D3 - Transfer Case Noise (Whine)

[saiken]

Hey guys,

We started to get a whine in the D3 that is relevant to the road speed (I did make sure it wasn't mum whinging at dad :wasntme:)
So we took it in to LRA and they thought it was the shaft on the rear diff (i believe), we had that replaced today and even though it was shagged the noise is still there and they reckon its coming from the T/C now and that it needs to be replaced......

Anyone have some ideas? Let me know anything else you might need to know and I'll pester my dad for the answers :D

[saiken]

**Correction - It was the center bearing on the rear drive shaft that was replaced.

The 4WD is going to another LR specailist today so I'll let you know the outcome of what they think

[Mike_S]

I had this on my RRS earlier this year, it would've covered about 50,000 miles at the time I'd guess. Same as you I had a new rear bearing & driveshaft but that didn't fix it completely. LR then diagnosed a knackered bearing in the TC and replaced the bearing under warranty. Also comes with a new flange & seal and wasn't much of a job to do (main dealer did it).

They had a slight issue on re-assembly where they couldn't then select low range, so it had to come back out again. They found some damage to the wiring loom above the gearbox / transfer case, possibly done during the removal / refit, so repaired it and it's been fine since. Worth making sure everything works as it should once the car's back together.

[d3viate]

Had the Transfer case and rear diff (with electronic diff lock) replaced at 95,000km's.
Used stethoscopes to diagnose.

[saiken]

Had the Transfer case and rear diff (with electronic diff lock) replaced at 95,000km's.
Used stethoscopes to diagnose.

Was that under warranty still? Would hate to think of the costs..... :o

We're out of warranty and the car has 128,000km, with the T/C fluid being changed at 126,000....

Thanks for the input so far guys... also found some info sheets on another LR forum suggesting to disconnect the prop shafts and listen to see if the noise is still there, and if the output shafts on the T/C are spinning true. (it suggests bearings if they aren't, but if they are fine its possibly a whole new T/C)

Car is getting checked by the other specialist this thursday :(

[saiken]

It looks like a bearing in the T/C or the front diff, won't know till next Wednesday when the propshafts are removed to see.

rebuilt T/C is $2,800 + fitting
diff is $2000

The guy that rebuilds the t/c's says he's supplied a number to Ritters, Lance Dixon, ULR and a few other places.... So it doesn't seem like its overly uncommon.

[Mike_S]

Check out the price of a transfer case from the UK, I'm damn certain it wasn't that much for a a new one, never mind rebuilt.

Nick Lee at Yeovil Land Rover is your man, partsmanager@landrover-yeovil.co.uk

[07Disco3]

We had this problem at 30000k it turned out to be a very bad wheel alignment and crook lower control arms that chafed our tyres, the dealership did repeated wheel alignments on it to the point that we had no adjustment left and it had to be pulled apart and redone from scratch, dealership also diagnosed tailshaft then diff then wheel bearings but it was none of these. A proper wheel alignment done right plus new tyres and new lower control arms should fix the noise entirely. One thing we also noted was that the whine increased and decreased with speed and was worse in cornering as you would expect with a faulty bearing and was also pulling slightly to the left but the wheel alignment and the lower control arms have fixed the problem. We have no issues with our vehicles steering and handling and ride and we are very happy with ours except for the towbar issue we currently have.

[d2dave]

One thing we also noted was that the whine increased and decreased with speed and was worse in cornering as you would expect with a faulty bearing and was also pulling slightly to the left.

A crook bearing in the transfer or diff would not alter on cornering. It is only wheel bearings that do this.

Dave.

[07Disco3]

diff was replaced, no change, wheel bearings were replaced, no change, only after wheel alignment was so far out and no adjustment left did they begin to look elsewhere. Once lower control arms were replaced and wheel alignment and of course new tyres after all this now everything is right, so have the lower control arms checked out.

[unseenone]

A crook bearing in the transfer or diff would not alter on cornering. It is only wheel bearings that do this.

Dave.

respectfully, I disagree with that, on the rear diff, that is a precise symptom, but only when turning to the right if I recall. I had the same problem, which was cured with a rear locking diff rebuild. When cornering, wheels spin at different speeds, so that and gear meshing may be stresses further is all I can figure.

Kind Regards

[07Disco3]

Diff was replaced earlier and it didn't stop the noise, only went after lower control arms were replaced so ?? Can only go on what I know. I don't have any problems now, Cheers though, all comments are welcome and a broader train of thought helps everyone.

[saiken]

T/C bearings where at fault in the end.... they replaced all of them plus the flanges on the T/C. The noise has pretty much gone now and we've been left with a slightly noisy front diff that I'll have to keep an eye on for dad. Will need to do the bearings in it before too long though.

The testing + rebuild ended up costing around the $2,200 mark with the kit for the t/c alone coming in at around $750. Not too happy since the car has only done 120k km and has had an easy life :mad: but glad to have it rebuilt instead of getting a replacement [2nd hand was $2,200 + fitting and that's not rebuilt]

Anyone wondering about the testing procedure there is a LR internal bulletin about it and it tells you to remove the drive shafts and see if it still makes the noise.... let me say that once the drive shafts where removed the damn T/C sounded pretty much like a whale in mating season!!!!

[Graeme]

Was there any suggestion as to why the bearings went - foreign matter or poor bearings? Did the kit include the bearings or were you able to obtain other bearings?

[saiken]

The kit included everything.

It is believed that the center bearing on the tailshaft went which lead to excess strain on the rear output shaft which did its bearing which then did damage to the other bearings inside the T/C.