gearbox bearing failure?

[dave21478]

On my TD4 Freelander (yeah, yeah, I know) it has started making a funny noise that sounds serious.

 

Its a continuous RRRRRRRRRRRR noise when under power.

It only does this accelerating, and goes silent when coasting or on the over-run. It doesnt make the noise when revving the engine at standstill, neither if I coast in neutral and rev it, so it definately seems to be linked to transmission.

It doesnt seem to do it in reverse.

 

Gearbox oil level is fine and oil is relatively new after I changed the clutch a while ago.

 

The noise seems to be coming from the front, left side, so gearbox area. A quick check of bearings and CV etc today and I think they are ok, but I will have a better look tomorrow.

 

Any ideas?

 

apart from burn it etc.

 

 

 

[bub2006]

My van chatters a bit when moving. Is driveshaft fine? I was told the driveshaft bearing may be on its way out and Your symptoms sound similar to mine. You obviously have transfer box too on yours.

[scaryoldcortina]

Check your wheelbearings before condemning the box.

[sierraman]

Even if it's the gearbox bearings they can run for thousands of miles before it becomes a problem. Could well also be the diff. As people have said check the wheel bearings and also the tyres, swap them round see if it still does it. Tyres can give a noise not dissimilar to worn bearings.

[beko1987]

you know what, this is the sound my zx has started to make. no ides where it comes from, but its new...

[Stanky]

Yeah, this is what led to gearbox replacement on the Almera, to be fair from 'it sounds a bit chattery' to 'who is running a coffee grinder in the street?' took about 20k miles, most of which were at 3500rpm on the M3 in the rain, so as others have said it may not be imminent failure.

 

The nissan made no noise with the clutch depressed, and if you got the revs just right then it would be quieter than usual but by the end it was just embarrassing. Having replaced the box, there is no transmission noise so it was definitely that. I believe the offending part is the input shaft bearing (in my case) and should you have the time and inclination these can be removed and replaced relatively easily - however it will require the box to be removed and the car immobilised while the bearing is examined, a new one sourced, fitted and the whole lot shoved back in. 

 

I suspect that this job may be less easy than it was on my Nissan I'm afraid to say, however if the car is a keeper then its a great opportunity to replace the clutch, slave cylinder, gearbox oil and myriad other jobs that get neglected because its an arse to do just that one thing at the time.

 

Whats a secondhand/refurb gearbox cost? I assume the plentiful supply from disillusioned K-series freelander owners will be sod all use as the ratios are all wrong, but have you seen what ebay or leboncoin have to offer?

[sierraman]

If it gets bad and it is the bearings a second hand box is your best best. Stripping anything beyond say a type 9 Sierra box is a job that will likely require some specialist tools.

[Stanky]

Ebay seems to throw up several options starting at about £150, though I appreciate that's over here rather than there.

[dave21478]

Well, I had a half-assed look today, but the garage is full with other stuff I couldnt be assed to shuffle about and its pissing rain so it was just a quick peek.

 

Its not tyre noise, the tyres get rotated regularly so wear is even and the noise slows down to a R-R-R-R-R-R at crawling speed where tyre noise is non existant.

 

Wheel bearings....no play at the wheel, but apart from that, who knows. Short of changing it as a precaution I dont see any way to eliminate that.

 

With one side jacked up and running, it doesnt make the noise at any speed so I cant diagnose with a stethescope screwdriver in my ear.

 

CV joints seem ok, but there is a few mm of in and out movement on the front left driveshaft. The front right has some movement but much less. I suppose thats a possibility?

 

If it is the box, I see rebuild kits on the 'bay with all bearings and oil seals for 170 or so. Clutch is very new so no point changing that again if the box has to come off but I will definately bin off the shitty Borg and Beck slave cylinder I fitted and try one of the all metal replacements.

 

Solution - turn the stereo up and ignore it for now.

[Christine]

Tiger in your tank ?

[colnerov]

 Hi, try checking the mountings. As it does it under load and not coasting. Under load the engine and transmission are tipped back in reaction, so make sure something is not touching where it shouldn't.

 

 Colin

[michael1703]

Take the front prop and see how it sounds, only 8 bolts, 5 minutes work for a man of your calibre

 

My Range Rover p38 started whirring recently, rear diff bearing broke up and had about an inch of play in it. 3 weeks later the front diff sounds like a tube train on the district line