Thread: General Degree of Klunkiness? Drivetrain Backlash?

yep my 300tdi does it.
Feels like soft engine mounts, but meh, just gotta remember not to be too violent on the pedals

Plenty of drive train free play is fairly normal for most coil sprung Landrovers in particular. It may indicate a few specific problems, however, the one that is particularly concerning is wear on the splines of the gearbox mainshaft and its output gear in the transfer case. But note that the effects of transmission free play will be made to appear much worse if the handbrake is dragging, so I would check this - look for the transmission brake drum getting warm after driving, or for signs of oil on it.

Free play on any suspension bushes will also show up as slack in the transmission, and should be fixed, and if free play is apparent in any of the prop shaft U-joints, then this should be fixed immediately, as they are likely to fail with little warning and disastrous results.

Hope this helps,

John

If it is 'kerlunking' from the rear you need might to check out your "A frame" link, the connection from the rear axle to the body. There is a single big locating "bearing" that wears out and clonks when you accellerate and decellerate. Try moving it with a big screwdriver or a jemmy. Any movement, and it needs looking at.

Originally Posted by spudboy

If it is 'kerlunking' from the rear you need might to check out your "A frame" link, the connection from the rear axle to the body.

While you're there, take a look at the rubber coupling between the rear diff and drive shaft, as this can cause clunking when worn out.
Look closely with a torch around the bolts to see if any of the rubber is cracked or deteriorated.
If it is, replace it with a new one, around $80.

Since you've just bought it, probably best to replace the diff oils as well.
Good and correct amount of oil will help minimise clunks from the diffs.

...and pump some grease into the uni's and anything else that has a nipple.

thanks I'll get under it and check all of that out armed with the grease gun. (err I mean i'll get geeves under there while I'm out on the fox hunt....)

It's had the 160,000 service which I think was a major one? But I'll check oil levels while I'm under there.

So there is no apparent need to replace anything by default after 170K road going kays?

Originally Posted by DiscoDevil

.......

So there is no apparent need to replace anything by default after 170K road going kays?

I can't think of anything that would automatically need replacing at that mileage if properly serviced. Suspension bushes could quite easily be close to needing replacement as could the ball joint on top of the rear axle, but the life of any of these components is very variable depending on the driving conditions encountered - things like how rough the roads, how much wet weather, how fast, what load etc.

John

if it only has 170,000, i wouldn't worry, they have a lot of backlash normally,
way more than you would think was possible and still be ok.
and change anything at 170 k's, yep, the oils, all of them.

Howdy and congrats on the purchase.

In quick time you'll find that you adjust your driving style to allow for the backlash. 170,000km is still very young for a well serviced 94 model. Keep an eye for anything that changes, but as others have said it's the nature of the beast!

Cheers, Mike