Angus-32

Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #1

I need a new VCU (and bearings) and wanted to know if anyone has good (or bad) personal experiences of VCU remanufacture company's, specifically I have been looking at bell engineering: http://www.bellengineering.co.uk/freelander-1-products/

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #2

Bell Engineering are the suggested reconditioner on here.

 

Angus-32

Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #3

Thank you Nodge 68, is a recon unit as good as a new unit? the difference in prices is quite dramatic.

 

LUKBENPHI

Well-Known Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #4

just as good, bell did minea few years ago and as far as i know its still going strong just shy of £400 fitted by the owner of the company himself

 

terr

Active Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #5

330 posted and diy bell for me too

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #6

Angus-32 said:

Thank you Nodge 68, is a recon unit as good as a new unit? the difference in prices is quite dramatic.

Click to expand...

I don't believe GKN have made new VCUs for many years, so those new ones are really new old stock. I don't know for definite if they degrade in storage, but it does appear that they do.

 

G

guineafowl21

Well-Known Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #7

I have had some problems with Bell recon VCUs, but they have been very good at sorting them out.

One support bearing rubber perished and failed after 1 year.
Another support bearing failed after 18 months.
A recon VCU failed after 20,000 miles, completely seized. It was a needle roller bearing, which perhaps should have been replaced at the recon. Quite a rare occurrence, apparently.

With that in mind, I would still recommend Bell, but get a VCU without support bearings and fit proper GKN ones. The bearings should be branded ‘Fag’.

 

Angus-32

Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #8

Thank you for the info, So it sound like bell are recommended but need to watch the replacement bearings, thank for the advice

 

andyfreelandy

Well-Known Member

• Aug 17, 2020

• #9

There is a thread on here, started by Pro.

Cheap VCU bearings on ebay with good rubbers and Chinese bearings. There is also details added by me about replacement bearings from a reputable UK bearing company which simply press in.

A pair of bearings and rubbers can be had for £16 then £11 for a pair of UK bearing replacements.

Just fitted this to my car.
Why not get the VCU less bearings from Bell??