TBH Cheddar, I thought that when my VCU went. But having had the VCU go I've learnt how it works and what I did wrong. Knowing this, its very unlikely that my car would suffer transmission failure due to a VCU wind up again.

So you weigh up the benefits of what you're suggesting and the VCU - and the VCU wins. VCU gives you permantent 4WD with an automatic diff lock immediately its required and turns off immediately when its not - protecting your transmission. If you have a 2WD system with a switch to go locked 4WD, you can only turn it on when you know the ground you are on is consistently slippery enough not to damage your transmission.

In my use of the Freelander, I found the VCU better than the traditional center diff setup on my Discos. So in my view, changing it is negative.

lol, 2 messages typed at the same time saying essentially the same thing - 'cept I'd prefer the cheap and cheerful over the expensive and complex

needs to be less than £200 too.

I will stick with the vcu. It works........

If it breaks, replace it.... As has been said it ain't that expensive.

Had all of these discussions a few years back when i had a td4, Im thinking of getting another, so i will inject my two Penneys worth. In 1948 Landrover had the same problem of transmission wined up, they solved it by putting a free wheel in the drive train, the same would work for the freelander. A sprag one way clutch, is fairly cheap and available. it would mean no fourwheel drive in reverse unless the sprag was lockable as the landrover one was.

nongrokal said:

Had all of these discussions a few years back when i had a td4, Im thinking of getting another, so i will inject my two Penneys worth. In 1948 Landrover had the same problem of transmission wined up, they solved it by putting a free wheel in the drive train, the same would work for the freelander. A sprag one way clutch, is fairly cheap and available. it would mean no fourwheel drive in reverse unless the sprag was lockable as the landrover one was.

Click to expand...

Sounds like progress to me, going back to 1948 technology