Ca thunk ca thunk. HELP!!!!

[johnyrover]

Hi all,
Hope you are having a great weekend.
Got a problem, need some help, done a search, cant find an answer.
Heres how it went.
Drove to Melbourne from Bright (Alpine region). Had a good run, parked in a carpark, got back to the car, went to reverse but she would not move. I could inch forward but was parked in by a car. Gave it a few revs to get moving in reverse and was rewarded with a rythmic shudder shudder (also could be described as ca thunk ca thunk. This was in forward and reverse. Seemed to be coming from rear passenger wheel. Nothing obvious from outside, but in the car was loud and it was able to be felt through the whole car. Took it to a mechanic who said the auto trans fluid was a bit high ( I thought so too ). Park brake seemed to be working ok. Tried to put it on slowly while driving slow and was working gradually and not grabbing violently. The other symptom is it feels like something is grabbing quite violently and letting go. This feeling decreases with speed. Symptom has disappeared for now, but have to drive back to Bright tomorrow with the lovely wife. Rear diff fluid is a a good level and good colour.
Any help would be appreciated.

Regards
John

[bee utey]

Sounds like you have broken a rear axle and the viscous centre diff is allowing relaitive movement of the broken bits under heavy load. The viscous will allow modest load without slippage so you should be able to drive it with a light right foot. You would kill the viscous if you put too much power through it while its slipping. A good viscous centre coupling takes a reasonable amount of force before it slips.

[wayneg]

What did the Mechanic do? Lift the rear and check the Diff / rear axles / Prop shaft etc.

[johnyrover]

Thanks mate.
I'll nurse it home and have a look.
Kind regards
John

[johnyrover]

Hi Wayne
Just took my young one to a dance. No probs so far. Seems to have been visited by the fairies. Dont want to take that chance though. Have you got time for a chat? Text me your phone number to 0419 485152 and I can call you back.
If thats not cool I totally understand.
Kind regards
John

[johnyrover]

He tried to get a fault, but her majesty didnt want a bar of it, his reader was not up to the job. So he checked the auto fluid level, and said it was high ( it was). He thought this might mean not all the fluid was getting where it should and so not giving full hydraulic pressure to the rear of the box (my words not his), thus causing the stutter. He thought the VC was not getting enough fluid to work properly.
He had a look at the drive shaft and uni's. I had a look also and it all looks and feels solid. I took the rear passenger wheel off and as I lifted it clear of the ground it kind of twitched around a fraction of a turn. I've never seen that before, it looked like it was under some kind of pressure. The hand brake was off and it was in neutral. It was not spinning free either, not sure if it should.
Also it really felt like the brakes were grabbing and letting go in a definate rhythm, and disappearing as my speed approached about 60.
So if that gives any food for thought I would appreciate your thoughts.

Cheers

[Keithy P38]

Could it be a wheel speed sensor failure? Any ABS or TC lights on the dash?

Also, the VC is in no way effected by the transmission oil level. It is an independent unit.

[wayneg]

You cant 100% check the axle shafts or diff without a bit of surgery.
It is easy enough to slide the axle shafts / Hubs (as a complete unit, unlike the instruction in Rave) out enough to remove the diff and inspect both. Should take about 2 hours out and back in.
If you lift the rear of the car, with both sides up if you turn one hub the opposite should turn in the opposite direction if all is connected. If one side moves freely one of the axle shaft might be broken or the diff failed.
I am no expert but thats were I would start.
From what you are saying with the wheel jerking when it was lifted from the ground that is a sign of wind up in the transmission line and would point at the viscous coupling seized up. To test the viscous lift one front wheel and you should be able to turn it very slowly with a fair bit of force. If the wheel does not move try a long lever on the front prop-shaft with both front wheels up. You are more likely to damage a front CV joint with a seized Viscous. Try driving in a tight circle to really put some strain on the system and expose any weakness.

[johnyrover]

No lights on the dash. No warnings.
Have not lifted the rear and front ends yet but will ado so asap.
Good news though. Drove around town a bit more with no probs, (as it happened did a couple of nice tight U-turns) with no more symptoms at all.
No nasty noises or thumps. Drove home to Bright with no hassles either.
One thing did grab my attention at the mechanics. I noticed the ABS pump cycling a lot ( am ordering new accumulator plus Russels kit tomorrow ), plus it was super hot. I have been running the brake fluid a little on the low side to stop it overflowing when switching off the motor. I topped up the fluid today and the pump is running a lot less hot. I wonder whether I may have inadvertantly heated the brake fluid and expanded to such a point that it swelled in the lines?
Anyhow I will have a go at all your suggestions as time permits. No long trips in the near future anyway. I will also keep you in the loop as to any firm causes and remedies.
I will be giving her majesty to the stealers for a complete error check and check over, as I have only had the car a short time, so I will let them do their best also.

