G

guineafowl21

Well-Known Member
The reconditioned VCU I got from Bell has just expired suddenly. Last week, I pulled into a parking bay with no problems. This week, it felt like the brakes were on, rear tyres scrubbing (tarmac) and the engine note changed and there were vibrations (wound-up powertrain held at an angle?)

Even pulling out of junctions causes scrubbing now. I’ve whipped the prop off, but couldn’t do a OWUT as I don’t have my breaker bar and big socket with me. I think we can safely assume it would be prolonged if the transmission is winding up so badly. The car drives fine now.

So, the lifespan was:
2 years 9 months
About 35,000 miles.

Yes, all four tyres were fitted at the same time (Pirelli Scorpion STR) and kept at 30 psi.

Could this be a seized bearing inside? It’s more sudden than I expected. The fluid can’t have gone off yet, surely.
 
From my understanding there are no bearings inside just plates and fluid, could be wrong though
 
You’d expect a brand new one to last, AFAIK, 70,000 miles at least and perhaps ten years.

Maybe not so much for a recon, but I was hoping for a longer life. Is there a Bell person on here?
 
I'd expect a Bell reconditioned VCU to last as long as the original VCU. Contact Austen at Bell and see what he says on the subject. If it turns out that 30K miles is all that can be expected, then it's better to buy new.
 
@austen from Bell appears to be an active member, but the @ tag doesn’t show him up.

I remember chatting to him two years ago on here about why they sell dummy IRDs that look 4wd but aren’t.

Seems a reasonable chap, anyway. I’ll try an email, although the VCU is out of warranty.
 
guineafowl21 said:
@austen from Bell appears to be an active member, but the @ tag doesn’t show him up.

I remember chatting to him two years ago on here about why they sell dummy IRDs that look 4wd but aren’t.

Seems a reasonable chap, anyway. I’ll try an email, although the VCU is out of warranty.
Click to expand...

Not posted since this time last year
 
Interesting. I'm sure some GKN units fail in 35K miles, in fact I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are not exactly brilliant out of the factory. However, most would be good for a "decent" life time.

This may come down to the old chestnut of not knowing exactly what fluid GKN use for their couplings.

Have you checked the tyre pressures since you noticed the problem?
 
GrumpyGel said:
Have you checked the tyre pressures since you noticed the problem?
Click to expand...

Checked pretty much every week - they’ve never been far off anyway. But this VCU was ‘good’ one week - turning 90 degrees into a tarmac space at idle - then very bad the next. Something’s odd.
 
guineafowl21 said:
Checked pretty much every week - they’ve never been far off anyway. But this VCU was ‘good’ one week - turning 90 degrees into a tarmac space at idle - then very bad the next. Something’s odd.
Click to expand...

Sounds very odd doesn't it. I tested my VCU just a few weeks ago because I was getting some drag when reversing on full lock. Mine tested as ok, in fact better than the last test I did 12 miles earlier. My VCU has 122K on it and it still tests at about 40 seconds which is a surprise. I still get some drag when reversing, but I'm going to consider it normal for the time being.
 
You could test it yourself by putting a couple of big screwdrivers into the joints either side of the VCU. If you can turn it by hand without giving yourself a hernia then it's probably OK, if not then send it back.
 
Not an expert on this subject. However spoke to my guy at garage. Has fixed my cars for 20 years. We live out in sticks. He has worked on dozens of freelander and has long relationship with his customers cars. Never had to replace a vcu. Sometimes the bearings but never vcu. Im not saying they dont break but it is an interesting observation.
 
Framtaff said:
Not an expert on this subject. However spoke to my guy at garage. Has fixed my cars for 20 years. We live out in sticks. He has worked on dozens of freelander and has long relationship with his customers cars. Never had to replace a vcu. Sometimes the bearings but never vcu. Im not saying they dont break but it is an interesting observation.
Click to expand...

The VCU does stiffen over time and simply ignoring it is playing a lottery as to when the IRD goes bang.

Not an observation but fact. ;)
 
Nodge68 said:
The VCU does stiffen over time and simply ignoring it is playing a lottery as to when the IRD goes bang.

Not an observation but fact. ;)
Click to expand...
Hi, mine has done 90k I can feel it tighten on full lock forward and reverse. After a long fast run the vcu is still cold to touch. Lots of posts say a bit of stiffness on full lock normal. Some posters seem to say it is a sign of need to replace. It seems like this is a much debated subject. I will ask mechanic how many ird he has replaced. Im pretty sure he hasn' replaced any but will double check.
 
Framtaff said:
Hi, mine has done 90k I can feel it tighten on full lock forward and reverse. After a long fast run the vcu is still cold to touch. Lots of posts say a bit of stiffness on full lock normal. Some posters seem to say it is a sign of need to replace. It seems like this is a much debated subject. I will ask mechanic how many ird he has replaced. Im pretty sure he hasn' replaced any but will double check.
Click to expand...

You only need to look at Freelander's offered for sale with "transmission fault". The of number IRD failures is high, but it does depend on how the FL is treated and maintained. Odd and incorrect tyres is the primary reason the VCU starts to fail. This then loads up the IRD and it eventually goes bang. This is why we recommend doing the one wheel up test at least every 6 months and make sure all tyres are identical with least worn on the rear.
 
Last edited:
Framtaff said:
Hi, mine has done 90k I can feel it tighten on full lock forward and reverse. After a long fast run the vcu is still cold to touch. Lots of posts say a bit of stiffness on full lock normal. Some posters seem to say it is a sign of need to replace. It seems like this is a much debated subject. I will ask mechanic how many ird he has replaced. Im pretty sure he hasn' replaced any but will double check.
Click to expand...
A much debated subject indeed. Is your mechanic saying my symptoms are unlikely to be the VCU?
 
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