LRO SHOW 2019.jpg
Land Rover Owners
  • Home
  • Blog
  • For Sale
  • Insurance
  • Win
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • LRO Show
  • Place a FREE ad
  • Home
  • Blog
  • For Sale
  • Insurance
  • Win
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • LRO Show
  • Place a FREE ad

Parts & Gear

Land Rovers For Sale

Used Parts

Books, Mags, DVDs

Search Land Rover gear reviews by type:

Axles Batteries Brakes & Pads & Discs Bumpers Camping Accessories Chassis & Body & Styling Clothing & T-Shirts Diagnostic Tools Axles Batteries Brakes & Pads & Discs Bumpers Camping Accessories Chassis & Body & Styling Clothing & T-Shirts Diagnostic Tools Engine Parts Exhausts & Systems Gearbox & Transfer Box Gifts Heating & Cooling Interior Accessories Light Guards Lights & Lightbars Off Road Parts Roll Cages & Roll Bars Roof Racks & Bars Rust Proofing Seats Security Devices Side+Steps Snorkels Soundproofing Steering Systems Steering Wheels Storage & Cubby Boxes Suspension Parts Tents & Awnings Tools Tow Bars Underbody Protection Wheels & Tyres Winches & Winch Bumpers Wiring & Electrics See all categories +

Books, Magazines and DVDs

Magazines Books DVDs Magazines Books DVDs

Ask LRO: Why does my Freelander vibrate?

October 16, 2014 Calum Brown
Freelander_UJ.jpg

Q. When I bought my 1999 Freelander XDi just over a year ago, I noticed some vibration from underneath between 40 and 50mph, and another noise that was present only when I slowed down. 

I replaced the rear diff hangers and the viscous coupling unit (VCU) bearings, and this has eliminated the noises. But there’s still slight vibration from 50 to 60mph. The front propshaft looks to be newer than the back. Could this be a balance problem?

 

A. It sounds like a balance problem in the driveline, but do a few checks before concentrating on that.

Confirm the tyre pressures are correct, that there’s no unusual wear and that the wheels are correctly balanced.

If you’ve replaced any tyres, those with the largest diameter should be on the rear. Check each tyre’s working radius by measuring from the axle centre to the ground on each wheel with the vehicle standing on level, firm ground with correct tyre pressures and with no heavy items on board.

There may be an imbalance in one of the propshafts. You could visually inspect them to see if a welded balance plate has corroded and come off. Otherwise there may be some wear or sticking in one of the propshaft universal joints, at the rear end of the front prop and at each end of the rear one.

If you think the front shaft has been renewed, check the rear first. Disconnect it from the diff and move the joint flange through its full articulation while feeling for looseness and restriction in the movement. You can check the front joint in this rear shaft while it’s disconnected from the diff, though you’ll need to swing the prop through an arc to test the movement.

Assuming the balance weights and joints are okay, you may need to remove the prop assembly – including both shafts with the VCU attached – to have it balanced by a transmission specialist who has the necessary equipment.

There are other potential causes of vibration, such as worn driveshaft bearings, bent driveshafts (if you’ve been off-roading enthusiastically), steering joints or hub bearings.

A worn CV joint may be detected as vibration, though in early stages of wear they usually show as a knocking on tight steering lock at low speed.

Wear in the rear diff or in the intermediate reduction drive (IRD) output bearings and gears can cause vibration, but these rarely cause problems unless aggravated by a partly seized VCU. And if the VCU were seizing, you’d have noticed poor handling and steering response.

After doing these checks, move on to the propshaft assembly. 

In advice
 
 
 
