I am hoping to tap into your collective wisdom!

For the last nine months I have had a low speed whirling noise when you lift off the throttle. Worst at about 10 to 15 mph, but can be heard at other speeds. It is definitely rotational, intermittent whirl, whirl whirl and speed dependant if you get what I mean.

I have had the rear diff replaced, and the noise is still there - the rear diff was full of metal shavings so needed doing.

Could it be the haldex, front discs and pads have been replaced, so I think it is coming from the driveline. Any thoughts and suggestions would be welcome! 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Last edited by SD4x4 on 21st Oct 2015 12:08 pm. Edited 3 times in total

Check to see if it's the air con, by pressing ECON when you'll hear it again.

Do you get this in gear and in neutral? At that low speed you could run it on a ramp? (Please don't think I am suggesting you do this as that would be against H&S law I would imagine ) I understand that a garage did this to my car, without my knowledge of course, to identify a wheelbearing issue.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will check the air con tomorrow, but think it is coming from the driveline. It's more of a grornch grornch type of noise, difficult to describe in words, so I made one up that sounds like it! It's like a brake pad being stuck on a warped disc, but these have been checked and found to be okay.

It happens in gear, when you come off the throttle. It's an auto, so I am not sure I can shift into neutral whilst moving??

The garage have suggested taking off the prop shaft to isolate the rear of the car, drive it and see if the noise is still there. It can't be the new rear diff, so could be the haldex, but maybe a bearing, I just have no idea! 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Last edited by SD4x4 on 21st Oct 2015 12:07 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Yes I saw yours was an auto, you can Rev it in neutral while stood still. Worth checking?

Thanks RichP, will give it a try. Looking at everything to trace the noise. Even the garage who are a landnrover specialist are stumped. 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

SD4x4 wrote:

I am hoping to tap into your collective wisdom!

For the last nine months I have had a low speed whirling noise when you lift off the throttle. Worst at about 10 to 15 mph, but can be heard at other speeds. It is definatly rotational, intermittent whirl, whirl whirl and speed dependant if you get what I mean.

I have had the rear diff replaced, and the noise is still there - the rear diff was full of metal shavings (apparently) so needed doing, but I am annoyed that the noise has not been fixed.

Could it be the haldex, front discs and pads have been replaced, so I think it is coming from the driveline. Any thoughts and suggestions would be welcome!

Reconditioned diff with upgraded bearings on the crown pinion, so I don't think it is that. 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

wheel bearing?

That was a thought Snappa, but doesn't a wheel bearing normally get louder the faster you go? This noise seems to only be noticeable at low speed off the throttle, say under 20 mph, when coasting. 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Did you tried the ECON, when you hear the noise, like I've said?
I have a similar noise, in similar conditions, and it's coming from the AC system.

Tried that Alex, whilst you can hear the air con compressor engage, it makes no noise over than changing the engine note slightly under load. Also tried reving the engine in neutral, no joy.

The noise is coming from something rotational and on the driveline, I will check wheel bearings and brakes to see if they are rubbing. 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

Last edited by SD4x4 on 21st Oct 2015 12:08 pm. Edited 2 times in total

When I had a rear diff problem they replaced the transfer box too. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

By way of an update, had the car back to the specialist today to get them to track down the whirring noise. Diagnosed a failed bearing on the propshaft above the DPF.

A new bearing is around £60, it seems sensible to replace both at the at the same time, so budget £120 plus fitting. Happy days I thought, however, having done some searches on here it would seem that the bearings are integral to the propshaft and the whole unit needs replacing. I found a post where a price being quoted was £380 plus vat for a OEM replacement, plus fitting...

I have tracked down a company in Coventry, Dave Mac Propshafts, who are confident that they could refurbish the propshaft with new bearings and balance it again, they quoted between £110 to £190 depending upon what needs doing. I would go for the full refurb, as there is no point in just replacing one bearing, when the other bearing(s) could then subsequently fail.

Whilst it would be a cheaper repair and I think they could do it, on the downsides they have not done this on a Freelander 2 before, I would still need to get the propshaft removed from the car - not sure my spannering is up to that level - have it shipped over to them for a few days, returned and refitted. If I add in the cost of removal, courier charges and refitting, I suspect it would not be much cheaper than getting a new part.

I also need to factor in the hassle of my car being off the road for a good few days if I go down this route, which would stop me getting to work, being self employed time = money.

Looks like it may have to be a new propshaft to go with my shiney new rear diff If I don't get the propshaft done, could it cause damage to the refurbed diff, I suspect the diff failing and this problem are linked???

Any thoughts would be welcome??? 2013 SD4 Auto HSE Luxury Firenze Red
2003 Defender 90 TD5 XS - gone.
2010 SD4 XS Auto - gone.

I find it a disgrace that the thing that this vehicle is all about ie it's 4 wheel drive system, seems to be the most problematic part of this otherwise excellent vehicle. Thanks to FoMoCo for your design input and use of underrated components . I hope that lessons have been learned for later LR vehicles. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE