Freelander Prop Shaft Bearing change - Has the grinding stopped?

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To fix Hippo the Mk1 Land Rover Freelander's grinding noise we diagnosed the prop shaft bearings as the source of the issue, so today we're dropping the prop shaft off the car and fitting new bearings.
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[@furiousdriving]

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[@giulianomarco]

All props to Matt! 😁👍

[@highbury1972]

Well done Matt! I had my doubts you’d get the prop shaft back in due to its weight. We should crowd fund you a ramp!!

[@ethandominguez3797]

I thought my MG was a pain to own. I commend you for carrying on with the Freelander!

[@skimmingstonedrone]

They were trolling every single buyer when they named it the Freelander

[@anthonystevens8683]

Nice one Matt, this is definitely progress. I'd stick with the current viscous coupling for now until it becomes an itch that needs scratching but might consider getting a replacement ready for a swap out. It's great to see Hippo back on the road with all four paws driving.

[@paulriggers1558]

the reason your lander was faster in 2WD is that the front + rear diff ratios are different, so the tyres are constantly fighting each other, sapping your power + mpg. the VCU has the job of separating the fighting diffs, that's why it doesn't last long they are actually very capable in 2WD, my prop was in the boot when i bought it, never got stuck, so never went back on by the way, the dodgy ratios were to "improve handling" ... yeah... PS, somebody did make a kit with a gear lever to disconnect the prop, but that was a long time ago

[@jacobfoster6773]

I believe the reason for the different ratios was an attempt at forcing the power balance towards the front wheels as they deemed the target market to be used to front wheel drive vehicles.

[@TK42138]

The transmission set up is biased towards front-wheel drive unless wheel slip is detected within the VCU then the fluid in the viscous coupling shear-thickens and starts transmitting torque to the rear axle. When they start seizing or completely seize, torque is transmitted to the rear axle all the time as it effectively locks up both axles - not a good thing when driving on road as it causes transmission wind-up and tyre wear - and eventually failure of the IRD and rear diff.

[@Andy-sh9eq]

The best thing to do with the sill covers is take them off and throw them in the bin, they trap mud and water making them rust quicker than if they were not there.

[@philipbunker146]

Did a “proper” job there Matt. Felt your pain with the refitting trial and error lol 😂

[@tonys1636]

A VCU is basically a mini Fluid Flywheel but as so small and having to handle a lot of torque not surprised they pack up after a time.

[@jacobfoster6773]

Especially as it's basically always slipping to cope with the front and rear diff have different ratios.

[@allanmollison6971]

Making great progress Matt 😊👍

[@Snarfcat]

I never thought I would hear Matt promoting Snake oil ... VPN's

[@furiousdriving]

I’ve used them for years, food security and could only log into the work server with one in an old job

[@andyarmstrong1493]

Terrific work, Matt. As you say it would have been way easier with a lift. We knew that wouldn't stop you though!

[@chrisrickett1]

I don’t do vernon Kay or ten to the top I still listen to Ken and pop master on greatest hits radio

[@SimpsonsClassics]

Great video! I remember my freelander and having the same issue!

[@cappaculla]

Good job, well done!!

[@markjackson887]

Really enjoyable video Matt, love a bit of tinkering.

[@maxidyne]

Very decent job Matt! No more grinding 👌

[@JustCallMeHorse]

How I did mine was put the VCU back on first but loose, then connect the prop shafts on was more easy that way :)

[@habsom1406]

Tenacious Matt strikes again, is there nothing this man can't tackle on his drive! Great video, well shot and explained. Would be more economical and nippy in 2wd but perhaps it would void the insurance being a modification of sorts?

[@richardhargrave6082]

Well done, Matt! I don't have the patience to do this stuff!

[@thughes52]

Good prop rebuild Matt you did good with all the weight ...

[@paulhardy2014]

Felt your pain during that, fingers crossed it’s sorted 👌👍👍👍

[@rimmersbryggeri]

I would say of course it's balanced off the car and since the fastners are not simular theres no chance of putting it on back to front either which may be the real teason why you should mark anyrotating assembly where it could be an issue.

[@skodakatie7341]

This procedure required a lot of brawn, and brains lol Well done Matt, that was a difficult task to undertake on your own❤.

[@DashCamSerbia]

Great job.

[@terryatkinson3182]

Yay, feel your pain, ive a gearbox and all that goes with it to fit to my cinquecento on the driveway, been 2 months since I took it to bits so piece of cake 🙄 famous last words.... everything is surprisingly heavy when you're on your back under the car 😭

[@philipmaclean7266]

Great video

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Great little tinkering video Matt, nearly bought a Freelander without the Propshaft fitted many years ago, I wonder if it was the same issue as yours and it was turned into a 2 wheel drive to remove this issue.

[@furiousdriving]

It’s really common for the bearings or vcu to go and people can’t be bothered to fix so do that

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

One small thing you need to check Matt,make certain that the bearings that you have replaced,are fitted central to the line of the run and not one sided.

[@chrismaguire719]

Job done well mate.👍👍 I’d be looking at sorting that rust out underneath it before it gets out of hand. Won’t take long before you’ve a boat load of welding to do otherwise

[@Nervejam]

Cheers! I was considering buying a £500 Freelander with "possible prop shaft noise". Think I'll swerve that now..

[@eddieMurphy11111]

you should have marked around the hanger bearings so you can put the new ones back in the same place and get some Lanogaurd on the underside it is good stuff I have done my wifes Freelander and hers is 25 years young and she has had it 23 years and yes the props are pre balanced so not need to mark them and you would have to tell your insurance if you took the prop off and there is no truth in them being better on fuel without the prop, but very well done but while you are under the car check the oils in the gearbox ,ird and back diff

[@MrDavidcoote]

Nothing can replace Pop Master ! 😄

[@CortinasAndClassics]

I know exactly how you feel Matt. I had to do the same thing on the cortina

[@AliMackMechanical]

I have done a few of them propshaft bearings bit of a pain in the neck. They are normally quite noisy. There is various ways of checking the VCU on them. One thing you will notice is tyre ware on the inside of the tyres. Only one of these av not had is an auto or a v6. Hopefully that sorts it.👍

[@furiousdriving]

The old tryes were very even so that’s good then

[@AliMackMechanical]

@@furiousdriving That's a good sign then. I will probably just be the bearings.👍

[@TheMaccatakker69]

Man vs Prop. Very entertaining duel! The underneath looks a little sore. Perhaps think about treating a a bottle of Lanoguard or waxoyle. Mac from Stafford

[@huwdavies6650]

You'll be glad to be getting back to welding on the Crown Vic.

[@rogerbyrne9040]

Knew someone who had one of these new in 1999 and from new he had to pull the steering wheel away from the kerb when driving as it wanted to drift left all the time. It was due to the four wheel drive system and the tyres wore very quick. It was a lovely jeep though, very cool.

[@Bratfalken]

I had the gear going off the crownwheel in the front differential to the hypoid gear angling it to the propshaft for the rear totally stop working on a 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager AWD. It was easy to get the faulth as the old hypoid oil smell was a total give away. I installed a used one and it worked totally okey, and I learnt a bit about these "backwards" driven hypoid gears. The right driveaxle goes all the way through this gear into the differential after the gearbox. AWDs are good at making cars go in snow, but doesn't help in real 4WD terrain where lockup differentials are superior in every way. The muffler, how did it go with that one? Only some outer shell or?

[@delukxy]

Looks like you will be changing at least one silencer. Did I see that the exhaust pipe was resting on the rear ARB? That can transmit noise into the car.

[@furiousdriving]

I didn’t notice, will check!

[@shannonireland9057]

Thanks

[@furiousdriving]

Thank you!

[@retromatt74]

Nice work! I think I have a similar issue with my Touareg, that will NOT be a fun job...

[@rogerbyrne9040]

Agree with other commenter, l would leave sill trims off as you are not going off road. Could spray paint bottom inch of sill if you want keep the look- Simples!

