Stewy85

New Member
Hey,

On my 52 plate when on full lock driving slow its started to make a horible grinding / squeeking noise and is now getting worse, Any one know what it could be?
 
Full lock means your viscous coupling will be slipping severly. That is perfectly normal and is why the car seems to drag when your on full lock. I suspect your VC could be in a poor condition.

To test. Park the car on level ground. Engine off, handbrake off, engage first gear. Now jack up one rear wheel. Attempt to rotate the wheel. If the VC is well then the wheel will be hard to turn but if you put your back into it it will move in juddering steps. If the wheel moves freely or won't more at all then the VC is faulty. If it won't move at all then stop driving the car as the IRD and rear diff will be damaged.

Report on your findings. Good luck.
 
If the VC is shot then its starting at £500. The prop shaft has to come off, which isn't difficult, and then striped down. The VC unit is replaced and it is probably a good idea to replace both the support bearings at this time. They are £60 at a time.

Alternatively you can take the prop shaft off and leave it off. The car will drive in front wheel drive only. Some people do this to save fuel but it does affect the handling and it isn't a 4x4 any more. Only caution is the car is effectively modified as far as the insurance is concerned. Search on here for 'Mondo mode' for more information.

Can you determine where the noise is coming from? The other possibility is the CV joints on the front drive shafts. Get some one to stand outside and try and trace where the noise is coming from. The CV is directly below the middle of the cabin space. The front shafts are obviously behind the front wheels.

Good luck.
 
First thing is to check the VCU with the "willo" method (chalk in front and rear props). If it is dodgy then remove the vcu and props immediately before it buggers your IRD.
 
If all wheels remain in firm (non-slipping) contact with the ground in going round a tight corner the VCU has to slip. It is therefore acting as a slipping clutch and in doing so disipates energy.
In tight manouvres very little throttle is used, hence little power is being developed. The power disipated in the VCU reduces that available to the wheels and so the vehicle feels sluggish, its just the same as driving in a straight line with the handbrake applied.
If the VCU is totally seized one of the rear wheels will spin on soft ground/gravel.
 

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