Hi

Recently replaced the VC on my Freelander, which had seized, but found that its also buggered the IRD Unit. The cheapest new non LR part is £850, but can get a recon for 450, only have been told that because Land Rover don't make any parts for the IRD, then any shot bearings etc can only be replaced with good second hand parts from another knackered IRD Unit.

Does anyone have any experience of this as to whether its worth trying to save the cash or is it false economy? The recon place seems pretty decent - www.bellengineering.co.uk

Any advice gratefully received?

PS Having just read a thread from back in March from Kungfu2010 regarding problems with mixing Michelin Latitude with Synchrones, I've just had two new Latitude tyres fitted and thats when the problems started - with vibration and oil coming through the rear diff breather pipe - could than be the cause? Its turning out to be very expensive tyre change if it is....

have a look at ashcroft transmissions, who are very highly regarded, no experience personally, but from what I've read, I'd go there if I needed to.

Ashcroft Transmissions

Freelander Rich said:

Hi

Recently replaced the VC on my Freelander, which had seized, but found that its also buggered the IRD Unit. The cheapest new non LR part is £850, but can get a recon for 450, only have been told that because Land Rover don't make any parts for the IRD, then any shot bearings etc can only be replaced with good second hand parts from another knackered IRD Unit.

Does anyone have any experience of this as to whether its worth trying to save the cash or is it false economy? The recon place seems pretty decent - www.bellengineering.co.uk

Any advice gratefully received?

PS Having just read a thread from back in March from Kungfu2010 regarding problems with mixing Michelin Latitude with Synchrones, I've just had two new Latitude tyres fitted and thats when the problems started - with vibration and oil coming through the rear diff breather pipe - could than be the cause? Its turning out to be very expensive tyre change if it is....

Click to expand...

Theres a guy on this forum from Bell engineering, he's called Austin.

You wont have a problem with Bell Engineering, I got a Viscous from them last novemeber. I live local so drove there with the complete propshaft shoved in the boot/back of the car. The chap at Bell Engineering removed the old viscous and put the new one on for me and then put the prop back together again. My viscous was knackered but I was lucky and it didnt take the IRD with it, one year later no problems with it.

Freelander Rich said:

PS Having just read a thread from back in March from Kungfu2010 regarding problems with mixing Michelin Latitude with Synchrones, I've just had two new Latitude tyres fitted and thats when the problems started - with vibration and oil coming through the rear diff breather pipe - could than be the cause? Its turning out to be very expensive tyre change if it is....

Click to expand...

Have the new tyres been fitted to the front wheels??

If so that will be the cause of the problems, before you do anything else swop the new ones (greater circumference) to the rear axle.

Great! Thanks for everyones help.

I did have the tyres fitted to the front at the tyre place, but then had them moved to the back, but the problem has got much worse. I'm not sure how long it takes for perminant damage to be done?

Could tyres from the same manufacturer of the same spec 215/65 r16 - but with a different name really do the damage. As Kungfu2010 points out in this posts, there is a 4cm difference between the new Latitudes and the old Synchrones.

Has anyone had any similar problems with these tyres? The trouble is, trying to get the tyre place to admit that they have caused the problems and to pay for the repairs which will stand at about £1500.....

The front to rear ratio of freelanders transmission effectively would require the rear wheels to turn slightly more revolutions per mile than the fronts. So a VC is used to prevent this happening and winding up the transmission on road.

The key thing to remember when trying to understand the transmission is that in normal driving the rear wheels and diff are freewheeling and being turned by the motion of the vehicle.

The VC has to accommodate this 'normal' difference in ratio and slip but still transmit drive over and above it design slip rate. (when wheel traction is lost)

If the front tyre circumference is higher (tyres with more tread) than the rear, the front to rear ratio is increased beyond the amount that the VC is designed to slip and therefore it transmits drive (or overrun when used on road) that winds up the transmission.

When the rear tyres have the greater circumference the front to rear ratio becomes more equal, reducing the potential wind up so the VC is required to slip less (slower) than it would even with four identical tyres.

The effect of incorrect tyre fitment are instant but obviously depend on the amount that the ratios have been affected.

Damage can and has been known to occur within days.

Thanks thats really helpful.

The new tyres are now on the back, but it was too late not to do the damage it seems..... It is going in on Monday for a new IRD, so think I will have to get the old front tyres changed at the same time (and changed with the back!), although it sounds from Chaser that as long the newest tyres as they're on the back then that might be ok as the old ones still have a bit of life left?

Freelander Rich said:

Thanks thats really helpful.

The new tyres are now on the back, but it was too late not to do the damage it seems..... It is going in on Monday for a new IRD, so think I will have to get the old front tyres changed at the same time (and changed with the back!), although it sounds from Chaser that as long the newest tyres as they're on the back then that might be ok as the old ones still have a bit of life left?

Click to expand...

Leave your front tyres alone while there is still sufficient tread on them as it helps reduce the workload on the VC.

Also forgot to mention that early freelanders were more sensitive to this tyre thing and later LR revised the ratio in the IRD which helped to some extent.
This isn't anything new it's been the case since the freelander was introduced and tyre dealers should be aware of the necessity to fit the new tyres to the rear.
It is also stated in the freelander handbook to only fit new tyres to the rear if only fitting a pair.