Just starting to get a whirring noise coming from the rear of the Freelander. No warning lights like traction control or anything so i can rule the haldex out.
I've been underneath and both drive shafts have play at the collars where they go into the rear diff, is this normal or is it bearings in the diff that need changing ?

Although it could be a Wheel Bearing, if noise is not effected by cornering load, then I would suspect the Diff Nose Bearing is on its way out.

Take it on a test run and try loading up the different corners.

My original Post on the matter to a different member -----

"I would prepare yourself for the cost of a Diff, you may be lucky and it's Tyres or a Wheel Bearing, but I doubt it.

My Wonky Diff started off as a low drone noise, and then quite suddenly became louder (above about 20mph) and sounded like 2 misaligned gears grinding into each other.

I think Wheel Bearings just drone away for ever, as do old, hard Tyres.

I had the AA out on my failure and he checked for Bearing vibration, although the drag from the Diff makes it hard to get enough spin by hand." FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 82k+ miles) (MY2015)
Metro in its 11th Year of (Extended) LR Warranty / Full LR Service History
(Expensive, but Trouble/Worry free - hopefully?)

Ian,s post brought back a memory.
Two years ago I made a trip to Solihull for the aRangeRover guided tour of the factory. Fascinating.
Anyway had the forethought when down that far to have the car booked into Bell Engineering for a Haldex service. First thing Austen did was take the car for a test drive and come back and tell me nose bearing on diff was on way out. I had noticed a noise but thought “it’s a Landrover ,they make noise.” Service done and new unrated diff fitted. (Tears in eyes to a Scotsman) but what a difference. Drove the 300 plus miles home in silence. Typo, meant uprated diff not unrated.
Maurice, sounds possibly like a diff,sorry to say. You need it checked out first.
There is a Haldex repair place in Hillington , try googling Haldex repairs Glasgow. Jim A
Fl2 HSE 2010 auto
Disco 2Td5 auto 2002 gone
Disci 1 300Tdi auto 1996 gone

Nrw wheel bearings fitted 6 months ago so it's not those. I kinda suspected the diff