Only £747.10 + VAT
Is Your Freelander Holding Back on You?
Do You Want Your Beloved Freelander to have Power Again?
We Can Help!
A Freelander Viscous Coupling Unit (VCU) should be replaced approximately every 70,000 miles – otherwise you risk doing damage to the rest of the drive train (IRD, Rear differential and even gearbox – expensive repairs!)
Why does my VCU need replacing regularly?
Your VCU is a sealed unit containing a viscous fluid. Over time the viscous fluid becomes thick and the prop shaft no longer rotates at the required speed.
This puts tremendous strain on the drive train, and, if not replaced in a timely manner, will eventually cause damage to the rest of the drive train.
How can I tell if my VCU needs replacing?
There is no definitive test for the VCU as it is a sealed unit, so the condition of the viscous fluid cannot be checked.
If your VCU has past its usable life your Freelander will feel as though it is holding back on you, especially when turning corners on full lock.
Although a number of sites on the internet suggest different methods for checking the condition of the VCU, none of these are a reliable test. To avoid damage to the rest of your drive train you should ensure that your VCU is replaced regularly – approximately every 70,000 miles.
WARNING: If you buy a second hand viscous coupling unit (VCU) or prop shaft because your viscous coupling unit (VCU) is beyond its usable life, there is no way of telling what the condition of the viscous fluid in your replacement VCU – we strongly recommend that you DO NOT replace your viscous coupling unit (VCU) with a used unit.
Can you ship Worldwide?
Yes, we will ship anywhere in the world (providing we can find a courier who will do it!). Please contact us on
+44-780-9575-421
or email
theteam@freelanderspecialist.com
for a shipping quotation.
Do I need to return my old VCU?
No, these VCU’s are brand new genuine GKN units and you do not need to return your old VCU.
How do I get my VCU fitted?
Need your brand new VCU fitted? For the complete hassle free service, bring your Freelander to us and we will fit the VCU for you.
Take away all the hassle of getting your Freelander back on the road for a total of just £1064.99 (incl. VAT) which includes:
- Supply & fitting of a brand new genuine GKN VCU
- Supply & fitting of two new GKN VCU bearings
The cost of supply only for the brand new VCU, excluding VCU bearings and shipping is £799.99 (incl. VAT). The pair of GKN VCU bearings are £140 (incl. VAT).
I’m worried about my IRD Unit / Transfer Box?
If you are worried about whether any damage has been done to your IRD / Transfer Box, or other parts of your drive train, just give us a call on
0780 9575 421
to discuss your symptoms and / or make an appointment for us to have a look at your Freelander.
We also supply reconditioned IRD units / transfer boxes, VCU’s and rear differentials – so no matter what damage may have been done, we can fix it!
Do you have the VCU’s in stock?
Generally we do have brand new VCU’s in stock, however there are times when it could take a little longer to satisfy the demand. For an estimate of when your VCU can be delivered email us at sue@freelanderspecialist.com or give us a call on
0780 9575 421
How can I pay for my brand new VCU?
The painful bit I know! But we like to give you as much choice as possible, so we accept:
- Cash (If you are collecting it)
- All Major Credit Cards (including AMEX) – over the phone or on collection
- Direct Bank Transfer
- Paypal
- Cheques – provided they clear before delivery or collection
What if something goes wrong?
We don’t like things going wrong, and you certainly wouldn’t! Quality is important to us, but in the event that something does go wrong you have our
12 month, unlimited mileage warranty
Our warranty covers you for a replacement VCU in the event of any failure due to a faulty part or poor workmanship.
Hi Sue,
May i know does the VCU for freelander 2.5 petrol still avaliable?
If yes, may i know how much will it cost in total when shipping to Hong Kong?
Cheers,
Johnson
Hi Johnson,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Yes, the V6 VCU’s are still available. A new VCU is £525. The VCU bearings are £83.33 each and the shipping to Hong Kong is £95. Hence the total for a V6 VCU, V6 bearings and shipping is £786.67.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hello,
Me and my partner are thinking of buying a Freelander, it’s a bit old and gone far, so we were just wondering about your opinion, being specialists! 🙂
It is a 2003 4×4 Land rover freelander 3P TD4, with a diesel BMW engine, with timing chain (not belt) and automatic transmission (well taken care off). The car has gone almost 200 000 km, but as far as we can see it looks like it’s in mint condition (interior and exterior), but none of us are car specialists.
When test driving the car, it seems fine, but we have not done the recommended test for the VCU.
And this is the part we are most worried about, we are unsure if the VCU unit has been changed, as we’ve understood this is the possible major concern with this model.
Would you recommended us to get a proper mechanical check of the car (especially the VCU and IRD unit), prior to purchase?
And what is your experience with a Freelander that has gone this far, and possible never had the VCU changed? We don’t think the car has been used much off-road or for throwing (also there is never snow here), is it possible that the VCU could still be in decent condition?
Any opinions on this would be very highly appreciated.
And how much would it cost to get a new VCU unit with bearings sent to French Guiana?
And do you need a Land Rover specialist mechanic to change these parts, or should a general mechanic be able to change these parts (I’ve read several online posts of people doing the change themselves??)
Any information is appreciated.
Thank you,
Camilla
Hello Camilla,
It is excellent to hear you are considering purchasing a Freelander, they are great vehicles, very versatile and a lot of fun!
Do not worry about the mileage, we have had one of the TD4 engines at over 460,000 MILES (740,000 km) and still going strong, so high mileage is nothing to worry about.
Because the Freelander you are looking at is automatic we have found the VCU’s last longer on the automatic models than on the manual ones, so there is a very good chance the VCU is fine. If the IRD was a problem you should hear whining or clunking when you drive – provided the prop shaft is connected of course (do check this as a lot of people have been caught out purchasing a Freelander which has no prop shaft and hence is front wheel drive only).
Shipping for a VCU to French Guiana is £100. When shipping to French Guiana the VCU is £329.17 and the bearings are £116.67 for a pair of GKN bearings or £150 for a pair of genuine Land Rover bearings. Hence the total is £545.84 with GKN bearings or £579.17 with Land Rover bearings.
A general mechanic should be able to fit the VCU quite easily, and if they had any issues we are always on the end of email or the telephone to help, and yes, many people do it themselves.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
sue@freelanderspecialist.com
Hi
I’m interested in buying a new VCU with bearings for my Freelander 1.8 2005. Could you give me a price including shipping please?
Many thanks
Hi Annie,
Thank you for your enquiry.
A new VCU is £395 including VAT.
Genuine Land Rover bearings are £180 for the pair or GKN bearings are £140 for the pair. We do not sell the cheaper aftermarket bearings as, in our experience, they do not tend to last.
UK shipping is £15.
Hence, with Land Rover bearings the total is £590 and with GKN bearings the total is £550.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
4 x 4 ? Why? ask yourself – if you only drive on roads and never drive off road, and I mean over genuine open country, it is unlikely you will need four wheel drive, even if towing a caravan etc. It is a waste of tyres and fuel. I removed the prop shaft completely from TD4 Mk1 and now have a front wheel drive vehicle that drives like it is freed up and is better on fuel and tyre wear. I have even done building work, towing a trailer up a rough unmade up track with no problems. If we get two feet of snow I’ll put the prop and VCU back on!.
I believe a Freelander in this happy state is called being in ‘Mondo mode’. I recommend it.
Dvi!e found a 2002 Free lander in beautiful condition. It has 111,000 miles on it. It has had 2 owners but I have no idea about past maintenance? I am worried because if nothing has been done, timing belt, viscous unit, upgraded head gasket etc. I WILL BE IN CO A LOT OF MONEY TO BE SPENT! Am I a fool for wanting this Free lander so bad?! Please advise. Thank you so much for your opinion! Juanita in central Wisconsin USA
Hi Juanita,
Is it a 1.8 petrol Freelander or the 2.5 V6 petrol Freelander?
If it is the 2.5 V6, which most are in the USA, then there is a good chance the VCU has not been done but, on the automatic Freelanders the VCU tends to last much longer. Just make sure it is not holding back when moving on full lock (a little like the brakes are on) and all should be fine.
