Hi,

I have a strange noise from the front end on my 2008 TD4 Auto 34,000kms - purchased new and has only done a bit of beach driving on Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island - nothing too rough.

Symptom:

When turning at low speed, especially noticeable when in underground carparks, the front end makes a click-clack noise as the wheels rotate i.e. the car is moving forward or backward with the wheels turned either left or right. There is no noise when driving in a straight line and it is only apparent after the car has been driven for a bit - in the morning when heading to work, I do not get the noise when driving out of my carpark but by the time I get to the work carpark, the noise is back.

I have checked for anything caught up in the wheels and brakes but nothing found. I have seen the older post at http://www.freel2.com/forum/post37940.html which gives me some concern.

I have dropped the car in with the dealer for a service and checkup and they have notified me that the noise is a known problem with the brake pads rattling in the carriers. They can replace the pads to resolve the problem however as the existing pads are barely worn, his suggestion is not to worry about replacing them and that the noise will not cause any harm to the car.

Has anyone else heard of this problem or had a similar experience? I am concerned that if I follow the dealers advice and it turns out to be something worse (as suggested in some of the posts in the thread mentioned above) the car may be out of warranty when something expensive does fail.

thanks Dean

The clacking noise while turning generally indicate worn CV joints. I had clacking/rattling noise from my front wheels when I had my D3 and they were heard when I went over speed bumps and potholes. Test: If you apply the brakes gently, the noise should disappear. If they don't, I think your CV joints are the most likely candidates.

based on what you say it sounds like CV joints, agree with Deanc, if you apply the break lighty should be able to tell if its pads or the CV joints. Also if its CV joints that a lot more expensive repair then brake pads. Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto
Zermatt Silver
Side Steps & Mud flaps

If the brake pads are rattling, then you have a problem. There should be a slight contact constantly with the disks. IMHO, your stealer is talking bolleaux

Hope it isn't, but agree with the previous posters... sounds CV 'ish We Don't Care About Pot Holes !!

I have since picked that car up from the dealer and they confirmed it was the brake pads rattling after checking out the front end. The car has stopped making the noise (for the moment). The brakes also seem more responsive since the checkup.

They claim that this is a common problem with another two FL2's in at the same time for the same problem - one with 20,000kms and the other with 60,000kms.

I wonder if there is a Land Rover Tech Note covering this???

I'll just have to monitor it and hopefully no problems. Dean

I have the same issue. There is a constant distinct clicking noise when turning (especially noticeable in underground carparks where is quiet and the noise is reflected from walls) . It is also very noticeable after the car has been driven for a while and again only when turning.

I am quite sure that this is the CV joints as the car also feels a bit wobbly when hitting potholes as if there is some "play" in the steering but there is none. Also some clunking noises when stopping and reversing all coming from the front.

My car has been doing this for the past 10,000 km (i now have 45K on it) and has been to the dealer 3 times since. The dealer seems to be either incapable of identifying and fixing the problem or purely unwilling to recognize the problem and fix it.

Mine started to make the noise again after a week and has gotten progressively worse. The dealer has been unable to fix it. As the warranty runs out soon I have decided to trade the car before it costs me. Hopefully I will pick up the new car next week - Range Rover Sport TDV6.

Hopefully you will have more luck getting to the bottom of the problem. Dean

If it's been confirmed as the pads, then it sounds like the caliper pistons are sticking. This would explain the re-occurance as well. We Don't Care About Pot Holes !!

Having a bit of a flap about this exact same issue.

Noticed yesterday that after driving to work I could hear clicking in the underground car park. When I finished work, I tested and couldn't hear anything so drove home.

Again this morning I drove to work and again I can hear the click in the car park.

This car is a 2007 FL2, but it has only 27000kms on the clock. It only ran out of warranty 2 days ago (Sunday). I know the previous owners had taken it to the dealers with what seems to be a similar problem in November but the dealer reported that there was no issue (according to the service paperwork that I saw).

Anyone had any further insight into this problem?

Cheers,
Whytey 1st time FL2 owner. 2007 SE i6 in Tambora Flame.

CV joints are very resilient. In almost 40 years of owning front wheel drive cars, most with high mileage, i've never had to replace a joint. Lots of boots though!! If the boot isn't torn, then the CV should be fine. It's either pads or bearings.
I think the dealer is right. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

After finally having enough of the click-clicking noise when turning hard left or right (or even medium left or right now for me), I took the car to LR. They had one of their mechanics come for test drive.

Just describing the problem to him, he stated that it was the brakes. After hearing the noise in an underground car park (where it sounds amplified), he confirmed the same.

Apparently, you can do some 'packing out' to prevent the noise for a few thousand kms or get new pads or live with it since it isn't actually damaging the car. It is just mighty embarrassing...imagine the noise you get from really worn CV joints.

He suggested that the newer pads have been slightly changed to prevent this from happening, but I am blown away that more people haven't complained about it here on the forums.

Is anyone here actually aware of a tweak to the design or other such formal acknowledgement of a problem?

Cheers,
Whytey 1st time FL2 owner. 2007 SE i6 in Tambora Flame.

I could hear this clicking noise when the odometer was at around 30000km. Now it’s over 40000km and I can’t hear it anymore! Also note that the brake pads are still the original. I never believed that this noise had anything to do with them anyway.

Just to follow up here....

Before I set out on the road-trip tomorrow, I changed the front pads last night. The ones that were in had a lot of life left in them, the chamfers were still visible and everything and they seemed to fit tight in the callipers etc.

Anyway, put in a set of RDA's (a brand I have used before on other cars and that have been happy with but know little about) and so far I haven't heard this noise at all. I must admit, I haven't been in a proper underground car park yet, but there were other times I could faintly here the noise before and today I couldn't hear a single rattle/knock.

My dad helped me do the swap and I had him have a good look at the drive shaft/CV joints etc since he is as good as a mechanic in my mind (he is a fitter/turner and has rebuilt many a nice car (before they got all electrical)). He found nothing wrong with the rest of the front end and couldn't really see anything that could cause a rattle in the brakes either.

Wierd, but hopefully fixed. Will report back after the trip in case it reappears. 1st time FL2 owner. 2007 SE i6 in Tambora Flame.

Last edited by djwhyte on 14th May 2011 12:27 pm. Edited 1 time in total

PS: 3rd party front brake pads = $59. Land Rover genuine = $259 and they wanted to charge labour by the hour. 1st time FL2 owner. 2007 SE i6 in Tambora Flame.

Just to follow up with this. The new pads don't seem to have fixed the problem. I am pretty sure I have heard the same noise recently but since I haven't been in an underground car park, it isn't as obvious.

Anyways, for those that may read this thread in the future, there is another lead on what might be causing this noise...http://www.freel2.com/forum/post103821.html#103821 1st time FL2 owner. 2007 SE i6 in Tambora Flame.