Bounty
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- 270
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- Cheshire, United Kingdom
What have you done to your Freelander today
- Thread starter Freelaner
- Start date
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Finally finished the front suspension replacement (I hope!)
Replaced both struts, springs, lower arms, TRE’s and drop links. Also put a new driveshaft on the n/s, as the old one had some damage.
Managed to break a bolt in the upper mounts fitting one side, it wasn’t quite central and so caught bound up on the edge of the car mount. The remnants of the bolt got carefully drilled out today and replaced - easier than it might have been.
The n/s spring was catching on the inner arch when fitted. Gave it a bit of a ‘nudge’ with a big lever once all bolted up and it ‘popped’ and sat properly, so assume it had a bit of a twist or something when being compressed to make up.
Also completed a full service whilst off the road.
Now have a strange ‘judder’ on hard acceleration, which definitely was not there before, but this could well be caused the the alignment now being out, so will get that done next week before investigating that further. Hoping that is the cause!!!
Yes - it’s caked in mud as I had been driving on farm tracks right before the spring snapped!
Replaced both struts, springs, lower arms, TRE’s and drop links. Also put a new driveshaft on the n/s, as the old one had some damage.
Managed to break a bolt in the upper mounts fitting one side, it wasn’t quite central and so caught bound up on the edge of the car mount. The remnants of the bolt got carefully drilled out today and replaced - easier than it might have been.
The n/s spring was catching on the inner arch when fitted. Gave it a bit of a ‘nudge’ with a big lever once all bolted up and it ‘popped’ and sat properly, so assume it had a bit of a twist or something when being compressed to make up.
Also completed a full service whilst off the road.
Now have a strange ‘judder’ on hard acceleration, which definitely was not there before, but this could well be caused the the alignment now being out, so will get that done next week before investigating that further. Hoping that is the cause!!!
Yes - it’s caked in mud as I had been driving on farm tracks right before the spring snapped!
kernowsvenski
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- 1,701
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- Truro
Good work @Freddie17 . Always good to see shiny new parts fitted. Hopefully the alignment sorts the judder.
andyfreelandy
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- 5,822
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- Devon
Looks like the disc brake guard might be catching the disc near the track rod end ? Vibration cause?? Would probably hear it first.
Alibro
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- 7,324
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- Northern Ireland
Stretch a length of string down the side of the car so it touches the back wheel and just touches the front. It will give you a rough guide on how far out of alignment the front wheels are. If they are a mile out then maybe that's the issue but if close then probably not.
You can get pretty close to proper alignment this way.
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It feels like something is not spinning true, if that makes sense?
Like a wheel or axle wobble.
But it stops, and doesn’t even start if you accelerate slower
It’s only when accelerating and building speed hard.
Weird.
It’s got to be linked to the recent work I’ve done - too much coincidence to not be.
I’ll double-check them both
htr
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- 1,587
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- Central Otago, Southern New Zealand
Spend a couple of hours under the FL1. Initially I was wanting to add an extra aluminium washer to the first gear switch on the g'box to see if I could get rid of the amber HDC warning lamp. But I could find the right washer anywhere 
So I hard a good look at the VCU bearings and rubber mounts as well as the the diff mounts. I've have a thumping sound whenever I pull away on a hard RH turn and thought it was the diff's 'centre' mount. I could see where it had been hitting the underside of the bodywork. Checked the UJs as well - they seem good save for the rearmost one had a tiny bit of side ways play. Those rubber mounts essentially look OK but I could see where/how they hade been moving. My prop shaft is not in a perfect straight line. I loosened the 4 mount bolts and moved it across to the left by about 1mm - that's all the movement I could get and made sure the bolts were in the centre of their respective slots. Then I spotted that the centre diff mounts lower bolt had had some movement in it. I tried to tighten it but the thread in the diff housing was stripped. An awkward place to drill it out one size up, but I managed it and cut a new thread, used a spare starter motor bold and tightened it up.
Went for a test drive and seems I've cured the thumping!
1st gear switch is scheduled for next weekend.
So I hard a good look at the VCU bearings and rubber mounts as well as the the diff mounts. I've have a thumping sound whenever I pull away on a hard RH turn and thought it was the diff's 'centre' mount. I could see where it had been hitting the underside of the bodywork. Checked the UJs as well - they seem good save for the rearmost one had a tiny bit of side ways play. Those rubber mounts essentially look OK but I could see where/how they hade been moving. My prop shaft is not in a perfect straight line. I loosened the 4 mount bolts and moved it across to the left by about 1mm - that's all the movement I could get and made sure the bolts were in the centre of their respective slots. Then I spotted that the centre diff mounts lower bolt had had some movement in it. I tried to tighten it but the thread in the diff housing was stripped. An awkward place to drill it out one size up, but I managed it and cut a new thread, used a spare starter motor bold and tightened it up.
Went for a test drive and seems I've cured the thumping!
1st gear switch is scheduled for next weekend.
Kerlaan
Active Member
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- 135
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- Bretagne, France
Hello @Nodge68 - I cannot see the Armageddon link.... but if it refers to what I think it might; I would offer that UK has a more sensible approach to cars and motorcycles. That is, in the broad sense, does the vehicle have a continuing safe condition for use on the highway. Here in France and many other EU locations, does the vehicle comply fully with the standard configured and conformed at type registration? It makes modification of vehicles almost impossible!! If that were to creep into UK, all those lifted and modded vehicle owners would be between a rock and a hard place.
Sometime people will realise they need to press their MP`s to protect their rights.
