Rear diff question

[freemander]

Hi all,

Have been reading about the issues with the Freelander 2 rear diff and the dreaded moan causing replacement, mine is running fine so has no issues but was wondering if there is a common mileage they start to fail and/or does it affect any particular model??

[woko]

Mine's a 2007 and did it at 160000km


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[Richard93Vogue]

I've been wondering the same thing...mines a 2007 as well with 170,000km but is running fine so far!

[mikehzz]

Mines an 08 and went around the 80k mark...which was handy warranty wise.

[freemander]

It's sounds like a hit and miss thing, either your lucky and have no problems, or it can go at any amount of Klms, warranty or no warranty!! Does it have to do with driving style, particular parts used for year models when being assembled, or us just a Friday thing?? More a topic of discussion than anything!!

[freemander]

Mine's a 2007 and did it at 160000km


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Did you get yours repaired through a dealer or private mechanic or specialist diff mechanic?? What are the first warning signs??

[freemander]

Mines an 08 and went around the 80k mark...which was handy warranty wise.


How long ago did you replace yours mikehzz?? Like above, what were your warning signs??

[woko]

Did you get yours repaired through a dealer or private mechanic or specialist diff mechanic?? What are the first warning signs??

I'm a mechanic by trade. Repaired myself. I got a spare one off a mate and changed the front pinion bearing. The old one is striped in the shed and I havnt rebearinged it yet (have had the parts for a while). I have posted photos of it previously.
It started to hum. I got it early as the bearing had just started to loose the hard facing.

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[mikehzz]

How long ago did you replace yours mikehzz?? Like above, what were your warning signs??

I replaced mine about 3.5 years ago. My car is on 188k now. The symptoms were a noisy whine from the rear of the car that gradually got worse over a period of time. The car still drove fine. When they did mine they stuffed the haldex so mine went back after a few days and had that replaced as well. I haven't heard of an actual rear diff failure yet.

[inside]

From reading the issue seems to be from too much preload on the pinion bearing from the factory which fits with seeing the bearing face worn when removing. I've done 100K on mine and no noise yet. If it's going at 160K then you could probably call it a service item rather than an issue with the vehicle. Some sure did go early in life though.

[354 chamberlain]

Mine is about to replaced under landrover assured extended warranty .It is an 09 td4 se with 80,000 ks on it, parts not very expensive but 8 hrs labour at $200 per plus "special oils" . Warranty has now paid for its self so now I am even ,just as it cost me 2 hrs to diagnose which is not covered . the vechicle has not been driven hard but does tow a camper and tandem trailer that is often loaded up to vechicles gcm but never overloaded
Doug

[freemander]

Sounds like your one of the lucky ones Doug being replaced under warranty. I wonder if towing had anything to do with it like inside says too much preload on the pinion bearing. Myself and Richard93Vogue are still on the original with higher Klms (sound like our cars are very similar in age and condition) and yours and mikehzz have gone early at about the approx the same Klms. Mikehzz have you ever towed or had reason for extra load??

Doug, you say parts aren't expensive but the dealers are charging $200 per hour!! I can understand the oils but wonder for those who aren't covered under warranty can have there own trusty mechanic to repair or is it a job for dealers only, Woko you might be able to give feedback on this one??

Is the preload bearing the most common cause of fault??

Sorry for all the questions guys but the forum has been quiet so thought I'd open it up and post something that a lot of owners tend to experience as a common fault and everyone's feedback might help someone in future :-)

[woko]

Its not a difficult diff to rebearing. You would probably find that most mechanics would sublet out to a gearbox and diff specialist.

Only the front bearing, seals, collapsible spacer, nut is avaliable from Land Rover. But you can get kits from the UK with all bearings, seals etc.

I did have to modify a socket to do the job, but nothing unusual to do the job.

Oil for the haldex you will need to get from Land Rover

My personal opinion on bearing failure on these is a combination of poor bearing quality and not enough oil at the correct level. Both front pinion bearings that I had removed were made in India. The filling of these is to fill to the level plug and then remove a certain amount of oil. I left mine at the fill plug.

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[freemander]

Its not a difficult diff to rebearing. You would probably find that most mechanics would sublet out to a gearbox and diff specialist.

Only the front bearing, seals, collapsible spacer, nut is avaliable from Land Rover. But you can get kits from the UK with all bearings, seals etc.

I did have to modify a socket to do the job, but nothing unusual to do the job.

Oil for the haldex you will need to get from Land Rover

My personal opinion on bearing failure on these is a combination of poor bearing quality and not enough oil at the correct level. Both front pinion bearings that I had removed were made in India. The filling of these is to fill to the level plug and then remove a certain amount of oil. I left mine at the fill plug.

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Are the diffs serviceable or are they a sealed unit?? Is there anything we can do as preventative maintenance, what do you think??

[354 chamberlain]

Freemander, the topix web site has a service bulletin on the diff problem and the cause is what they call static overloading. It is a well documented warranty issue in FL2 vechicles between vin000212 and vin257090 . The pinion bearing and seal repair could be done by any competent mechanic ,however there is a software upgrade for those vechicles fitted with gen4 haldex units which were fitted at the start of my2009 manufacturing run.
With mine the noise started slowly(?) but is now very noticable .Maybe if you suspect a problem it might be worth getting in contact with LR Aust because the problem is well documented and aknowledged as a problem .
Doug

[freemander]

Thanks Doug, that's very useful information and good to know. Mines running great with no noise but knowing that it may appear in the lifetime I have the car, it's good to know there is info out here, and for the benefit of others.

[woko]

Are the diffs serviceable or are they a sealed unit?? Is there anything we can do as preventative maintenance, what do you think??
Changing the oil is the only maintenance you can do. There's no drain in them but easily sucked out to change the oil


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[grod]

I was on holidays last week and while driving got a "Transmission Fault - Traction Reduced" warning. no noise from the back end at all.

Local mechanic who knows the issue with the Haldex plugged in the computer ad advised that it wold cost me $1000 to replace some parts that may solve the problem. He said that to ensure it doesn't happen again I wold need to change the complete unit $4500 + fitting.

For the last 2 days I havent had the warning and it is working fine. Mechanic says that that is part of the issue, the problem is intermittent.

My11 77000kms

:(

g

[Fatso]

Hi , my nephew has a f2 that has a whine as described here seems to whine between 55 to 70/75kmh , then seems to fade away after that or cant hear for wind/road noise , but returns when slowing to these speeds again .


Any idea how urgent this is to fix or is there a bit of lee way here time wise to effect a repair .


Thanks 4 any info

[Fatso]

Gee its lonely in here .

[rar110]

Yep, not a very active forum area.

[mikehzz]

Since the subscriptions were put on, non subscribers can't post here. There's plenty of info at freel2.com. In reality, not a lot goes wrong with these cars.

[Aaronroger83]

Hi all, does anyone have a tool in Melbourne I could lend to he the pinion but off mine to do the bearings?