 
← Ask LRO: Why is my Td5 Disco cutting out?
- Sign up to the LRO Newsletter -
- Subscribe to LRO -
40%-updated-mpu.png
MPU.jpg
On Facebook
LRO Buyer guides
1990-1998 Defender Tdi 4x4 Review
1990-1998 Defender Tdi 4x4 Review
Read More →
2007-On Defender TDCi 4x4 Review
2007-On Defender TDCi 4x4 Review
Read More →
1970-84 Range Rover Classic Two-Door 4x4 Review
1970-84 Range Rover Classic Two-Door 4x4 Review
Read More →
1998-2007 Land Rover Defender Td5 4x4 Review
1998-2007 Land Rover Defender Td5 4x4 Review
Read More →
1962-1971 Land Rover Series IIA / IIB Forward Control 4x4 Review
1962-1971 Land Rover Series IIA / IIB Forward Control 4x4 Review
Read More →
2013-on Range Rover Sport L494 4x4 Review
2013-on Range Rover Sport L494 4x4 Review
Read More →
2011-on Range Rover Evoque 4x4 Review
2011-on Range Rover Evoque 4x4 Review
Read More →
2009-on Land Rover Discovery 4 4x4 Review
2009-on Land Rover Discovery 4 4x4 Review
Read More →
1981-1996 Range Rover Classic Four-Door 4x4 Review
1981-1996 Range Rover Classic Four-Door 4x4 Review
Read More →
2005-2013 Range Rover Sport L320 4x4 Review
2005-2013 Range Rover Sport L320 4x4 Review
Read More →
1998-2004 Land Rover Discovery 2 4x4 Review
1998-2004 Land Rover Discovery 2 4x4 Review
Read More →
2002-2012 Land Rover Range Rover L322 4x4 Review
2002-2012 Land Rover Range Rover L322 4x4 Review
Read More →
1968-84 Land Rover Ex-Military Lightweight 4x4 Review
1968-84 Land Rover Ex-Military Lightweight 4x4 Review
Read More →
1994-1998 Land Rover Defender 300Tdi 4x4 Review
1994-1998 Land Rover Defender 300Tdi 4x4 Review
Read More →
2006-on Land Rover Freelander 2 4x4 Review
2006-on Land Rover Freelander 2 4x4 Review
Read More →
1972-78 Land Rover 101 Forward Control 4x4 Review
1972-78 Land Rover 101 Forward Control 4x4 Review
Read More →
1948-58 Land Rover Series I 4x4 Review
1948-58 Land Rover Series I 4x4 Review
Read More →
1989-1998 Land Rover Discovery 1 4x4 Review
1989-1998 Land Rover Discovery 1 4x4 Review
Read More →
1994-2002 Land Rover Range Rover P38 4x4 Review
1994-2002 Land Rover Range Rover P38 4x4 Review
Read More →
Land Rover Series II-IIA 4x4 Review
Land Rover Series II-IIA 4x4 Review
Read More →
2005-2010 Land Rover Discovery 3 4x4 Review
2005-2010 Land Rover Discovery 3 4x4 Review
Read More →
Land Rover Ex-Military 110 4x4 Review
Land Rover Ex-Military 110 4x4 Review
Read More →
1997-2006 Land Rover Freelander 1 4x4 Review
1997-2006 Land Rover Freelander 1 4x4 Review
Read More →
1971-85 Land Rover Series III 4x4 Review
1971-85 Land Rover Series III 4x4 Review
Read More →
Land Rover Lightweight Buyers Guide
Land Rover Lightweight Buyers Guide
Read More →

View all LRO Land Rover Buying Guides

LRD SECURITY
LRD Security is a single point of sale for every defender security item on the market today. If you need a security product for your defender please visit our website.
 www.landroverdefendersecurity.com

Find it with LRO

> Find Local Land Rover Events

> Find Local or National Land Rover Clubs

> Find dealers and services for your Land Rover 

> Find all the information on this year's LRO Show

Legal Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Complaints Policy

Useful Links

  • Anti-Scam Guide
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Land Rover Owner magazine

Connect

Copyright © 2016 Bauer Consumer Media Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Registered in England & Wales (company no. 01176085) at Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough, PE2 6EA.
Bauer Consumer Media Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm reference No. 710067)

Select category:

Close
  • Brakes
  • Camping
  • Chassis, Body & Styling
  • Clothing & Gifts
  • Engine, Intakes & Exhausts
  • Gearbox, Drivetrain & Axles
  • Heating & Cooling
  • Interior & Trim
  • Lighting, Eletrics & Comms
  • Protection & Roll Cages
  • Racks & Storage
  • Rust Treatment
  • Security
  • Soundproofing
  • Suspension & Steering
  • Tools
  • Trailers & Towing
  • Wheels & Tryes
  • Winches & Recovery