[@jasoncornell1579]

Did u use the tea shelf?😊

[@phil7301]

That box feared for it's life under there and ran off ! (23:14) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👍

[@lesklower7281]

What made removing the prop shaft resonably easy was the fact is that somebody had been there before now when l removed the prop shaft from my 1997 Hilux nobody had been there before its in two parts and the flange that attaches the diff l eventually got the four bolts out t he prop shaft stayed it place had actually put in gear and drive it a couple of feet to release the prop shaft from the diff and the prop shaft support bearing is original and it is in good condition l did this to replace the uni joints mind you the Hilux has 430000 kms on it and is 27 years old and nobody had been there before to change the clutch they just removed the shorter prop shaft

[@solidnowproductions8056]

I've been told there is a problem with the cheaper replacement bearings, they should be completely silent when you test them and if one isn't there will be a noise. Yours didn't sound that silent in the video.

[@donnysweekendvanlifetravel7854]

well done matt come drive mine then yu can tell if its less drag can meet up again i replaced my vcu in jan this year made huge diffrence all the best donny

[@interdec]

Propshaft out…perfect opportunity to replace the universal joints? Have to get it back up on the axle stands and run it again…see where the noise is?

[@MrGaryRoberton]

fit shaft A into receiver B While keeping shaft C in Receiver' D without dropping center E on yourself. Requires three legs and four arms.

[@habsom1406]

...to be accompanied by "4FS"...😄

[@patrickh7368]

Well done..! But if you put the selector in neutral the flange would rotate to change alignment…🤔

[@TheCounty90]

Fair play for not turning the air blue. If I was a KZbin man it would be just one constant bleep on a job like that.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

Lovely job Matt 🚘🚙🚗👍👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👏👏👏👏

[@fhwolthuis]

Well done, Matt, quite a job that was! I'm sure it will be fine, a little bit of noise should be normal with an older car, especially an off-roader

[@richardsheil5289]

Nonsense

[@thisiszaphod]

Many owners as a matter of course remove the propshaft for most of the year to replace it for winter - for reasons of fuel economy.

[@trainman665]

Usually it’s because it has broken and they don’t want to maintain it properly.

[@taficegaming]

With the exhaust I would ignore until mot lol

[@SportFury1966]

You once mentioned checking the fluid levels - did you?

[@furiousdriving]

no but as the noise went with the prop gone it wasnt the gearbox

[@HoLeeSheett]

Looks like the van behind you is missing a wheel stud 😂

[@EVguru]

Oh look, Matt's got a pry bar handy to put through the prop and stop it rotating whilst he undoes the bolts. No, no, he's just going to try standing on it. Every now and then, you seem to be channeling Reg Prescott.

[@user-xv6lw3ns9e]

Fantastic job but treat with antirust or something the bottom of the car❤

[@mikelongland]

I AM A FOMER MECHANIC.ALWAYS MARK THE PROPSHAFT TO DIFF WITH A MARK OF SOME DESCRIPTION.

[@AndyC2_]

No need to shout 😂

[@paulriggers1558]

i can tell you are a former mechanic, because you are SHOUTING, yup, all grease monkeys are a bit deaf...

[@petermarshall5932]

Rear tyres on a freelander are always noisy. Land Rover only fitted one make of tyre to reduce the noise

[@porscha901]

Top of the props

[@hondamonkeyboy]

Back to tinkering. Now we're talking.

[@JoonaParhankangas]

Was the both bearings the same?

[@furiousdriving]

Yes, both the sane but one was worse condition

[@peterthebricky]

Ten to the top replaced pop master 😮not in my house

[@tallblokesam]

Reverse on full lock. If the car pretty much stops or feels like it's binding then VCU is probably dead. I replaced the one on mine and it now rolls freely backwarss around in circles and is almost silent.

[@-sargntclashroyaleandmore-491]

I could never keep my impact gun as clean as yours... it only took a week for it to be all scuffed up 😂

[@williamwales6619]

Yeeha! Happy Days are here again.

[@robmog88]

Isn’t the noise the hole in the exhaust?

