Mainwaring

Mainwaring

Active Member
Having read at great lengths about the perils of Freelanders and the VCU in these and other forums I am quite aware about the importance of avoiding it siezing and the damage it can do if it does. Ive also read about the tests that can be carried out.

I have recently bought 2nd hand a TD4 from a lady who had it for 10 years and had it meticulously serviced. When I asked her about the VCU and if she'd had it replaced at all she said that The Man For Landrovers (a well respected Landy garage in these parts of Sussex) who has carried out the servicing on her car for x number of years (honestly a whole folder of service history, you wouldn't believe it!) said that it didn't need doing.

Now . . . when on full lock on either fwd or reverse it feels like the brakes are being gently applied.

I have read this --> Freelander - SLIGHT BRAKING EFFECT WHEN ON FULL LOCK - Land Rover

which states--> "When manoeuvering on full lock at low speed, slight resistance to rolling is felt in both forward and reverse directions.
(...)it is a characteristic of the model. In the event of customer complaint, explain to the customer that there is no fault with the car and that this is a normal effect which is noticeable on vehicles which employ a viscous coupling in the ‘drive line’. "

So my question(s) is(are) this(these) (and I appreciate I might as well ask how long is a bit of string but appreciate your opinions) . . .

- How much resistance to rolling would be considered 'normal'? (i.e. the barkes being stampred on or just gently tickled?)
- What would you do? 1) trust the lady and garage info and stop being paranoid? or 2) spend some dosh and get it tested just incase?

Thanks in advance
 
Thanks Cuza, had a read through that yesterday.

Just phoned the forementioned garage about testing it and they said drop it in and we'll have a look for free! Hooray. Although he then went on to say he thought it sounded like the IRD giving problems which makes me even more paranoid. Boo.
 
tippex test it yourself in the first instance, it will indicate whether or not it is seized, and then it needs the timed drop test as per posts you have read....
 
Thanks Freelance, will do the tipex test.

In the meantime I've just come accross this thread which should help virgin Freelander owners like me enjoy themselves more

VCU's again! - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum

I particularly liked; "stop worrying and just drive and enjoy it, theres more misleading and worrying rubbish spouted about the VCU on 4x4 forums than any other subject and a lot of myths have grown up around them"

:)
 
Someone correct me here, but I believe he VCU should be changed every 70K miles. What mileage has yours done? If less than that then the lack of change would be expected.

All the best (I'm only just up the road from you...)
 
Hello! I drive through Battle everyday, Live in Eastbourne, work in Hastings! I drive a blue 3 door. Give me a toot if you see me :)

My car's done *ahem* 130k miles.
 
The early Freelanders had a different drive ratio, between front and rear, than the later models which can result in premature drive train failure, as yours is a 2000 model I would change the VCU as the cost of a new IRD or Diff will far outweigh the cost of a recon VCU.
 
Have a look on the Bell Engineering website - all explained - I bought a 90k mls one and got them to change it as a matter of course - I got piece of mind for £250 ish - worth it.
 
thanks guys, sound advice and 200 odd pounds seems a good price to me for piece of mind from bell engineering.

Can anyone recomend anyone local to me (Eastbourne, East Sussex) who would be happy to remove VCU and props and fit a recon unit?
 
Bell will do it while you wait - its easy to do. It's worth the drive up and get the swop done by them - they kinda know what they are doing. Austen from Bell is on here - give home a shout.
 
Mainwaring said:
Just looked them up and they're only a couple of hours drive from the inlaws.

Cheers Angeloc, top man.
Click to expand...

I visited them last week - you couldn't find more helpful people.

Really know their stuff.

Highly recommended - I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else for transmission advice.

Singvogel. :cool:
 
100% seconded, I went two weeks ago and like Singvogel said, I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. They told me that they even have folks come all the way from Scotland to get them to see to their transmission problems!
 
WLJayne said:
100% seconded, I went two weeks ago and like Singvogel said, I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. They told me that they even have folks come all the way from Scotland to get them to see to their transmission problems!
Click to expand...

I think that could be me - :D - I dropped by for a check-up on my way to Bosnia i Hercegovina.

:rofl:

Singvogel :cool2:
 
Haha yeh could well be then! I'll be headed back down there as soon as I have the cash for it. Then that should be the major problems sorted out, finally.
 
Theres also the test below. Regarding the "...change at 70k miles..." this is a guess based on a number of owners having them fail around this point. Test it to see if it's faulty. Replace if it is. I test mine regular. Mine sat for over a year without moving. Some say the jatco auto fails at 100k miles, but peeps don't replace that. There's a thread on how to remove/replace/fit the vcu in the "how to" at the top of the Freelander section. Easy to do. Best of luck.
 
Mainwaring said:
Hello! I drive through Battle everyday, Live in Eastbourne, work in Hastings! I drive a blue 3 door. Give me a toot if you see me :)

My car's done *ahem* 130k miles.
Click to expand...

I work in Hastings too. Well, St.Leonards to be precise. I do see a blue 3 door from time to time so I'll keep `em peeled. I'm in a dark red 5 door.

With regard to garages, I do most stuff myself (including the VCU in the past), but there are times when I've had to put it in the garage. I use Terrain Vehicles on Bexhill Rd. Never had any problems with them in the past. Could be worth giving them a ring. Talk to Mark or Simon - they know their stuff.

That said, all here seem to agree on Bell for VCUs so if you are up that way it's probably a good idea to go and talk to them.
 
Alot of the smaller bits have come from Terrain Vehicles via ebay, top blokes :). Seems like the specialists really do care about the vehicle and what they do, if all british business was run like those guys we wouldn't be in such a bloody state eh ;).
 
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