Some of the most expensive parts to replace in a Land Rover Freelander are in the drive train: the IRD unit (transfer case), the rear differential, and the gearbox. So why risk damaging any or all of these parts? If your viscous coupling unit (VCU) has passed its useful life, instead of paying for a replacement viscous coupling unit (VCU), you could spend thousands to ALSO replace the IRD unit (transfer case), rear differential and possibly even the gearbox.
The viscous coupling unit of a Land Rover Freelander is a sealed unit placed in the center of the propeller shaft. There is a viscous fluid inside the unit. Over time, this fluid thickens, much like your engine oil would, eventually causing the propeller shaft to turn at a slower speed than required. You can tell when you’ve gotten to this point, as your Freelander will feel like it’s holding back, especially when you turn it on all the way, but don’t wait that long – by then you may have already done some costly damage.
The problem with the Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) is that it is a sealed unit, so you cannot check the status of the viscous fluid inside. There are a number of tests that people say will assess whether your fluid has had it, but none of them are really reliable.
The Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) has a service life of about 70,000 miles; after this time, he is not playing with death, but with very large bills!
So why shouldn’t you buy a used Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU)? Well, simply because you have no idea of the condition of the viscous fluid inside you, because you generally have no idea of the mileage you have done. So how will you know when to change it? How will you protect yourself from those big bills? You can not!
If you were unlucky enough to have your IRD (transfer case) unit or rear differential damaged, did you exceed 70,000 miles? Has your Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) been replaced before? If your mileage was over 70,000 miles and you never replaced your viscous coupling unit (VCU), this will generally have been the cause of your empty wallet! And if you haven’t yet replaced your Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) and put in a new IRD (transfer case) unit or rear differential, the same thing will almost certainly happen again soon!
The key is to always buy a new or reconditioned Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) with the viscous fluid replaced. This way, you know you have another 70,000 miles of worry-free driving without worrying about damaging your expensive drivetrain.
So whatever you do, DO NOT buy a used Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) for your Land Rover Freelander just to save a few pounds; It may be the most expensive savings you have ever made!
