VCU IRD fault

Ok, so i know this has been talked about so many times but after searching the forum and net could someone give a clear and concise answer to my symptom please.

I assume the ashcroft test ( which i cannot find on their site) involves jacking one rear wheel, handbrake off, in gear and rotating the said jacked wheel.

Well mine does rotate albeit requiring constant pressure but even so can be done by hand.

The reason i am checking this as tonight for the first time in my ownership (3months 3000 miles) i heard a banging noise when traversing a down hill to the right turn.

After inspection i found the front VCU support bearing bush has deteriorated and has slumped, and there seems to be some expensive sounding noise coming from the IRD when i rotate a front wheel in neutral.

I appreciate some of you guys are probably fed up with answering the same questions, however i feel the topic has never really been CLEARly answered.

The reason i ask is before i plough money into rebuilding my IRD is there anything else i should check to save future expense.

My vehicle is a 2.0L series on a 2000 reg. I read somewhere about the rear diff ratio, would mine be in the affected range and can this be rectified??


Many thanks for those that will read this and constructively answer my query.

Flame suit ready at my side!!!!

your vcu check indicates that it is behaving normally.

as for the front diff/ird, if you have both front wheels up and rotate one side it's normal to hear some rumbling due to the rotating internal parts so it really depends on just what you did and what you can hear.

Here it is

Ashcroft Transmissions

Thanks Guys,

Feel a little better now........ And Dazz thanks for the link, must have missed that.
The last couple of days have heard a strange creaking noise, which i looked into the subframe bolting/cracking issue and mine is fine.
Obviously i'm gonna change the VCU mounts and change the IRD oil and probably the Rear Diff oil also.

This Freelander has 185000 on the clock now and to be fair it hasn't let me down and the service history indicated a new VCU and IRD 40000 ago.

I'll post up my further findings.

Cheers

Ok so i've now removed the prop and vcu checked the oil in the IRD and have no drive in 2wd!!!
After an informative chat with Bell Engineering, it was explained to me that my fault probably lies with the final drive carrier splines in the gearbox. This would be a £174 part from Landrover, or alternatively a 2nd hand box.

Also note that they sell IRD's for £450 and VCU's for £200 with 6 month warranty.

Just a quick update, spline in final drive carrier has definately failed, just need to remove IRD now and check condition of input shaft to IRD.

Looks like either i strip the box and replace the carrier assembly or pick up another box.

A big thankyou to Home - Bell Engineering i suggest you guys have a look at their very informative website.