Rear clunk in Defender

**Brid** · 4th October 2007, 08:55 AM

Hi All. I've got an 2005 Defender 110 wagon, with 93,000km on it now. It has recently started to develop a clunk from the rear when changing gears, and sometimes on corners.

I can find some play in the front A frame bushes, but can't get any movement from the A frame ball joint. There is about 20mm freeplay measured at the outside of the handbrake. I probably need to jack up a front and back wheel to see if the rear diff or transmission has more play, and will do this at next opportunity.

I can feel the clunk noise transmitted most strongly through the rear prop shaft, and seems loudest at the diff end. I haven't yet checked the diff oil for wear metals.

Does anyone have any ideas, experience or opinions as to the likely source? Be most grateful for comments.

Brid

**incisor** · 4th October 2007, 09:10 AM

check the axle drive plates and axles for wear,

hope it works out well for you....

**Xtreme** · 4th October 2007, 09:36 AM

Sounds like worn splines on your axles/drive flanges.

This is quite common since LR went to greased wheel bearings instead of the old tried and proven method of lubricating the bearings with oil fed from the diffs.- while this was happening, the splines on the outer ends of the axles were also being lubricated and no wear was ever experienced.

Just another case for converting the later model Defenders and Series I Discos from greased wheel bearings to oil lubed wheel bearings.

**Brid** · 4th October 2007, 01:19 PM

Thanks for those comments.

It sounds a possible suspect. I remember chewing out a rear axle flange on and old IIA years ago. Actually they were oil lubed then I think...but mine was just a well and truly tired old thing.

Regards
Brid

**camel_landy** · 4th October 2007, 05:37 PM

Chock the wheels (or get someone to sit with their foot on the brake), release the handbrake & check for play in the prop & the rest of the drive train.

Chances are that it'll be the splines on the rear axles & flanges.

M

**JDNSW** · 4th October 2007, 07:30 PM

The sound you are hearing is not like it, but there should be no play in the A-frame bushes - and if you have any, replacing them will improve driveability and handling, even if the actual noise is from the drive flanges.

John

**Rosco** · 13th July 2008, 11:08 AM

Searching for the elusive "clunk" today.
Up on ramps with the handbrake off.
On rotating the rear prop shaft by hand, I get about 3-4mm free play between the flange bizzo and the diff housing + I can hear the clunk emanating from inside the diff.
Recently checked the diff oil and found no sparkly stuff + plus I have installed Maxi axles and hubs last October. Could get no movement from the A frame joints.

Is this about right and should I not concern myself overly ??

**rangieman** · 13th July 2008, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Rosco

Searching for the elusive "clunk" today.
Up on ramps with the handbrake off.
On rotating the rear prop shaft by hand, I get about 3-4mm free play between the flange bizzo and the diff housing + I can hear the clunk emanating from inside the diff.
Recently checked the diff oil and found no sparkly stuff + plus I have installed Maxi axles and hubs last October. Could get no movement from the A frame joints.

Is this about right and should I not concern myself overly ??

I would,nt stress about it

**Rosco** · 13th July 2008, 01:24 PM

Goodo ... but I did find quite a few of the front and rear prop shaft bolts were loose ..

So it was, by no means, a wasted exercise.

**rick130** · 13th July 2008, 04:52 PM

FWIW, one of the rear end clunks I've had was the A frame to chassis bushes, but the bushes were fine, the crush tubes and bolts had flogged out so there was relative movement between them.

Also had the axle splines/drive flange thing (gone @ 76,000km)

Thread: Rear clunk in Defender

Thread Tools

Rear clunk in Defender

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions