Gear Change Clunk

[danske]

HI

Just a question on the clunkiness of gear changes in my 08 Defender. If I really nurse the uptake of the clutch and apply accelerator very carefully , no clunk from the rear.

However , with a normal approach of what I would say is normal speed gear changes ( It doesn't happen on other Manual cars I drive) I can't seem to avoid the clunking sound as the gear changes. Mainly on lower gears when getting going , but can happen acorss the range at any time if I'm not concsiously thining about it.

With all the specific issues that these cars can be expereinecing , I am a little concerned that this may be a recall job ( under warranty etc ) or does this exist on all Defenders of that type.

Any suggestions.

D

[Hardchina]

The classic problem is the a frame ball joint - just did mine and fixed the problem...

But would it shag out so quick with yours been an 08 model? The joint I changed was probably the original from 1985.

Could it be a problem with the electronic throttle ????

[flagg]

HI

With all the specific issues that these cars can be expereinecing , I am a little concerned that this may be a recall job ( under warranty etc ) or does this exist on all Defenders of that type.


Your 08 Deefer should not have a clunk when changing gears - definitely not normal.

Does it happen on initial take off? Could be slack in the drive train or bushes as well as ball joint..

[PBob]

My 2010 does this as well - it is more noticable when the car is warmed up or on a warmer day! When you first take off it isn't too bad but say after a few hours running it is there quite noticably.:eek:

[dullbird]

mine did it really bad when I first got mine..when I had the clutch changed out gear changes were heaps better, but the clunk which sounds like the take up of drive line slack was also improved. but they also did some shimming of the transfer case I believe which if they did I think also helped a lot. still get it occasionally but no where near as much.

My A frame is solid by the way..

[danske]

I will ask the question next service . I'd say mine was worse as it warmed up too. Should be a warranty thing then.

[PBob]

I'm due for a service in about 1000km, so I will ask as well.

[lardy]

mine is just out of warranty and when I change gear it's like i'm getting rear ended by a mini, my rear balljoint is a beautiful thing but and is nearly as good as the day it left the factory ;)

[JDNSW]

Clunk on gear changing is usually the result of both free play somewhere in the drive train and drag on the hand brake.

There is always free play in the drive train after the gearbox - spline joints at about sixteen locations (may have miscounted), end play on planet gears in three differentials, end play on the transfer idler gears, plus any play in the axle locating links (where there shhould not be any!). In normal circumstances, when you disengage the clutch to change gears, the drive bits keep turning at the same speed as each other, since the only significant braking effect is the wheels slowing, so assuming you were providing power before the change, the slack remains taken up in the drive direction.

But if the handbrake is dragging, even slightly, as soon as you disengage the clutch, the slack is immediately taken up in the overrun direction, so that when you take it up in the drive direction when re-engaging the clutch there is a clunk. This braking effect is not necessary to get a clunk if there is free play in the axle locating links however, and it is always possible to induce a clunk by bad driving anyway.

So first check - make sure the handbrake is not dragging - go for a drive, stop and feel the handbrake drum - should be no hotter than the prop shaft. (careful, it may be hot!). For a better check, chock the vehicle, jack up one back wheel, release the handbrake and check that the prop shaft turns freely. If it still clunks, look for free play in any of the axle locating links.

John

[dullbird]

Clunk on gear changing is usually the result of both free play somewhere in the drive train and drag on the hand brake.

There is always free play in the drive train after the gearbox - spline joints at about sixteen locations (may have miscounted), end play on planet gears in three differentials, end play on the transfer idler gears, plus any play in the axle locating links (where there shhould not be any!). In normal circumstances, when you disengage the clutch to change gears, the drive bits keep turning at the same speed as each other, since the only significant braking effect is the wheels slowing, so assuming you were providing power before the change, the slack remains taken up in the drive direction.


But if the handbrake is dragging, even slightly, as soon as you disengage the clutch, the slack is immediately taken up in the overrun direction, so that when you take it up in the drive direction when re-engaging the clutch there is a clunk. This braking effect is not necessary to get a clunk if there is free play in the axle locating links however, and it is always possible to induce a clunk by bad driving anyway.

So first check - make sure the handbrake is not dragging - go for a drive, stop and feel the handbrake drum - should be no hotter than the prop shaft. (careful, it may be hot!). For a better check, chock the vehicle, jack up one back wheel, release the handbrake and check that the prop shaft turns freely. If it still clunks, look for free play in any of the axle locating links.

John


Actually this would make a lot of sense to something else that happens to the car on occasions....

Sometimes when I pull away in first and then lets say I decided that actually no I need to stop and I press the clutch in the car will jolt several times and on each jolt make a rattle sound...bit like the clutch isn't disengaging. However perhaps (being as though I have had issues with handbrake drag) it could be due to the handbrake??? especially as I think the handbrake has started to drag once again.

[JDNSW]

Actually this would make a lot of sense to something else that happens to the car on occasions....

Sometimes when I pull away in first and then lets say I decided that actually no I need to stop and I press the clutch in the car will jolt several times and on each jolt make a rattle sound...bit like the clutch isn't disengaging. However perhaps (being as though I have had issues with handbrake drag) it could be due to the handbrake??? especially as I think the handbrake has started to drag once again.


Yes.

John

[Bushie]

John has already suggested it but the handbrake would be one of the first places I'd look. As has been stated they don't need to drag by much at all to make gear changes terrible.

I can still vividly remember the time I over adjusted the hand brake on the Range Rover and that would be probably 26-27 years ago :o:o

Martyn

[Gav110]

I noticed a couple of times (very infrequent) as I was coming to a stop, an occasional rattling sound, which to me also sounded like clutch not disengaging. Could this be the same issue?

Also, does anyone else have a fairly noticeable 'switching' sound when changing gear? Not a bad noise (like the above rattle) - kind of like a clicking/sliding noise? Should it be this noticeable? I don't recall my R380 on TD5 being this noticeable - then again it was a much louder beast all up !

[JDNSW]

I noticed a couple of times (very infrequent) as I was coming to a stop, an occasional rattling sound, which to me also sounded like clutch not disengaging. Could this be the same issue?
.........

Yes. Can't comment on the other issue without hearing the sound.

John

[danske]

Thanks to all those replies on the possible casuses. Il get my mechanic to investigate these areas next service. Then once he has acertained the isseu hand it over to a warranty repairer to fix it! Very typically LR though, the last two commutes to work ( 120km round trip ) the clunk seems to have disappeared???? Still will check the Handbrake though.

[dcale]

Thanks to all those replies on the possible casuses. Il get my mechanic to investigate these areas next service. Then once he has acertained the isseu hand it over to a warranty repairer to fix it! Very typically LR though, the last two commutes to work ( 120km round trip ) the clunk seems to have disappeared???? Still will check the Handbrake though.
danske,

I've had a clunk since new, LR have replaced both front and back diffs, as they refused to believe me that it "sounds like its coming from the transfer case". Took it in last week for them to fit shims to the TC but insisted that they check the hand brake. Well - the drum was oval, polished on one side and my shoes where just about gone. I have zero confidence in the mechanics at LR. Book in next week to fit a new drum, hope this solves the problem

[Gav110]

When I described my clunking to Alto by phone today, they said "it sounds like free play in the transfer case". Will obviously get them to check both TC and brake.

[stace70]

my 130 had 250kms on the clock when I noticed a noise whilst driving...sort of like squealing brake pads......it would come and go.....after reading this post I now realise it is only there if I have been a bit rougher on the gear change timing.

Phoned the service guys at Hunter Landrover....they currently have a vehicle in with the same noise....mine is booked in next Thursday.

Is there a bulletin on this???

[JDNSW]

......

Is there a bulletin on this???

I doubt it - the problem has potentially been there since 1948, and should be well known to any competent mechanic, although it is possible that as transmission handbrakes have become less common it may have been forgotten.

John