21 Feb 54 Comments Sue FL2 Problems, Freelander 2, Freelander Drivetrain , ,

Freelander 2 Uprated Front Differential/Transfer Box Reconditioned 2 yr warranty

Main

IS YOUR FREELANDER 2 WHINING / CRUNCHING FROM THE FRONT ?

Do you want your beloved Freelander to run smooth and quiet again?

We Can Help!

If your Freelander Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential is damaged we can supply you with an uprated reconditioned unit.

One of the biggest, most serious issues with the Freelander 2 Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential is damage occurring to the splines  of the crown wheel which connect the unit to the gearbox. The crown wheel is not available as a new item and so most reconditioning cannot address this issue and most used units in circulation have suffered from some wear to these splines (hence, since used units are used for reconditioning the standard reconditioned unit will also have some wear on the splines). Our uprated Power Transfer Units (PTU) have brand new, strengthened splines fused to the crown wheel by a high tech procedure, making them stronger, giving no backlash and having a better fit and performance than the original Land Rover crown wheel – in fact it is so good we offer an extended two year warranty! 

For more information please rear through the sections below.

PLEASE NOTE: This is an exchange unit and requires the return of your damaged Power Transfer Unit (PTU)/ transfer box / front differential. 

There are two alternatives to receiving your reconditioned Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential:

Option 1. Reconditioning your unit for £845 incl VAT, plus shipping:

    • Remove the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) from your vehicle;
    • Drain the unit of oil;
    • Package securely (well padded / bubble wrapped) in a sturdy box and securely taped up);
    • Send us a message or call us to let us know the unit is ready for collection;
    • Your unit will be collected by courier (covered in the shipping price) and delivered to us;
    • Once we receive your unit we will inspect it to ensure it is reconditionable – generally it is reconditionable provided there are no cracks or holes in the casing;
    • We will ship out an uprated reconditioned unit to you (covered in the shipping price), generally within one working day, and send you the tracking details;
    • You will receive and fit your uprated reconditioned unit (it is advisable to also fit a new sleeve and associated seals at the same time – if you require these please send us a message with your Freelander chassis / registration number and we will send you a price);
    • You are back on the road, enjoy!
 

Option 2. If you pay an additional £300 refundable surcharge:

    • We will send you an invoice for the refundable £300 surcharge;
    • Once the surcharge is paid we will ship out an uprated reconditioned unit to you (covered in the shipping price), generally within one working day, and send you the tracking details;
    • You will receive and fit your uprated reconditioned unit (it is advisable to also fit a new sleeve and associated seals at the same time – if you require these please send us a message with your Freelander chassis / registration number and we will send you a price);
    • You are back on the road, enjoy!
    • Drain your damaged unit of oil;
    • Package your damaged unit securely (well padded / bubble wrapped) in a sturdy box and securely taped up – you may be able to use the same box the reconditioned unit came in);
    • Send us a message or call us to let us know the unit is ready for collection;
    • Your unit will be collected by courier (covered in the shipping price) and delivered to us;
    • Once we receive your unit we will inspect it to ensure it is reconditionable – generally it is reconditionable provided there are no cracks or holes in the casing;
    • We will refund your £300 surcharge, normally within two working days of receiving your damaged unit.

WHAT HAS CAUSED MY POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU) / TRANSFER BOX / FRONT  DIFFERENTIAL TO BE DAMAGED?

In most cases damage to your power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential is caused by mismatched tyres.

It is very important on a Freelander 2 drivetrain for the tyre sizes to be matched between the front and rear axles. The difference in tyre diameter, and thus the rolling radius of the wheel, causes slippage in the drivetrain, which is what they are designed to do off road if the wheels start to slip and this transfers drive to the other wheels, but if this is happening while driving in a straight line on a road it causes extra load to the entire transmission line, eventually resulting in rear differential and/or Power Transfer Unit failure. This constant strain can also affect the Haldex unit and gearbox if the situation continues.

Mismatched tyres can occur from:

    • fitting different size profile tyres to the front of the car compared to the rear; 
    • having tyres of different makes or even different models of the same make fitted to the vehicle;
    • putting new tyres on one end of the car but leaving the old worn tyres on the other;
    • having different tyres pressures;

A difference of just 5mm in diameter dramatically increases the rotational differences between the front and rear axles, so it is imperative that the tyres are always matched – the same make, model, tread depth remaining and air pressure. Always change all 4 tyres at the same time, rather than trying to save a few pounds by changing the fronts and getting a few more miles out of the rears.

If all your tyres are matched then the failure is likely to have come about by something which is causing the wheels to rotate at different speeds, such as a sticking brake calliper or brake pad carrier sliders siezed.

IF YOU HAVE DAMAGE TO YOUR DRIVETRAIN PLEASE ENSURE YOU IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WILL REPLACE THE UNIT AND THE SAME DAMAGE WILL OCCUR AGAIN.

Warning: If your Power Transfer Unit (PTU) failed because of mismatched tyres, a sticking brake calliper, or any other external cause then you will need to correct this cause (replace the tyres / replace the calliper etc.), otherwise you will damage your replacement Power Transfer Unit all over again – and your warranty will not cover you because it will have been damaged by an external component!

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU) / TRANSFER BOX / FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REPLACING?

