Our Hippo has done 107k, had a new clutch & clutch slave cyl at 85K when we bought it, and I've just changed the siezed VCU but other than that it's been fine. TD4 lump seems bulletproof, just keep an eye on the drivetrain as other posters have said. Ours was ex-fleet, so only had on-road...

Went for Island in the end, as they had the VCU and bearings in stock. Top marks to them for speedy delivery, ordered Monday evening online, delivered Wednesday morning. Found a friendly engineering works to press the bearings on for me. Thanks everyone D

I dun it! Just wanted to say a big 'Ta' to everyone who gave their invaluable advice. I've posted elsewhere the longer version of my escapades, but suffice to say the new VCU is in and whizzing round & round in the correct fashion, and everything feels nice & as it should. Missus is chuffed...

I've just done me own VCU and found it surprisingly straightforward. Few bits from this experience: Get new support bearings & find a friendly local engineering works to press them on for you - I got charged a tenner, better than using good old-fashioned hammer & socket method and buggering...

Well, the VC's as seized as a very seized thing. I thought I'd bite the bullet, fabricated a new jack 'andle and took off the prop. After a good hour's hammering the VC is now separated from the props and we have a 2wd Hippo... which STILL squeaks on lock. Bum. I reckon it must be brakes...

Thanks everyone for your comments! I did subsequently notice that Island sell on ebay. In actual fact I've never had a problem with ebay, have even bought cameras from HK without issues. Don't know what I was worried about, really... Anyway, subsequent question... VCU bearings. My Haynes...

So it looks like I need a chuffin VCU for the Flander. Anyone got any suggestions where to get one at a reasonable price? I'd sooner avoid ebay - 'tis a lot of wedge with potentially no comeback if it's a dud. Found a source here Island 4x4 - High quality aftermarket parts for your Land Rover...

Truly that is a genuis-shaped notion! Robin, fetch me the tipp-ex and orf we go to the open plains and savannahs of Naaarfuk. Thanks Ming, now that I've bin under there it all looks quite straightforward to drop the prop and bung a new VCU in, save meself some wedge at the stealer's. D

update time.... dah de dah da da dah (dramatic news-type music) Mr noise came back to visit, so I thought I'd have a bit of a tinker. So, all 4 wheels orf, front brakes cleaned to within an inch of their life, carefully coppered (no evidence that the dealer who changed the pads & discs...

Well I'll be buggered... I thought I'd try out the suggestions this evening, driving round in a small (well, as small as is possible in a Flander!) circle, see if my noise happened with the brakes applied. And would you effin believe it, I could not make it sing, not so much as a peep. Not...

Hi RT, thanks for your input! The noise is a real loud'un - as I said, she's taken the beastie to work this weekend. Maybe when it's back I'll use some techno-computer wizardry to record the noise for the archives. Then you can all experience the magic. Suffice to say it's loud enough to be...

Yeah, it's not as if I'm scared of doing a bit of spannering - been taking stuff to bits since I could crawl! But nowadays (God that makes me sound old!) I'm not tooled up for heavy lifting - I'm more attuned to tweaking me Yamaha (fnarr). And I've lost my jack handle. I can lift me Focus...

Thanks LRG, I'll have a go at the Emperor's suggestions, see how that goes. I don't think I have the nerve (or the gear) to start whipping props off, so will leave that to the pros. Blimmin ve-hickles, nowt but trouble. D

No, 'tis only while on the move - obviously the main time it happens is when parking - slow speeds and full lock. So were you thinking power steering?

Hi all, I'm posting on behalf of the missus, who has an 01(Y) TD4 S 5-door Flander. It's a high miler - 106k on the clock at last count. I've scoured the forum for a similar problem, but don't see anything matching this... It has a high-pitched squeal from either side when driving at low...