Hi All

I am the (maybe) proud owner of a 2000 reg 2.0l TD commercial freelander.

So far in two weeks of ownership Ive been mighty impressed with the ride and the car in general but...

Yesterday the rear box decided to disintergrate.. going rate online and on egay seems to be about £50 delivered. Is this about right?
Whilst poking around the box i noticed..
The rubber damper around the back half on the VCU is breaking up - so much so I can wobble it around by hand.
I assume this means the VCU is shagged? Whats this tippex test I keep reading about??
Am I best off removing the VCU and shafts until I can source a replacement. I assume you leave the back and front diffs alone and just drop out props and VCU.
Or can I fix the rubber damper?

Would the VCU being kaput explain why the car seems to 'resist' reversing? It feels like Im fighting it going backwards.

Any input gratefully received.

Check this thread. www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/vcu-again-52387.html
The pics I posted for the tippex test is on a V6 which doesnt have the rubber damper. The damper should have a big metal ring around it, which comes detatched from the rubber. I have seen glue, screws and cable ties holding it on. Don't know if it would pass an MOT like that though.

Tippex test was successful - thanks ianda12, I also used the info on ashcroft transmission pages, basically jack up one back wheel, stick it in first, stick a bar in the back UJ and twist- this was also successful, lots of resistance but a smooth turn. So I think my VCU is OK.

But the rubber damper is fubar'd, so I've removed it - no point having a vibration damper thats vibrating itself.
Havnt noticed any more or less vibrations - has anybody had any trouble running without a damper?
Will buy a new one at some point perhaps - have heard bad things about the cheaper ones though - £80 ish ones are not well balanced, but genuine part £150 bit of a stitch up.

ere yar.

That'll do the job, ta very much.

Looks a damn sight better than mine - especially as I cut the old thing off with the angle grinder

Will have to make a day of it and do bearings in props and the damper.

I assume Im ok running around for a bit without one?