4x4Dog
Active Member
It's a catch 22 tho, innit. Do I spend the £250 on a recon VCU and bearings and call it an insurance against the IRD or diff 'sploding, or am I throwing money away? Bottom line, it's a VCU with 120K plus change on it. It bugs me not having a clear way of knowing when this hits EOL.
IME tho, every FL with a busted IRD or diff *I've seen* (emphasis on that bit) had tyre mismatch. That **** will blow up transfer cases and diffs on far sturdier vehicles.
IME tho, every FL with a busted IRD or diff *I've seen* (emphasis on that bit) had tyre mismatch. That **** will blow up transfer cases and diffs on far sturdier vehicles.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
I don't believe it is original, not with those figures. The VCU is a very simple device which ages according to age, mileage and whether the tyres are even or not so by 120k miles most VCU's will be pretty well stuffed. By testing it can turn easily you have already proven yours is fine. They don't suddenly fail, the fluid degrades gradually so it should be easy to keep an eye on it every few months or so.
One thing that peeps have to realise is.... That there is no definitive test for a VCU that we have heard of. This test should be treated as a comparative test - to be carried out at frequent if random occasions and the times compared. Any significant variation or noticeable trentd towards an increase in time should be regarded as a warning sign.In the FAQs section there is a VCU torque test, which you can (should) carry out on a regular basis, so you get warning of an impending seizing VCU. This is designed to reduce the chances of screwing up your transmission and having to replace your IRD.
The main problem with this test, at the mo, is that there are no definitive figures as to what a "good" VCU will need to turn.
This is where yu guys with the misfortuneof having a freelander can help yourself and others.
Do the torque test and post the results below. If you think your VCU is new, unknown, shagged or seized, post that as well, so we can tell what a known one gives.
The more peeps that can do this test, the more likely that a figure ( or more likely a range of figures) can be determined to enable this test to be a reliable and quantify-able test and be of significant value to others.
Go do it - your hippoo needs you!
As stated above, the more results that are posted, the more an " average" can be deduced.
70K miles is often quoted. This should be used as a guide too. Nothing is set in stone and, like any "consumable" part, life will vary between vehicles. LR do not give MTBF figures!
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
Mismatched tyres is a sure way to cause early failure in most 4X4 vehicles. The Freelander IRD isn't a failure prone item, it's actually very robust, unless it's abused by a faulty VCU, incorrectly fitted tyres or a combination of both.
Ok , finally got time to do a proper test with a 1.2 meter pole and a 32mm socket.
did it twice and took just over 60 seconds for 5KG weight travelling through 45 degrees
2003 Vehicle has done just under 70k and feels stiff on full lock reverse
Should i replace this vcu ?
Is a new one better than one reconditioned by bell engineering ?
Can anyone suggest a place to buy a new one ?
Thanks in advance
did it twice and took just over 60 seconds for 5KG weight travelling through 45 degrees
2003 Vehicle has done just under 70k and feels stiff on full lock reverse
Should i replace this vcu ?
Is a new one better than one reconditioned by bell engineering ?
Can anyone suggest a place to buy a new one ?
Thanks in advance
Alibro
Well-Known Member
If it were me I'd be happy to leave it for now and keep an eye on it. The drive train is not that fragile as my first car proved. The VCU in it was locked solid but nothing had broken. Even with a new VCU you will feel a tightness in reverse so don't worry about that.
If you want to be super cautious then change it and either Bells or new will be fine.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
Mmmm, not sure that was what LR had in mind when they said sealed for life. Still probably true tho.The VCU is a "sealed for life" unit, and I'm under no illusion that it was sold to LR as lasting "the life of the vehicle." And that's true, because when it 'splodes the IRD or diff, that's usually the end of the line for it
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
That's the sort of time my old V6 was giving. However I believe that the V6 VCU is different to the 4 cylinder in operation. It's physically different in that it doesn't have a damper and the bearings are different too. I think it's probably filled with a thicker fluid to make better use of the power available.
I would guess that yours is ok for the moment but a replacement could be round the corner.
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
Mmmm, not sure that was what LR had in mind when they said sealed for life. Still probably true tho.
This "Sealed For Life" thing comes up more and more these days.
For instance, some Ford Mondeo automatics use the same Jatco box that the Freelander used. However, Ford said that no fluid changes were necessary for the life of the vehicle. This would cause the box to prematurely fail and around 120K miles, effectively ending the life of the vehicle due to the high replacement costs. Ford are not alone in this either. Lots of manufacturers now say that a particularly expensive component like a gearbox needs no fluid changes in its service life. Often it's this very component that fails, ending the life of the vehicle. It's almost built in obsolescence to ensure future vehicle sales.
Nodge68
Well-Known Member
You still got grease nipples on HGVs until recently. Now it seems more and more ball joints are sealed for life, just like those fitted to cars.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
Perfect! Ain't no way that's original.
Seems a bit slow. Best to keep an eye on it.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
I'd have thought it is about right. At that mileage has probably been replaced already or would have taken much longer.
