Hi everyone - I'm looking for some advice/help for my Freelander TD4 (2003)

Yesterday I had to perform an emergency stop and when I depressed the clutch there was a really heavy banging/grating noise (like something hitting the bottom of the car) when I pulled up and drew off again.

After that, the car still drove OK with no noises or vibration, changed gears ok, drew up at lights, ect - I thought everything was normal.

However, the noise has come back twice and but only when I have to brake hard and depress the clutch before the brakes (Not the other way round) and seems to be coming from the back of the engine compartment.

I've popped the bonnet and crawled under the car and found that the engine seems to have a fair bit of moment and can be 'rocked' back and forward by hand - which I'm guessing isnt right at all.

Would I be right in thinking one or more engine mounts have given way ?

Certainly doesn't sound right to me. You should be able to see your engine mounts and if they move.
If that's the case then you need to get it fixed before any more damage occurs, also it would not pass an MOT with a broken mount

iaincoles55 said:

Would I be right in thinking one or more engine mounts have given way ?

Click to expand...

The lower engine tie bar is the common one to go soft.
However it may be that another issue is causing the loading of the power unit mounts to start with.

It's fairly common for the IRD to fail on these vehicles, especially if it's got an odd mix of tyres, had new tyres fitted to the front, or been used with incorrect tyre pressures.
The AWD system is hyper sensitive to tyre diameters, and so must be used in accordance with the owners handbook.
Not doing so results in the AWD system taking more drive than it should, which obviously overloads the gears and bearings in the system, causing eventual failure of the IRD or rear diff.

kermit_rr said:

Certainly doesn't sound right to me. You should be able to see your engine mounts and if they move.
If that's the case then you need to get it fixed before any more damage occurs, also it would not pass an MOT with a broken mount

Click to expand...

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply- really appreciate it !
Turns out it was the liwer engine mount - the bolt securing it had come loose and fallen it !

Nodge68 said:

The lower engine tie bar is the common one to go soft.
However it may be that another issue is causing the loading of the power unit mounts to start with.

It's fairly common for the IRD to fail on these vehicles, especially if it's got an odd mix of tyres, had new tyres fitted to the front, or been used with incorrect tyre pressures.
The AWD system is hyper sensitive to tyre diameters, and so must be used in accordance with the owners handbook.
Not doing so results in the AWD system taking more drive than it should, which obviously overloads the gears and bearings in the system, causing eventual failure of the IRD or rear diff.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply- really appreciate it !
Turns out it was the liwer engine mount - the bolt securing it had come loose and fallen it !