Are you getting a vibration through your steering wheel?
If the vibration is constant when you are driving, but at low speeds, under 30 mph, it is likely to be an issue with one of your tyres being damaged causing it not to be round, or one of the wheels being bent or loose.
If the vibration is constant but only generally around 55 – 60 mph, it is likely to be an issue with your wheel balancing.
If the vibration occurs when your Freelander is put under load it is likely to be an issue with one of the front drive shafts.
If the vibration occurs just when you put your foot on the brakes it is likely to be an issue with either a brake disc or brake drum being warped or scored.
If the vibration only occurs when the Freelander is idling it is likely to be a problem with the engine performance. If the engine performance is smooth then it could be a problem with an engine mount.
It is highly unlikely a vibration through the steering wheel is an issue with wheel alignment or loose suspension parts, so these should be the last things you check.
Hi, my Freelander 2 has a rough feel coming through the steering wheel, any slight road imperfection is felt to an uncomfortable degree. Often causes the steering wheel to wobble a bit.
Happens at any speed, it handles big bumps very well, but the typical rough country roads consisting of many small bumps are resulting in a lot of chatter in the wheel. For comparison – I have a beat up van with more than twice the mileage at 210k, that stills rides smoother than the FL2 on 80k.
I’ve had the FL2 front shocks and springs replaced, which improved big bump handling, but did little for the road chatter. It has the 16 inch wheels so there’s plenty of sidewall to help absorb. Tyres balanced and aligned recently. Clutch and flywheel both recently replaced also. I’ve had multiple mechanics look over the front suspension, none reported any issues with ball joints etc.
Very stumped on this one. My old FL1 felt smoother than this. Would be very grateful for any suggestions, as I do love the FL2 otherwise and would like to keep it, but it is so rough.
Many thanks
Hi Ed,
Did they change the bump stops and top mounts at the same time as the springs and dampers. Have they checked the wishbone bushes? How are the outer and inner track rods?
All the best,
Sue
theteam@freelanderspecialist.com
I’m getting vibration on my fl2 2010 steering wheel around 30mph. Had tracking and balancing done. Still does it. 82k on clock. Any experience orher people have had?
I’m getting the same with my fl2 2010 model. Tracking and balancing done. New shock absorbers and new front rhs tyre done Aug 2923. Steering wheel started to vibrate st 30mph. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Jacqueline,
Did you just change one tyre? On a Freelander it is VERY important all tyres are matched – that is, same make; same model; same tread depth remaining and same air pressure. If your tyres are mismatched this could be activating the 4×4 system when it shouldn’t and that can give a bit of a wobble/vibration in the steering.
If all tyres are matched check the driveshafts for any play – make sure you check them in the in and out direction and the up and down.
All the best,
Sue
Hi
My FL steering vibrates at around 55-60 miles. It also vibrates with the terrain if I am driving on a rough road. Could it be stabilizer links?
Hi Mash,
My profound apologies for the delay in responding, somehow the notices of comments on our site have not been coming through to us.
It is more likely to be the driveshafts. Have you sorted it out?
All the best,
Sue
Mine has some 187000 miles now 2008 fl2 it wobbles shakes back diff changed steering rack failed all went wrong still going no prop runs fine front wheel drive now no faults take the dam prop off does not harm it at all folks prop off orsome now.
I’ve had the wheels balanced so it’s not that.
When driving below 40 / 50 mph ish it isn’t normally that bad and often isn’t noticeable, when driving at 50 mph plus the whole vehicle often vibrates sometimes quite violently, it also tends to vibrate more when accelerating. The vibration levels definitely seem to change daily. Some times it doesn’t vibrate at all.
For example today it was vibrating quite bad at about 50 mph plus then I went around a roundabout and I heard a couple of loud clonks and then after that it was fine and hardly vibrated for the rest of the journey. Any ideas.