With regard to the timing belt, changing this would be important as for both the petrol models this should be changed at 72,000 miles. The V6 however, does not need an uprated head gasket, so this is not an issue for you. Make sure you check the coolant level regularly, and if you see any signs of it losing coolant get it checked. Often the issue is a leaking thermostat, and if caught quickly will not be such an expensive job. If left, however, it can end up blowing the head gasket which then gets very expensive.
You are not a fool for wanting a Freelander, they are brilliant vehicles, and you clearly have read up on how to look after them which is the most important thing.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
does 08 freelander 2 2.2 manual have a vcu ? have a noise coming from rear sounds like brakes rubbing could this be diff ? if so what is the cost ?
Hello Craig,
No, the Freelander 2 does not operate a VCU system, it uses a Haldex, active-on-demand system. If you have a noise from the rear it is likely to be the rear differential unfortunately, they do have a weakness there. The price for reconditioning your rear differential is £510 including VAT and UK shipping is £35 which includes shipping your rear differential to us and us shipping it back to you. There are so many different rear differentials on the Freelander 2 that we need to bring your unit in, recondition it, and send it back again, to make sure you have the correct unit.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi there, I need a new vcu and bearings for my R reg. Freelander 1997 and I was wondering how much would this be fitted I have already removed the old one to avoid doing any damage.
Regards Graham
Hi Graham,
Thank you for your enquiry.
A reconditioned VCU, bearings and fitting is £445, and a new VCU, bearings and fitting is £605. All prices include VAT.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue,
Always wanted to plunge myself in the world of land rover however I just can’t seem to lose the love for the Freelander 1 (I know about probs etc. etc.).
Now I have seen an 05 plate HSE (manual) with 68k on the clock.
My question is this as I like to bring it to a LR garage I would like to replace the VCU but as this work is carried out I also like to include a cam belt and Coolant / Brake Fluid replacements to get the first big bill out of the way as well what would be a fair garage price for all of this ?
Regards
Mic
Hi Mic,
They are great vehicles, and it is more about knowing how to look after them than them having real problems.
With regard to a fair price for the work I will tell you what we would charge:
Reconditioned VCU with bearings and fitting: £445 including VAT
Replacement cam belt with water pump: if this is a 1.8 model then it is £295 including VAT, if it is a 2.5 V6 model then it would be £795 including VAT
Coolant & brake fluid change: £50
If you went to a Land Rover main dealer you would probably be looking at around double these prices.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hello,
I need a VCU for my Freelander year 2001 petrol V6. I saw that it’s not the same as the VCU for 1,8L. or for TD4. Do you sell this one, and what are the price for a reconditionning one or a new one,with shipping in France.
Could you also tell me the delay.
Thank’s
Jean-Philippe
Hello Jean-Phillipe,
Thank you for your enquiry.
We sell reconditioned VCU’s for the V6 Freelander. These are £275 for the VCU, £65 for the pair of bearings and £95 for shipping to France, which includes shipping the reconditioned unit from the UK to France and your old unit back from France to the UK. The total would therefore be £435 with bearings and £370 without bearings.
We accept payment by credit card over the telephone (+44-780-9575-421), by bank transfer or by Paypal.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
hi i am interested in a viscous unit (UCV) for a freelander 2001 with 2.0 diesel engine in Spain I am what would be the total order cost with transport included and I would like to pay on delivery. thanks
Emilio Bautista No tel: +34-93.862.76.42
Barcelona-Spain
Hi Emilio,
A reconditioned VCU for your Freelander is £275 including VAT and a new VCU is £395 including VAT. If you would also like the VCU bearings these are £65 for the pair.
Shipping for the reconditioned VCU is £95, which includes shipping the reconditioned unit from the UK to Spain and your old unit back from Spain to the UK. Shipping for the new unit is just £45 as it does not require the return of your old unit.
Hence the total price of a reconditioned unit is £370 without bearings and £435 with bearings including VAT; and the total price for a new VCU is £440 without bearings and £505 with bearings, including VAT.
Unfortunately with our current demand I cannot supply a reconditioned VCU until the 9th March 2012. We can ship the new units immediately.
We accept payment by credit card over the telephone (+44-780-9575-421), by bank transfer or by Paypal. Unfortunately we do not have facilities with our couriers for a payment on delivery.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421