I have an 02 freelander, I'm not real sure where to start. When driving, it sounds like the driveshaft is going to come through the floor. I"ve jacked it up and let it run in gear. can't duplicate the problem unless it's under load. I also had a friend drive it back and forth slowly in the driveway to see if i could see the driveshaft moving, and right where the driveshaft comes out of the t-case it buckled and stoped the rover from moving. After appling more gas it poped real loud and kept going. The only think I can find that doesn't seem right is (what i call) a dog bone mount at the bottom rear of the motor, attached to the block by the oil pan. This mount allows the motor to move if you press up on the exhaust or driveshaft. I pulled it off and it looks like it is designed to allow movement. Does anyone have any idea what i'm dealling with. By the way if you couldn't tell, i'm very new to working on Land Rovers, every garaged i've worked in stayed away from them. Thanks for the help ahead of time.

 

Noone has any idea???????........ Any help would be great.

 

This dog bone thing you're talking about....could it be the motor mount? Or are you talking about the actual U joint coupling the drive shaft to the output shaft of the tranny? Sorry, just a bit confused as to what part you're dealing with. Maybe take a pic?

I would definitely try and refrain from driving it...if the driveshaft blows out under speed....you're definitely looking a much more expensive repair than just a U joint/shaft.

 

it's the mount that attaches to the bottom of the motor on the back side of the block by the oil pan

 

Replace the IRD unit

 

check your rear diff mounts, when they go bad you end up with way too much movement from your engine, it can also cause the center carrier bearing, in the middle of the rear drive shaft to get loose, the dog bone is designed to allow movement, not a whole lot of it, but some, its more of a stabilizer then a mount

 

Thanks for the help so far.... Not to sound dumb,,,, but what is an IRD unit...? I'm new to the Land Rover world,, any other advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

ird is the intermediate reduction drive... basicly the transfer case in this thing, splits torque front to rear with a 5 to 4 bias, that is, you basicly have a front wheel drive car, until you get more then 20 percent slip from the front axle, then rears kick in... theres more to it, but thats the basic idea

 

Why don't they just call it a transerfer case...lol.... anyway thanks a lot for clearing that up for me... After doing some more inspecting, I've found that the clunking noise is coming from the transfer case/tranny area... I was thinking transfer case, but now i'm pretty sure... Any ideas on how I can check this theory without pulling the transfer case out?...

 

just to clear the air, it is a intermediate reduction drive and not a transfer box because it has
no high/low selector. i totally agree with LrTECH and by draining the IRD oil and inspecting for that
pearlescence in the fluid and the large amount of gear material on the drain plug magnet, i think you
can pin this down. i have replaced two IRD's due to failure and when i drained the oil i can not tell you
in words how bad it smelled.