Given the number of VCU problems that folk have and the cost of replacement and possible additional damage to the driveline, has anybody ever been successful in replacing the VCU with a manual means of engaging four wheel drive?
Even if it was a system where you had to stop the vehicle before engagement it could help save a lot of vehicles from being uneconomical to repair.
Thoughts !!!!

Various threads have discussed this, have a search, but no, there is no viable option yet - so probably won't ever be. Plenty of people have talked about it, but I don't think anyone has implemented anything.

The VCU isn't the problem, its people's understanding of it. Unfortunately, people only tend to understand it once its ripped their transmission to bits.

Hi Grumpy

I was thinking about perhaps something from an older 4x4 being transplanted in.

I had a couple of Lada Nivas in the past and think that someone could possibly remotely mount the transfer box amidship and provide both low box and 4x4.

Obviously that person will have a lot more spare time than me

When a Freelander 1 is driving in a straight line, with equally worn tyres, with the same amount of air in said tyres, the 2 prop shafts turn at different speeds. This is caused by the gearing. It causes the front prop to turn faster than the rear prop. The difference is taken out by the vcu viscous coupling unit. This is how it's designed to work. The only thing we can do is remove the props/vcu and go front wheel drive. If the props were turning 1:1 ratio then transmission wind up would snap something. Normally the ird and/or the rear diff.