Hi, first time posting here. I have recently bought a 2013 Freelander 2 TD4 S 2.2 and have an issue that hopefully someone can help with. When reversing there is a groaning noise that sounds like the rear brakes are binding. This only occurs intermittently though, sometimes when the car has been standing overnight with the parking brake on and sometimes during general driving when the parking brake hasn’t been used. The car has been into the garage and they say they have “freed off and refurbed” the rear calipers. But as soon as I got home and reversed up the driveway the noise was there again. Can anyone offer any insight as to what else it could be? Thanks in advance.

Are you reversing in a straight line or turning sharply.

I ask because, when turning in reverse, the individual wheels are rotating at different speeds, and can cause transmission lock-up. The Haldex unit should normally free-up and present this.

The noise is more sharp jerks as the wheel skips. 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?)

It happens when I’m reversing in a straight line.

Have the haldex checked/service properly as that can cause odd noise even in straight line manoeuvres

How is your Rear Diff, the Diff Nose Bearing experiences a reversal of load when reversing, if that OK,
Then something else in transmission that experiences a reversal of load. 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?)

Thanks for the suggestions, I’m taking it back to the garage
next week, I’ll ask them to check those.

I have the exact same noise and when I took my 2008 FL2 into the garage last week for an MOT I asked them to look into the noise. Like you, it only happens in reverse. They said its my rear anti roll bar bushes and drop links. So I have just bought some new Polybushes and a set of Meyle HD droplinks. I will let you know if that cures it when I get time to fit them over the next few weeks.

Please update this thread once you find out the cause of your issue!

Did this solve your problem kiwiNCFC?

The car has been back to the garage four times now. The first two times they said they had freed the brakes off and made sure they weren't sticking. next time a different garage has fully serviced the Haldex.
The noise is still there when in reverse, but it only really happens once the car has been driven for a while (say 20 miles down the motorway). I have sent the garage videos of it happening but they say that everything is OK with the brakes, axle, etc . The dealer I bought it from are saying there's nothing they can do unless it gets worse

"but it only really happens once the car has been driven for a while (say 20 miles down the motorway)."

Thats rather odd and difficult to explain.

Maybe have a word with Austen at Bell Engineering - they are the FL2 transmission experts


https://www.bellengineering.co.uk/ Jules

Does it do it when all 4 wheels are off the ground ?

Could it be the gearbox ? with old gearbox oil that needs changing . Jules

jules wrote:

"but it only really happens once the car has been driven for a while (say 20 miles down the motorway)."

Thats rather odd and difficult to explain.

Maybe have a word with Austen at Bell Engineering - they are the FL2 transmission experts


https://www.bellengineering.co.uk/

indeed it must be  Jules

Is it only occurring when the car is on an incline? If you come off your drive and reverse on the flat is it ok?

I was wondering if the clever automatic hill holding is unnecessarily applying the brakes?

Your fault is most odd, and you are going to have to reproduce the conditions accurately.

I would have thought the garage would have found any transmission/suspension components that were reacting to the extra strong reverse torque up the hill, but could the ride height by bringing the exhaust and/or heatshield into contact with something.

PS I may have written this in error as I have just reread this thread and cannot see that you have said anything about a slope - if so sorry - 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?)

It happens on the flat too. I'm going to see if I can upload a video at YouTube that shows the problem.

I fitted the above parts in my earlier post as recommended by the garage and it's still doing it! For what it's worth, I removed my gen3 Haldex and prop shaft and put new seals and re greased and new bolts back on around a year ago and also had a new handbrake assembly a year ago so I can rule those things out. Still on the hunt but as you say, it's not every time and one of those things we are going to have to live with otherwise we are just going to keep chucking money at it!