So I've been fighting with some issues since I bought ole disco deb ( 02 discovery 2 85K mi) during my recent move up to oklahoma I noticed a slight clunking sound from what I thought was my front driver side area with some vibration at lower speeds which now im starting to feel more in the center of the disco. Today it was more noticeable and the vibration has become somewhat worse, but not unbearable. Then I started to hear a whistling / screeching sound almost like a belt was getting ready to go out, so I thought it might be a idler pulley or tentioner pulley getting ready to go out or a bearing was bad. that sound also is now coming from my driver side area.

I'm thinking it might be a bearing in the hub getting ready to go, but I'm more worried about the clunking and vibration due to making a holiday trip to east TN. Any help / advice yall could give would be awesome and if anyone knows of a good shop here in the southern oklahoma area that would be great too.

 

Have you done anything with the front driveshaft yet? Sorry but that is a must ask.. lol.

The next time you start the engine and you get that squeezing noise, turn off the A/C compressor by pushing the ECON button on the HVAC controls. Mine did that and it turned out to be the compressor going into the toilet.

 

Is it proportional to engine speed or vehicle speed? If it is proportional to vehicle speed, you need to stop driving it immediately until you can get a rebuilt front driveshaft installed. It will fail and most likely take your transmission with it.

 

@zeroone I'll try the econ thing when i start her up today and I haven't done anything to the driveshaft yet

@evoblade the clunking starts when I let off the gas at low speeds under 30 mph and the whistling sound is when I accelerate

both happen if shes warmed up or cold as well

 

update from this morning, went to the auto craft shop here on base and I have no issues with the driveshaft...only thing we saw was the rear driveshaft connecter (rubber one) has some cracks in it, but nothing serious. going to go back later today and have a better look on a lift and see what else we cant find out.

@zeroone i did the econ trick and I still have the whistling sound, im thinking it is a wheel bearing now 100% and thanks for your help on that!

 

Sure. It's a stupid thing. Lol. If you are unsure of the age of the rotoflex coupler, I'd think about replacing it. I've never heard bearings whistle, groan and sound like someone is flipping a stack of coins yes.. whistle no.

 

Just to be clear - the front shaft has a long history of the symptoms you are describing followed by it flying apart and knocking a hole in the transmission. So, if you didn't pull it out and physically inspect the u-joints you may yet have serious problems. These fail because the centering ball at the back of the shaft fails, and then it takes out a u-joint.

If the shaft does not have grease fittings on the u-joints, it has never been rebuilt and is the prime suspect.

Beyond that, here's site with info on diagnosing diff problems.

Diagnosing Differential Problems | West Coast Differentials

Your symptoms are not typical wheel bearing symptoms. A clunking, vibrating wheel bearing would only happen when the hub is about to split apart, which I have never heard of happening in these trucks.

If you do replace the rotoflex, be sure to buy OEM. I bought aftermarket and it lasted less than a year. Also, be sure it's oriented correctly.

In any case, this truck is unsafe to drive til you sort it out.

 

how hard is it to replace them? I just had it on the lift again and saw what you were talking about.

 

It's not an easy driveshaft to rebuild. Here's a coupla tutorials:

https://landroverforums.com/forum/ge...rebuild-29302/
https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...ld-done-30781/

The centering ball is a PITA to get out, but it's critical. Reassembling the double cardan joint is also a bit of a pain. I've rebuilt several driveshafts, and this one was the hardest.

That said, it can certainly be done, and having the guys at the hobby shop help might make it easier.

Don't drive it though. Many transmissions have died in your exact situation.

 

Thank you for the info and the tutorials you posted on here. Im gonna have to take her to the shop to get it done though while I/m on leave / holiday. I now that I know when to lube the U joints, I'll make sure I do it. don't know if the last owner did that or not.

Also is advanced auto the kinda go to place for parts?