Thanks heaps for the input and interest guys, it is much appreciated, and all the best for now.

[wayneg]

I will be giving her majesty to the stealers for a complete error check and check over, as I have only had the car a short time


Be warned the dealers will fleece you, Find yourself a good independent Land Rover specialist or you will be subject to a potential massive bill as the dealers change random bits at your expense. I am sure someone can advise on a good Indy close to you.

[johnyrover]

Good point mate. I will throw another thread out and see what the boys say.

Cheers.

[johnyrover]

Good advice mate.
Posted it up and a couple of guys gave me the same name.
Could be good.
Cheers

[johnyrover]

To test the viscous lift one front wheel and you should be able to turn it very slowly with a fair bit of force. If the wheel does not move try a long lever on the front prop-shaft with both front wheels up. You are more likely to damage a front CV joint with a seized Viscous. Try driving in a tight circle to really put some strain on the system and expose any weakness.[/QUOTE]

Hi Wayne
Should the back wheels be off the ground when trying to turn one lifted front wheel?
I had both back wheels off the ground and it passed the basic test - the other wheel turned in the opposite direction of the one I was turning. No nasty crunchy noises or grinding feeling.

[wayneg]

You are doing 2 different tests. The rear to see if an axle shaft has broken and also if there are any nasty noises coming from the diff.
The Viscous coupling is at the front of the transfer box with the front prop-shaft connected to the output. When testing keep the rear wheels on the ground with handbrake on, gear selector in p. One front wheel up off the ground

http://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDsQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXdd ClDAIfXw&ei=hPRrUdzdI4PeiALug4D4AQ&usg=AFQjCNHumC-1zIuSZ7QEJ8EZwV6xCz87fw&bvm=bv.45175338,d.cGE

[johnyrover]

I'll give that a crack tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
I'm starting to think the handbrake somehow got locked on (wishful thinking?), because her majesty is running like a dream with no nasty bump, grinds, or noises. Fingers crossed.
I'll still do the Viscous coupling test and let you know how it goes.

Cheers and thanks for the info.

[johnyrover]

Hi Wayneg

Got the front wheel up and move it, so no dramas there.
Thanks again for the advice. Much appreciated.
Cheers for now.

[Robsrod 58]

I'll give that a crack tomorrow and let you know how it goes.
I'm starting to think the handbrake somehow got locked on (wishful thinking?), because her majesty is running like a dream with no nasty bump, grinds, or noises. Fingers crossed.
I'll still do the Viscous coupling test and let you know how it goes.

Cheers and thanks for the info.

Had my hand brake stick on once, and yep, ca thunk, ca thunk. Funny, only did it once about a year ago, very unnerving I must say!

[johnyrover]

Good to know mate.

Thanks for the feedback. Between all you guys, I feel I can put this one to bed.
Chalk another one up for the "Feedback Machine".

Cheers :p

[johnyrover]

As a post script, sitting on a slight hill the other day and had the handbrake on but not hard. Started rolling down the hill gently, and the same feeling, but dramatically reduced, was present. It was like there were two lumps on the brake drum, one slightly bigger than the other, and they were catching on the pads.
Still has'nt repeated, and when I get the drum off to have a look I'll post it up. Probably wont be for a while, got the priorities list going, and this is about half way down.
All good fun.

Cheers

[Keithy P38]

Hand brakes are overrated anyway! I only use mine when off road or on a tilt fore/aft.

Saving the cable from stretch is my excuse!

[TheTree]

It was like there were two lumps on the brake drum, one slightly bigger than the other, and they were catching on the pads.
Cheers

The handbrake is in fact a drum brake, so it has shoes, not pads.

Which brings back lots of memories of adjusting the brakes on my '57 Series one.

It may be as simple as some crap in the drum, or the drum may need machining or the shoes reconditioned, or all three of those things!

Either way, sounds like it would be a good idea to pull it off and take a butchers at it.

Steve

[johnyrover]

The cables of the world thank you Keithy.
As for crap in the drum, that came up in a discussion with a mech as well. I'm just glad it's not done it again, cause with the hotty by my side and the two kids in the back, and driving in Melbourne on a busy afternoon, it was just a wee bit stressful.

Cheers