Testing a Freelander VCU

To answer your question JoJo ... just leave it in park ... has the same effect as putting it in 1st gear on a manual. Basically all your doing is locking all the other wheels up including the front bit of the tail shaft.

Also when you have played around with a few VCU's then you will get a feel for the ones that are on there way out. I had 4 Freelanders here ... did this test on all 4 ... 3 felt about the same but one - my wife's car - was a bit more stiff so I replaced her VCU and now it feels the same as the others and drives much better.

Hi there

After reading all the mainly positive reports about the FL1-Oilers I`ve just gone and bought a 2003 TD4 with 175K on the clock.
So far the car seems all good - she does`nt seem to burn-oil or lose-water and the auto-box does exactly what it`s told to in all-modes :)

There are no horrible-noises from the drive-train either however I have noticed that after driving it for a while on-the-highway there does seem to be a-fair-bit-of-drag in the steering - Also if I get underneath it and put my hand on the VCU unit it does occasionally feel VERY warm indeed :o

I did the VCU `turn-the-wheel-test` whilst it was still warm and although it was stiff I did manage to turn the wheel round very slowly when I kept the pressure on. Mind you I did also read somewhere that this-type-of-test was`nt a particularly reliable method anyway :(

To be fair on the unit it does look pretty old I have also noticed that one axle-set of tyres are a different make AND a bit newer than the other set (about 4mm difference in tread-depth) I also found that swapping the newer ones on-to the back made NO difference either (why would it anyway?! :angel:)

Therefore I suppose my question is :- does it sound to everyone as though my VCU needs replacing and if so where would be my next port-of-call for a new one or a refurb..

Thanks in advance Druid 66

At 175k and the symptoms you describe, I would say yes it needs replacement.
Do a google search for these part numbers
VCU- TOR000010
Center bearing X2 - TOQ000040
You will find heaps of options.
You can remove the drive shaft and it will run as a front wheel drive until you get the required parts to avoid damage to drive line.

Thanks Woko - Thought as much so I whipped off the prop this arvo and `Mondo`d the bugger which BTW was a piece-of-cake :cool:
Googled around a bit too and can`t seem to find any engineering-outfit in Australia who refurbs this kind of thing

Can`t understand why that is either because it seems Bell Engineering in the UK are just a small cottage enterprise - In fact given how a full-blown auto-transmission compares in complicity you`d think any old auto-trans-refit-shop would be able to sort one of these simple little units :confused:

BTW Does anyone know why some places sell those blanking plates thingies?? - As far as I can see there can`t be much harm done by running around with the IRD and Diff flanges spinning round whilst I source a new VCU for the prop.

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Originally Posted by Druid 66

Can`t understand why that is either because it seems Bell Engineering in the UK are just a small cottage enterprise - In fact given how a full-blown auto-transmission compares in complicity you`d think any old auto-trans-refit-shop would be able to sort one of these simple little units :confused:

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Its more than likely because of the fluid used and the availability in Australia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Druid 66

BTW Does anyone know why some places sell those blanking plates thingies?? - As far as I can see there can`t be much harm done by running around with the IRD and Diff flanges spinning round whilst I source a new VCU for the prop.

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Usually when the IRD fails, it destroys the crown wheel and pinion in the IRD and its a lot cheaper to rebearing the IRD and reuse the old crown wheel and discard the pinion, and use it as a front wheel drive.

I removed the drive shaft out of mine 4 years ago with no ill effects.

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Originally Posted by woko

Its more than likely because of the fluid used and the availability in Australia

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Sounds like a nice little business opportunity for someone :cool:

No problems with the roadworthy check either then is there?

Mine has been off for 4 years and never been questioned about it.

Mine got pinged for no prop shaft. So I ordered a reco VCU from Bell and fitted it. Annoyingly, I reckon it's tighter than the one I took out!

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Originally Posted by psproule

Mine got pinged for no prop shaft. So I ordered a reco VCU from Bell and fitted it. Annoyingly, I reckon it's tighter than the one I took out!

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:eek: Does your new one start to warm up when you`re just driving down the highway though?!

BTW How much did the recon one set you back all up? :)

Just to update everyone on this little job - I ended up getting a replacement VCU from this mob in the end and now everything is sweet :cool:Freelander Reconditioned Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) | FreelanderSpecialist.com

Set me wondering about the old one too as I did`nt bother sending it back
Does anyone know if the Toyota Viscous Fan Fluid is the same as the stuff in the VCU - If so changing the magic-goo might be a good way to go next time :)

Viscous Fan Coupling - How To Test ?? @ ExplorOz Forum