[@furiousdriving]

not actually holed, just the outer skin

[@BRED510]

Easiest way with a prop is bolt an end on first then work your way along. Starting in the middle is much harder!

[@petetheresellerandscrapper849]

If you haven't got the bearings seated completely home and ones at a fraction of a angle it will make a noise there a pain in the a**** also if you have to take the prop off again start at the back then middle then front and front middle back for putting it on it's alot easier and less stressful

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I doubt the VCU would make noise unless you are turning sharply or wheelspinning the front wheels. I I did a carrier bearing on my X3 BMW. It was hard work getting it to saparate. Ended up using a large puller and driving a chisel into the gap until...bang...

[@richardhunt1384]

Still haven't invested in two lengths of rope then for your ramps! 😂

[@furiousdriving]

Don’t need them with a 4x4!

[@dord1954]

I left our prop off we don’t really need it plus we get better mpg without it 👍

[@denishoulan1491]

I hope that you understand that the VCU is a service item and should be replaced every 75K miles. When they are not changed it chews up the teeth on the pinion that drives the rear propshaft. The oil in the VCU thickens up and it fails to operate as designed..

[@furiousdriving]

Yes, but this was changed by the last owner 2 years ago so should be ok

[@terryatkinson3182]

And next week the exhaust will need doing on the LR 😭

[@chrisgosling6083]

wow no welding!! sure it was one of your cars and not the neighbour's 😉 putting the last bolt in is always a good feeling

[@allanriches9381]

turn the radio up

[@bikeman123]

Leave it 2wd until winter and see how the mpg improves.

[@stevie007]

👌👌

[@andypicken7848]

He loves crusty cars our Matt

[@garyhewson7091]

Grease the propshaft UJs too! They should be fitted with nipples.

[@delukxy]

They can get very noisy. I didn't see Matt check any of them. Would have been a good thing to do when the prop is off as you can move them to their max angles then. Can't do that on the car.

[@furiousdriving]

They all moved around a lot in the floor, no noise from them. I don’t think you can grease the factory ones, after market ones can have grease nipples though

[@richardhunt1384]

Think they're sealed UJ's.

[@roygardiner2229]

Kudos from me, sir! There are some jobs, in fact many, that I would not contemplate attempting myself. Like the one you have just accomplished. I think you show that where there is a will, there is a way. 👍 Mind you, I also observe that you have many, many tools. Sometimes they are essential.

[@furiousdriving]

Mostly hammers needed for this one!

[@freelander.1]

This freelander is quite rusty… poor boy

[@campervanman1813]

K or L

[@jimmyk9523]

Boat anchor underneath this car. Chassis rails look like they're gone

[@davestraight8219]

after taking the trim off underneath 0.02 secs after that i would been getting the bilt hamber out or lanoguard

[@furiousdriving]

Did put some paint on it!

[@kevinnye5132]

Grindy noise never good on bearings or teeth Matt or much else really in life 😂, oh there is one grinding that’s great 😁 will leave that to your imagination 😉.

[@nickhaag7803]

If it makes a noise at 20mph then drive faster!

[@edwinblank58]

You would expect that a Britisch car had a better rustproofing. It's always raining in the UK.

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

You really do need a vehicle lift of some sort, even a scissor lift would be a game changer as all that wriggling around on the floor is a real no no.

[@RobertSmith-di5ll]

why do we bother?

[@TheModelator]

Yip I think you have found out that mechanics are gluttons to receiving pain and arm muscle strain by being twisted into impossible positions. Car parts come off easily due to the powers of gravity, they fall and twist before hitting terra firma. When on your back, one arm managing a jack, the other attempting to wangle it all together, and your legs and knees levering and twisting things. Only then to find out you need to get bolts in place before you discover that everything has to be tightened up and no limbs to help you, so you prop something else up on your head to free one hand A quick note to the wife,,,,,,, All proof that YES we can multi task ,,,,,,,,

[@billgriffiths1685]

Yipee i'm3rd

[@miked6505]

leave the prop off you get better fuel economy