarket’, ‘OEM quality’ and the like.

Best to pop a question on here if you’re planning a repair - I ordered that GKN prop bearing from a site I’ve been using for ten years. I posted a pic on here and got it confirmed that it wasn’t GKN. Sent straight back.

On the other hand, you wouldn’t usually bother fitting a genuine LR air filter or brake discs as the cost of these bits and bobs would very quickly exceed the value of the car.
Click to expand...
Your right M8 in future I'll give more thought to which part to order before I buy, I was very disappointed with the aftermarket VCU bearings and couldn't believe how bad they were, but we live and learn. I have ordered a new OEM oil cooler and will be doing more on the fl1 as I slowly bring it back to life. Thanks for the feedback and thanks to this site it's given me the courage to tackle many jobs I thought were beyond me.
 
Some aftermarket stuff is pants. Most drop links on the market are real piles of pants and you'll be constantly changing them every few months where the original would have lasted over a decade.

Luckily, a huge wealth of experience on here to guide you on your parts purchases. There's even a thread on where to buy the good parts from :)
 
rob_bell said:
Some aftermarket stuff is pants. Most drop links on the market are real piles of pants and you'll be constantly changing them every few months where the original would have lasted over a decade.

Luckily, a huge wealth of experience on here to guide you on your parts purchases. There's even a thread on where to buy the good parts from :)
Click to expand...
Mate I agree totally this site and it's members have given me the confidence to tackle jobs I wouldn't have dreamt of doing so thanks
 
rob_bell said:
Most drop links on the market are real piles of pants and you'll be constantly changing them every few months where the original would have lasted over a decade.
Click to expand...
I decided to try cheap makes of drop links to see if all were bad. I actually ended up needing to replace them before each MOT, except for one make, which failed inside of 6 months.

In the past I found Delphi are OK, but Lemforder were better. Both of these are more expensive, but last longer than 12 months.
 
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