(Nice thing here though is 2 years MOT and NO road tax)
- Posts
- 188
- Location
- N. Yorkshire
Well the plan was to replace the El Cheapo front ARB bushes with some poly ones - Floflex not Powerflex to see how long they last.
TLDR: didn’t happen had to put El Cheapos back.
The polys when measured side by side with the others are bigger. Maybe because the others have compressed while in but also the diameter of the hole is smaller that El Cheapo so when the polys are slipped over the bar there’s quite a gap (1/4”) between the two parts of the bush used to slip over the bar if that makes sense. Consequently, getting both bolts back in isn’t happening.
I’ll have another go at some point as it doesn’t help when you finger ends have gone numb from the cold…
Anyway, while I was under there I started wire brushing in prep the next round of undersealing.
TLDR: didn’t happen had to put El Cheapos back.
The polys when measured side by side with the others are bigger. Maybe because the others have compressed while in but also the diameter of the hole is smaller that El Cheapo so when the polys are slipped over the bar there’s quite a gap (1/4”) between the two parts of the bush used to slip over the bar if that makes sense. Consequently, getting both bolts back in isn’t happening.
I’ll have another go at some point as it doesn’t help when you finger ends have gone numb from the cold…
Anyway, while I was under there I started wire brushing in prep the next round of undersealing.
Philgt50
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- 269
- Location
- Bournemouth
Same problem with mine, luckily the bolt came out with the riv nut so managed to get them off.
Philgt50
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 269
- Location
- Bournemouth
Today I have replaced the starter motor on my 2006 TD4. Not had to do anything to mine for ages so started with some trepidation however actually went well. Watched a YouTube vid and the guy removed the air intake hoses but when I looked at it I couldn’t see what difference that would make so whipped out the battery box and that was it. Seems to be fine so I am very pleased. Gtta do the rear drums and front suspension arms before the MOT but that’s November so obviously no hurry.
I am seeing if a new policy of leaving it the f leaving it alone until it needs something doing is best and I gtta say so far so good. Happy days.
Need a couple of 235/18 /50 tyres if anyone got any lying about and live near Dorset.
I am seeing if a new policy of leaving it the f leaving it alone until it needs something doing is best and I gtta say so far so good. Happy days.
Need a couple of 235/18 /50 tyres if anyone got any lying about and live near Dorset.
kernowsvenski
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- 1,701
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- Truro
Front wheels balanced and all vibration at totally legal road speeds now gone 
Alibro
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- 7,324
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- Northern Ireland
Yesterday I had the wheels aligned. The nearside rear was a pig as the suspension is all original on that side but the guy used Oxy to heat the nuts and they moved easily. All the rest had been loosened before so were not too bad but the job still took almost two hours.
Drives nice and straight now.
Drives nice and straight now.
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Philgt50
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- 269
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- Bournemouth
I posted on 16/03/25 smugly about replacing my starter motor. What a fool….
Three days later the new one stopped working altogether. So after much cursing, blood sweat and tears put the old one back in. Started first time and continues to work fine. The firm who supplied the new rubbish one refunded my money without even wanting theirs back which tells you how good it is, right? Moral is don’t buy cheap parts.
Then this week a FL1 3dr TD4 came into my yard and I have had the starter motor, seats, fuel pump and filter which were new, and best of all 5 rather awesome wheels and tyres. I was looking at spending £200 on 2 cheap tyres for the back but got the lot for £200.
Happy days long live Roary the Hippo
Three days later the new one stopped working altogether. So after much cursing, blood sweat and tears put the old one back in. Started first time and continues to work fine. The firm who supplied the new rubbish one refunded my money without even wanting theirs back which tells you how good it is, right? Moral is don’t buy cheap parts.
Then this week a FL1 3dr TD4 came into my yard and I have had the starter motor, seats, fuel pump and filter which were new, and best of all 5 rather awesome wheels and tyres. I was looking at spending £200 on 2 cheap tyres for the back but got the lot for £200.
Happy days long live Roary the Hippo
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GrumpyGel
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- 27,040
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- Christchurch, New Zealand
I take it you work at a breakers yard?
Or did you just buy some bits off someone who turned up at your place of work? How did they get home? Do you try to get other types of parts off your customers, kidneys, livers etc?
Going by your profile pic, it looks like you had the Sport rims before, you can probably get a fair bit of your money back selling them.
Philgt50
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- 269
- Location
- Bournemouth
I work at a scrapyard so we do get a fair share of end of life vehicles but this was the first 3 door Hippo since I’ve been there.I take it you work at a breakers yard?
Or did you just buy some bits off someone who turned up at your place of work? How did they get home? Do you try to get other types of parts off your customers, kidneys, livers etc?
Going by your profile pic, it looks like you had the Sport rims before, you can probably get a fair bit of your money back selling them.
Been waiting for one for ages, kept thinking I had to buy a couple of tyres then got lucky.
Still got the sports rims in the garage, in case I come across some decent tyres… you never know. Pretty much everything seems to turn up there eventually. I always end up working in strange places.
Philgt50
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- 269
- Location
- Bournemouth
Another Hippo
on the way to wherever Hippos go when they leave this earthly realmAttachments
- Posts
- 188
- Location
- N. Yorkshire
Replaced back box. Picked up last MOT as the outer was rusted and coming away. Not blowing. See the pic of the old one below. Looks suspiciously like a date code, if it is, it’s done very well. My FL is a March 06 registration on 157.5 k miles. Original? NOS sometime? Needed one of them wrap around induction heater things to get the join apart.
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