Thanks billy
Hi Billy,
This definitely sounds like a driveshaft issue. Check the driveshafts for play both up and down and in and out.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi
I have a 2008 TD4 freelander 2. I’ve had a heavy ‘through/ whole vehicle’ vibration, in any gear at an speed about 30mph when under load. It’s much worse going up hill, and not noticeable when coasting down hill. If I take the throttle off, or dip the clutch the vibration goes.
Having taken advice from my garage and reading your site, I have had the following
2 new front tyres
2x front driveshafts
All new bottom arms, drop links, track and tie rods.
Complete New prop shaft
The clutch is working fine, and dual mass fly wheel isn’t clunky or noisy from the engine bay at all, the engine is running fine with no miss fire. I haven’t changed the rear drive shafts as the vibration feels like it’s emanating from the front.
It literally feels like a wobbly wheel under acceleration !! (All wheels have been off, 2 tyres changed, balanced etc and all fine!!
Any ideas or areas to check?? I feel begrudged paying £800 for a new clutch and DMF for the sake of it to hope it might help!!
Thanks in advance!!!
Hi Vince,
The main thing which causes a vibration on the Freelander 2 is the driveshafts. If you have changed these then the only other main thing which tends to cause a vibration is the dual mass flywheel.
If you have changed just two of the tyres and put the two new ones on the front you are in danger of causing damage to your drivetrain. All tyres need to be the same make, model, tread depth remaining and air pressure. If you do renew just two make sure they are the same make and model and very similar tread depth remaining (keep within 2mm) then put the new ones on the rear.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi my 2010 fl2 has a vibration though the steering wheel at around 100kmh, I’ve had 2 buckled rims repaired and all 4 wheels balanced , front lower control arm bushes replaced and full alignment done in the last 200kms of travel and still does it
Any ideas ?
Hi Ben,
Check the driveshafts for any play both in the in and out direction and the up and down direction.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi i dont have vibration through steering wheel but really bad vibration coming through gearstick as speed increases i have fitted new vcu and bearings and front propshaft any suggestions as to what can be causing it seems ok up to 35-40 then starts and gets more severe as speed climbs
Hi Stuart,
It sounds like it could be the driveshafts, check these for play both up and down and in and out.
All the best,
Sue
Hello! I have a 2010 Freelander 2 2.2 TD4, and I am getting a vibration through the steering wheel when the car is at idle. The engine is idleing at 700 RPM, and if a touch the acceleration just a little, the vibration dissapears. Otherwise, the engine is running fine, smooth, no errors. I understand it could be the auxiliary belt tensioner or an engine mount to blame for the vibration?
Does anyone know?!
Does anyone know what Ene?
All the best,
Sue
sue@freelanderspecialist.com
I have a 2010 Freelander 2 2.2 TD4, and I am getting a vibration through the steering wheel when the car is at idle. The engine idles at 700 RPM, and if a touch the acceleration just a little, the vibration dissapears. It’s not a strong vibration but it can be felt throghout the cabin and steering wheel especially. I also noticed that the rev counter comes back down to its idle position very slowly when I put the car in neutral, and it tends to stay for 2-3 seconds at 900 RPM before it drops to its normal position at 700 RPM. The car has a manual transmission. Otherwise, the engine is running fine, smooth, no errors.What could be the cause for all of this?
Hi mine is exactly the same as you described.. did you ever find out the problem? No one seems to no what this fault is ?
Regards
Hi Daniel,
What Freelander do you have and what are your specific symptoms? We will help to diagnose it as much as we can.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi
My FL 2 td4 2.2 does exactly the same did you find the problem on yours
My freelander vibrates when it is 50-60 mph
Hi Damini,
The first place to check is the driveshafts for any play, as these are normally the parts which cause vibration.
All the best,
Sue
My freelander steering wheel shudders only at 30 and 48 miles per hour for a short time in low revs. Any ideas
Hi Peter,
Check the driveshafts for any play; also check the track rod ends.
All the best,
Sue