Freelander 2 wheel drive IDR conversion

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wriggs

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As most of you Freelander owners know, or maybe not yet if you are a newby, the Freelander is susceptible to VCU failure if unchecked at around 70,000 miles. As i am a " newby" to Freelander's, i am afraid that i have had to learn the hard way and just around a month after i purchased the vehicle, the IRD box went.
Fortunately, i had heard about a company called "Bell Engineering", who specialise in the Freelander who fitted a 2 wheel drive IRD, which retains your propshaft , but does'nt drive it and you can keep the seized VCU on the prop because it no longer uses it.
As i am mainly on road, this conversion has impressed me beyond expectations, the car does around an extra 5 mile per gallon and handles superb. I know that i am only front wheel drive now, but it is a big divide between paying a Landrover a wopping £1800 to put on a new IRD and VCU or let "Bell" do it for just over £500 all in for a recon unit.
If you want satisfaction, then try Bell Engineering, i think these lads know what they are talking about..;)
 
Although no expert im guessing that the £500 that you spent wasnt well spent after all.

Search for 'mondo mode' on here and you will see why.

And just to clarify, AFAIK the latter FL (from 2001?) had a different VCU on that was less prone to seizing. Even on the earlier one, if checked regularly it could be removed/replaced before the IRD was damaged.

Sorry, but think you have been done like a kipper!

Steve
 
Whats the point of fitting a 2wd ird and leaving the props on.
Unless you intend to defraud your insurance company or potential purchaser.
And would you use a company that uses such blatant spam.
 
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Looking at the Bell website they are advertising a 2WD IRD so this is quite worrying for those purchasing a Freelander. They are advised to check that the props are still there by the experienced members and no doubt a good mechanic checking the car visiually will see the props are there.

So, what is the point in the 2wd IRD if not to con a potential buyer??

:confused:
 
wriggs said:
Well, it looks like Landrover have seen the light with the introduction of the 2 wheel drive eD4 model being introduced early 2011..

The 2011 Freelander 2 – Embracing Efficient Technologies | Land Rover Our Planet
Click to expand...

Yes but they will advertise and sell it as a 2 wheel drive not try to con buyers into purchasing what they believe is a vehicle capable of 4 wheel drive.Bell engineering openly state that their 2 wheel drive IRD allows the propshaft and VCU to remain in place, this can only be for one reason, to make future buyers of the vehicle think that it is still 4 wheel drive..
 
From their website......

For customers who primarily use their Freelander onroad or wish to cut the repair cost we now offer the option of 2WD only IRD units. These units look exactly the same as a normal 4WD unit, but only supply front wheel drive. The output shaft is still retained so the prop shaft and VCU can remain attached, giving the apperance from underneath the car that car is still running in 4WD. If you wish to remove the propshaft the output shaft can be blanked off.

Clearly there is a suggestion of the ability to decieve. Just lost all respect for them! :(
 
Mines already mondo and without the shaft, if I sold it I would fess up (after all, the ****ing heap is worth nowt to me now).

Now the rest of the box has broken up so I contacted Bell early last week as the 2wd is half the price of a 4wd (which I dont need).

Guy told me he was in the middle of moving premises and would ring me this morning to 'ship one out to me'

I rang him. Its not even built yet. A ****ing week off the road waiting for this c*nt and his false promises and Im no better off.

I couldn't possibly recommend this tw*t. This is gonna cost me dear now, my business is supposed to be opening this week and I have no transport.
:mad::mad::mad:
 
Bell Engineering fitted one of their recon VCU's to mine last week and I'm pleased with their service.

I admit that a "fake" IRD isn't something I would go for and it could definitely deceive people. However, it also allows owners happy with 2WD only to have a cheaper fix. The IRD should be modified in such a way the rear prop can't be fitted to prevent deception to both buyers and insurance companies, then do away with the "giving the apperance from underneath the car that car is still running in 4WD".

This re-opens the whole insurance issue anyway and having driven mine for just a week with the rear prop off, I wouldn't want anything other than a 4WD IRD fitted. These were designed as a 4WD vehicle and I don't believe they'll never handle correctly in 2WD.
 
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wriggs said:
As most of you Freelander owners know, or maybe not yet if you are a newby, the Freelander is susceptible to VCU failure if unchecked at around 70,000 miles. As i am a " newby" to Freelander's, i am afraid that i have had to learn the hard way and just around a month after i purchased the vehicle, the IRD box went.
Fortunately, i had heard about a company called "Bell Engineering", who specialise in the Freelander who fitted a 2 wheel drive IRD, which retains your propshaft , but does'nt drive it and you can keep the seized VCU on the prop because it no longer uses it.
As i am mainly on road, this conversion has impressed me beyond expectations, the car does around an extra 5 mile per gallon and handles superb. I know that i am only front wheel drive now, but it is a big divide between paying a Landrover a wopping £1800 to put on a new IRD and VCU or let "Bell" do it for just over £500 all in for a recon unit.
If you want satisfaction, then try Bell Engineering, i think these lads know what they are talking about..;)
Click to expand...
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Informative thread, I had always thought these 2wd irds that heard of had rear output blanked in all cases. So it seems that if I decide t buy another freelander in the future, im goin to have to do a one wheel up test before buying just to check that there is rear drive.......:5btoetap05:
 
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