Hello! I have a auto FL2 2007 and Ive noticed whilst replacing the discs and pads there is a lot of play on both front driveshafts.

Where the driveshaft meets the transfer case , I can see ball bearings falling in their races as I rotate the wheel so obviously bearings have got loose, fallen out over time and it's knackered!

The only problem is I can't seem to find an answer to if a new driveshaft on both sides comes with this bearing?

Photos of driveshafts on eBay etc all show it without the bearing and on exploded diagrams there is no mention of the bearing.

Can anyone shed any light on this I would be very thankful !

https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic18931.html

This might help to show you what's inside 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Driveshafts never come with the inner bearings fitted - they will be in the gearbox and as far as I know, cannot be replaced without a gearbox stripdown. Are you 100% sure? I can’t ever remember being able to see bearings in that position. What stops the gearbox oil from leaking out - there should be an oil seal there. A lot of work I know but I’d like to see a picture with the driveshaft removed Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

The RH driveshaft has a support bearing, clamped to the PTU box, which are the one failing on your picture. I most cases the garages will replace the complete driveshaft for this, but I know that bearing are available separate some places.

Take a look here:
https://www.advancedfactors.co.uk/front-dr...3455-c.asp
You will se the bearing situated on the shaft close to the inner side of the inner CV joint.

Here you go:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Intermedi...0010.m2109

Same item, but known quality brand: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MEYLE-714-151-0...SwLf9gUGQv

The same bearing are used on a lot of Ford and Volvo models.

Thanks so much for your help everyone. Getting conflicted information on this topic proves that it is a bit difficult to get the correct answer! That bearing does look like it could definetly fit here. You say the RH driveshaft has this bearing included but does the LH have one included too? I presume it does? I have the same issue on both sides.

Driveshafts appear to be £150 a side so it's a lot of expensive for 2 bearings but just trying to get an answer from a garage is difficult because 1 land rover specialist I spoke to said the auto gearbox are always playing up on the FL2 and they basically were nudging me into buying a recon gearbox for £1500 fitted!

I might try and do it myself but driveshafts are a thing I have never got involved in apart from on my defender as that is so basic. I've no idea how this bearing is fitted on the shaft or how you even get it off. I'll have to do a bit more research I think!

Hi,

There is no support bearing on the LH side as the "short" driveshaft is fitted there. Inner CV joint are mounted directly into the gearbox on the LH side.

Have you got some advice from your local garage?

The auto box on the Freelander 2 is far from unreliable, my experience is that 200,000 miles is easy even with hard use bordering on abuse, as long as the oil is changed every 70,000 miles.

So you garage now has me worried.

Front drive shafts are easy for someone mechanically inclined, more than anything you need to be methodical. From memory support the vehicle on axle stands, remove LH wheel, undo the drive nut while an assistant hangs onto the brakes for dear life (or wedge against two wheel studs and the floor), undo the anti roll bar, undo the lower ball joint, take the caliper off and support on cable ties (leave connected to the hydraulics), swing the hub out of the way and pull out the drive shaft. Reverse to re-assemble.
Easy if you say it quick
Do similar for the RH side, just the slight complication of the support bearing, and it is only slight.

Having done literally dozens on various makes of cars, it's not a job I would hesitate to do, but I understand that others have different talents. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Many thanks guys, that's a good run down for removing the driveshaft. I have been reading the workshop manual steps on how to remove and I will give it a few days to see if I'm brave enough. I'm a DIY mechanic , replaced radiators/propshafts/discs pads/wheel bearings/exhausts/servicing etc but always a bit cautious before I do something I haven't done before.

Yes I was under the impression it's a reliable lump too. The garage were just trying to fob me off which just wastes my time to be honest with you.

Just one more question...

In my photo on the original post, you can obviously see a ball bearing but how is this possible as I thought this was positioned behind the oil seal? Everything is dry so I presume if I could see the ball bearing in the bearing race this would mean the oil seal would have come out and everything would have been completely loose and oil everywhere! I can see this ball bearing on both sides which confuses me as other people have stated there is only a bearing on the RH side.

The original photo looks as if it's the RH support bearing - think ordinary bearing nothing special.
It is part way along a shaft so the only oil is the oil that WAS in the bearing when it was new. The seals have obviously long since failed the ball bearings are running dry and will eventually grab the outer race and spin it in the mounting, at this point the spinning outer (fixed race!) could damage the casting that it is clamped to and get very expensive very quickly.

It may not of course grab the outer race, the balls may just fall out and the shaft rattle around (very rapidly) until it damages the casing - either way, do it sooner rather than later.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, the shaft and bearing are not horrendously expensive, you could do the job at home in the street in a day with plenty of tea breaks, a garage should take probably 1.5 hours a side or less. Speaking from experience as I did mine twice - once to find out what parts I needed, then rebuilt it because I need the car for work, then did it again much faster when the new parts arrived. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

kiwiNCFC wrote:

Hello! I have a auto FL2 2007 and Ive noticed whilst replacing the discs and pads there is a lot of play on both front driveshafts.

Where the driveshaft meets the transfer case , I can see ball bearings falling in their races as I rotate the wheel so obviously bearings have got loose, fallen out over time and it's knackered!

The only problem is I can't seem to find an answer to if a new driveshaft on both sides comes with this bearing?

Photos of driveshafts on eBay etc all show it without the bearing and on exploded diagrams there is no mention of the bearing.

Can anyone shed any light on this I would be very thankful !

I think youre looking at the support bearing on the RH half shaft (see page 370 of JLR manual)

Click image to enlarge

 Jules

This. ^^^^^

It has to be. The right hand front? You can buy those bearings separately. Remove shaft. Smash off outer race with a hammer (cover with a rag and use eye protection), cut through inner race and remove from shaft. Drift new bearing onto shaft using a tube that fits over the shaft but only hits the inner race of the bearing. Refit shaft.

Alternatively, just buy a new one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Free...ondition=3 Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.