Td5 Defender Clunk

[cleelo44]

Hi there,

I've had a bit of a search and there seems to be a variety of causes of the "clunk"... Has anyone got any ideas on how to narrow it down a bit?

It seems the only thing i can do to avoid it is to take off VERY slowly and be VERY VERY careful when letting the clutch out....

All comments much appreciated
- TPC

[Blknight.aus]

lock up the hand brake and rock the vehicle back and forth as hard as you can with the tcase in nuetral. if it clunks then then its the rear diff/propshaft, the aframe joint or something associated with it. to isolate these, chock the wheels, release the handbrake and turn the handbrake drum by hand then check the uj's and rear pinion for play.


other than that its a drive line take up issue which might also include broken engine/gearbox mounts.

[cleelo44]

Cheers... i'll give that a go this arvo some time...

[roverspec]

I would suggest cheacking your right hand rear drive member.

You probably find you know have wear in the axle flange, it is quite common with age....

[cleelo44]

lock up the hand brake and rock the vehicle back and forth as hard as you can with the tcase in nuetral. if it clunks then then its the rear diff/propshaft, the aframe joint or something associated with it. to isolate these, chock the wheels, release the handbrake and turn the handbrake drum by hand then check the uj's and rear pinion for play.



So i did this and found that with t/case in neutral, handbrake off.... i had 14mm play when turning the handbrake drum.... i'm guessing this is too much considering i found no play in my mates disco... Forgive my lack of technical knowledge but i am guessing that where the propshaft goes into the diff the splines are worn... Does this sound right... if so where to from here?

Thanks once again

[roverspec]

Hi,

depends????

do you have play in the front shaft as well??? If so your centre diff has shimes in it and they are worn. Can do it in the car with a new shim kit and bearing puller.

If it only in the rear diff, then i would try tightening the pinion bearing up a little more as this puts the load on the diff. If it lose the, the pinion gear is moving back and forth.

Try those and let me now.

carla

[Blknight.aus]

to do that test you need to lock up the handbrake and put the Tcase in nuetral this effectively locks up the rear diff and lets you check the play in the suspension and the rear diff. as isolated from the rest of the driveline.

14mm of play at the circumfrence of the handbrake drum with everything unlocked isnt that bad but its not perfect.

I wouldnt go messing with the pinion nut on the diff to start with but would be looking at spline wear on the drive flanges.

[cleelo44]

there is about the same amount of play in the front shaft... i'll do some more testing of the suspension when it stops raining...

[roverspec]

You find it will be the drive flange. I agree with Blacknight, it would be the driver side rear flange as that does the most drive for your back wheels.

[harro]

Cleeo44,
I think you will find these guys have it right.
Both of my defenders had the same issue with flogged out drive flanges and axle splines.

Handbrake on, jack up rear wheel and remove the small plastic cover in the middle of the drive flange.
Now gently rotate the wheel back and forth while observing the end of the axle in the drive flange, any play will be visible remembering that only a small amount will translate into considerable backlash.

I converted both of mine to maxidrive axles and flanges.
I also fitted maxidrive flanges to the front as there was some play there as well, they are a tighter fit than the OEM ones.

Problem fixed!

Cheers,
Paul.

[Didge]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Blknight is an absolute machine answering all (and I mean heaps of) these tech queries. His level of technical/ mechanical expertise and knowledge is staggering. I'm constantly humbled. He should write a book. I officially dub thee SIR Blknight! Thanks Dave, always an education to read your replies. And oh yeah, I had the same problem; rear axles and drive flanges.
cheers Gerald

[cleelo44]

... drive flanges and axles are worn.... also some movement in A frame... now to read up and have a crack at getting it fixed.... big thanks to all!!!