Why is there so much driveline slop??

**Brid** · 16th April 2010, 08:03 AM

Hi All

I'm sure there are plenty of people who know a lot more about Defender running gear than me, and can answer this question. Why is there so much slop in the drive line of constant 4x4 Defender's? Where does the free play come from, and why is it engineered by LR to be so?

I've had a few Land Rovers over the years & currently have a 2007 puma. I find the slop requires extra care to execute smooth gear shifts, and causes drive line clunks, etc. Although the dealers (& MR Automotive) have told me it's normal, slop has increased a bit (according to my measurements of free travel at tyre circumference with a wheel jacked). I'll query it at next warranty visit, but in the mean time I would greatly appreciate any comments from teh experienced/experts out there.

Cheers
Brid

richard4u2 · 16th April 2010, 08:27 AM

with my old 85 rrc there is 20 mm slop with that tyre test , how much is yours

**Brid** · 16th April 2010, 10:16 AM

That's pretty low, but it varies widely depending on

1. If hand brake ON or OFF (that will isolate play to rear diff & axle splines)
2. HIGH or LOW range
3. Centre diff LOCKED or UNLOCKED
4. Which GEAR if any SELECTED (main box)

For mine the LOWEST play was 45mm with Hand brake ON.
The HIGHEST play was 400mm with HIGH range, UNLOCKED centre diff & main box in NEUTRAL.

400mm is not a mistake! It reduces to 250mm with centre diff LOCKED. I have measured every combination and also the same with the front wheel in the air.

I'd be very interested in how yours compares.

**brianwood** · 16th April 2010, 10:41 AM

Brid,
What year is your deefer, and how many k's?
Brian

**Brid** · 16th April 2010, 10:44 AM

Hi Brian

2007 and it now has 93,000 kms

Brid

Tombie · 16th April 2010, 10:51 AM

Brid

I'd say you have big problems coming your way...

My 2001 Tombie edition had less than 40mm in neutral, CDL unlocked, No handbrake.

Yours must clunk everytime you drive off or brake

**brianwood** · 16th April 2010, 11:05 AM

Sounds like a flogged out spline somewhere. Funny, I thought they had these sorted since the mid 90's

**Brid** · 16th April 2010, 11:06 AM

Yeah it clunks a lot...but LR tell me it's normal! I also ran the figures past MR Automotive, who without exception seem to receive very high praise from anyone they deal with.

I need to have other puma owners provide feedback on their driveline slop to help me sort it out under warranty.

Any other Puma owners able to comment please?

Thanks
Brid

**scotyp** · 16th April 2010, 05:49 PM

Hi mate, I've got a 96 defender, it had shocking backlash when I got it, took a long time to show its self but found to be the rear axles and drive flanges were flogged out and one side had even been welded , next was the front uni joint needed replacing, all good for 50k or so then needed another front uni and replaced rear axles and flanges with maxi drive and no trouble since, all though I'll bet the front uni will go again once the ks are up

cheers

Scotty

**justinc** · 16th April 2010, 06:31 PM

Brid,

VERY likely rear axles, as 93K without ANY lube will destroy them. Pop the rubber end caps off and take a squiz.
(ALSO, there was a recall with some Puma model year 130's as they broke the upper A frame brackets, and gussetting was required to rectify.)

The transfer cases also are a problem in these, I would definately pursue the driveline backlash problem as they should NOT be worse than a Td5 or even Tdi model at any time seeing as they are basically the same in the running gear department save for the 6 spd trans and the useless rear differential...

JC

Thread: Why is there so much driveline slop??

Thread Tools

Why is there so much driveline slop??

driveline slack

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions