Bearing Noise..??

[Seahorse]

Guys, I need some help diagnosing what sounds to me like a bearing noise.

It is on my 2000 Model 1.8L Petrol Freelander. (85,000 K's)

Yes, I know it could be any one of several items that the Freelander is notorious for....

Anyway, the noise becomes noticable aroud 50-60 K's. It sounds like a woom woom woom growly sort of noise. The frequency increases with speed, but is usually drowned out by road/tyre noise above 80K's. The noise is also present with clutch depressed.

From the drivers position the sound appears to be coming from the left hand front wheel area. But my hearing is a bit "fritzed" so that may not necessarily be correct.

Whatever the problem turns out to be I will be the repair man ,so diagnosis is up to me as well....

Just need a bit of help doing it in a logical/orderly manner.

My suspicions are....

Wheel Bearings
VCU/VCU Bearings
IRD....

Any advice or quick checks I should perform before doing things like replacing wheel bearings and removing the drive train..??

I am quite capable with a spanner in my hand and have a reasonably extensive tool box and a selection of hammers ranging up in size to "big mongrels".

Any advise is appreciated

[Junosi]

First test I'd be doing is jacking the car up and giving the front wheels a 'wiggle' (hand on top to bottom of wheel and give it a flex). If there's any bearing play then I'd be looking into that first - bearings are cheap and easy to fix. Best to rule out bearings before looking into IRD issues I reckon.

Clark

[Scouse]

If you have no luck tracking this noise down, rotate the tyres diagonally on the car & see it the noise changes.
If it does, it's the dreaded tyre wear issue that the early IRD causes.

[101RRS]

Just a point - it is not the IRD that causes tyre wear - it is a failed VC that causes the tyre issues because of transmission windup. Likewise it is the failed VC that causes the IRD to fail. It is the gearing of the IRD that causes the VC to fail - a somewhat circular process.

So if the VC is good - it is unlikely the bearing noise is coming from then iRD.

The noise could be coming from anywhere - I would check - wheel bearings, UJs and VC bearings first - then look for the hard stuff - though unlikey the CV on the propshaft may be an issue.

Garry

[Scouse]

It was the IRD that was changed in the later Freelanders, not the viscous coupling.
The VC is fine but it just couldn't cope with the original ratio difference that the early IRD put it through.

[Seahorse]

Build date looks like 07/2000

Date of first Registration was 01/08/2000.. (must have been a quick delivery)

Any one have any idea when they commenced installing the revised IRD's ..??

[101RRS]

The date 07/2000 - is that the date on the compliance plate or the build date? - I suspect the compliance plate. If the date of registration was 1/8/2000 the build date would to be earlier than Jun 2000 - it takes at least a couple of weeks after completion to prepare for shipping, at least 4 weeks shipping (either South Africa or UK) and then a week or two for delivery

This information was supplied to me by Camel Landy some time back.

IRD Part numbers.

The original IRD unit was TAG100030... This is the one to avoid. The later version was TAG000020 but this was replaced by TAG000230. Either of these is fine.

Chassis numbers.

The earlier IRD was for chassis numbers from WA000001. The updated IRD was introduced with the TD4 so that's chassis number 1A000001 onwards.

[Seahorse]

Any idea where the Chassis Number is located....??

Just checked the owners manual and it doesn't get a mention.

Or is it the VIN No. ??

My VIN is SALLNABC7YA552771

[Seahorse]

Been researching my Freelander and evidently it was built 17/03/2000

I think it is fitted with a TAG 100210 (IRD)

Not sure, but think these were fitted from WA608775 to YA999999

Still Not sure if the TAG 100210 is the better model or not...???