Freelander 1 - brake testing / Viscous Coupling

Hi, thanks taking the time to reply.

Thats good to know re the propshaft and gives me the option - Id rather take it off every year than worry about any damage!

And of course for my own safety I would of course prefer the brakes on each wheel individually properly tested via the machine (if its the right machine for the job).

I think from what I saw last year and have read since their "new" machine that can test 4x4 transmission works by simply rotating wheels one one axle in opposite directions thereby keeping the axle/diff thats under test mechanically stress free. However, wheels on the axle that is not under test are not rollered and therefore unable to move - which the viscous coupling would "try" do do if the front wheels were rotating and the rear were not. I can see how the machine could work with vehicles where the rear wheeldrive could be disengaged but not for a vehicle which is permanently all wheel drive (which the freelander effectively is via the VCU)


I will of course have the conversation with the garage when I book it in but I worry that what I saw last year their belief that the new 4x4 test machine can test all 4 wheel drives may not be correct.

If I may ask, if you were presented with vehicle that was permanently 4 wheel drive (ie no ability to disengage one axle) would you still test it on a machine that rotated wheels only on one axle at a time and where the other axle was unable to rotate?

Thanks

Ah, now that is both interesting and reassuring. One wheel rotating the other in the opposite direction I knew but I'd not appreciated that no load went out of the diff and down the propshaft...and certainly not been in a position to try it out with a propshaft attached even if it had occurred to me! As it happens I need to replace a driveshaft seal in the IRD (transfer box) this week so whilst the front end is up and still no prop attached I will give that a try for my own peace of mind. Clearly the same is true for the diff on the rear wheel not transferring anything forward.

Excellent.

Freelander drivetrains are fickle things and there are all manner of horror stories out there!

Thank you!

Now come on Castrol,, one of the VEs standard replies is that THERE'S NO GREY AREAS! If you follow the manuals it's black and white!
There's more grey areas than on a battleship with mot testing..
Take freeloaders for a run to warm em up, we've got a lovely straight unused piece of road, just right for decel testing. Kills two birds with one stone, and the freeloader can cope with that, and saves breaking anything.