A problem with the Freelander 2 Power Transfer Unit (PTU)/ transfer box / front differential will generally show itself in two different ways:

  1. You may hear a whining noise from the front of your Freelander, a little like road noise, which tends to get louder when you place the Freelander under load, such as when you are accelerating. This is generally due to a worn bearing inside the unit from the strain on the drivetrain (i.e. mismatched tyres, sticking brake calliper etc.), the metal shards from the bearing will then be circulating around the inside of the unit (and can generally be seen in the oil) which can cause further damage to the internal components.
  1. You lose the all wheel drive (AWD) but have no error messages (this could have been proceeded by some banging from the front of the vehicle, which can also resonate down the drivetrain to appear to be coming from the rear), so when you need grip the front wheels start spinning and you just skid rather than get out of that muddy field! Please note, this could also occur if you have a problem with your rear differential or Haldex. Putting the Freelander on a ramp with all four wheels in the air and running it should show you if you are getting drive to the rear. This is a very common issue which occurs when the drivetrain has been put under strain (from mismatched tyres, sticking brake calliper etc.) and is generally due to the splines on the sleeve which sits between the Power Transfer Unit and the gearbox wearing, and hence causing them not to engage fully with the driveline components – the tell tale sign of this happening is the presence of rusty oil residue between the mating surfaces of the gearbox and the PTU. In this situation you will also need to replace the sleeve and associated seals – please message us with your chassis / registration number for a price – and ensure you inspect the shaft of the gearbox for any damage to the splines when you replace the Power Transfer Unit.

If you are unsure if your Power Transfer Unit is damaged, or what the cause of your issues are, you are welcome to bring your vehicle to us for inspection and we will diagnose the problem and the cause for you.

WHAT IS AN UPRATED RECONDITIONED POWER TRANSFER UNIT / TRANSFER BOX / FRONT DIFFERENTIAL?

When a strain is placed on the drivetrain, which occurs when you have mismatched tyres or a sticking brake calliper for example, this can cause the splines of the pinion on the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) to fold. The splines then do not sit tightly in the sleeve which connects the PTU to the gearbox – the tell tale sign of this happening is the presence of rusty oil residue between the mating surfaces of the gearbox and the PTU. Eventually this damage to the splines will result in your vehicle not transferring drive to the rear wheels as the splines will not be engaging and operating the gears in the PTU which transfer drive to the rear. If you continue to drive the vehicle in this condition may cause irreparable damage to both the PTU and the gearbox. The PTU input shafts are not available to purchase, and hence, most reconditioned Power Transfer Units contain a used input shaft which may already have suffered a significant amount of wear to the splines.

At FreelanderSpecialist we have commissioned our engineers to come up with a stronger, more durable solution. The uprated splines:

    • Are made out of a much stronger steel than the original, which means they will not suffer from the folding effect;
    • Are fully fused, using the highest technology, to the shaft all the way through at the wider point of the shaft, which means they are as solid as a single piece;
    • Give no backlash on the splines and have a better fit to the sleeve than the original;
    • In our tests they offer you better all wheel drive performance and response.
    • Offer you greater longevity than the original splines and protect the gearbox from unnecessary damage.

In addition to uprated, stronger splines, our reconditioned Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential is fitted with all new bearings and seals. 

PLEASE NOTE: If the there is damage to other parts of the unit other than the bearings, the seals and the splines your Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential will not be suitable for reconditioning. In this instance we should be able to supply a replacement core unit to recondition, however this will incur the £300 surcharge. Generally the only time this is an issue is if there are cracks or holes in the casing or damage to the gears.

SHOULD I CHANGE MY TYRES?

The most likely cause of Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential damage is a mismatch in tyres. If you do not address this issue you will experience the same damage all over again. 

Please ensure your tyres are all matched, they should be the same:

    • Make
    • Model
    • Size
    • Tread Depth Remaining and
    • Air Pressure

CAN YOU FIT MY UPRATED POWER TRANSFER UNIT / TRANSFER BOX / FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FOR ME?

Certainly we can fit your Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential for you, and we can remove, recondition and refit it all in the same day!

Take away all the hassle of getting your Freelander back on the road, bring it to us and we will:

  • Supply an uprated reconditioned power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential;
  • Fit your uprated reconditioned power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential;
  • Fit a new sleeve and seals if required;
  • Fill your power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential with the correct oil;
  • Fill your gearbox with the correct oil – so you get the benefit of a gearbox oil change at the same time;
  • Check your drivetrain for any other issues which may affect your newly fitted power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential.
  • and have you back on the road again in no time!

Please send us a message with your chassis / registration number for an accurate quotation. As a guide, for an automatic gearbox it is approximately £1,400 including VAT; and for a manual gearbox it is approximately £1,265 including VAT.

If your car does not drive and you need to get it to us to fit your reconditioned power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential why not try:

  1. Phoning your breakdown recovery service, if you have one. These will sometimes transport your car for free, or at a reduced rate.
  2. Sending us a message and we will arrange to transport your car to us for a cost of £2.00 per mile (calculated one way only to IP26 4RH). We can collect from anywhere in Europe (ferry crossings will be charged additional where applicable).

The cost of supply only for the reconditioned power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential, excluding shipping or fitting, is £845 incl. VAT.

DO I NEED TO RETURN MY DAMAGED POWER TRANSFER UNIT / TRANSFER BOX / FRONT DIFFERENTIAL TO YOU?

The quoted price for the uprated Power Transfer Unit is valid only if you return your damaged unit to us and it is reconditionable (generally it is recondition able if there are no cracks or holes in the casing or damage to the gears). If you do not wish to return your damaged unit to us, or your unit is not reconditionable, there is a £300 surcharge (invoiced separately).

The shipping price includes the cost of shipping your damaged power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential to us, and shipping the uprated reconditioned unit to you. We will organise the courier, all you have to do is tell us when it will be ready to be collected.

DO YOU SHIP WORLDWIDE?

Yes we do. The following shipping prices include shipping your damaged power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential from you to our workshops, and your uprated reconditioned unit from our workshops to you:

  • UK Shipping £35
  • European Shipping £95 (estimate – see below*)
  • Australia / USA / Canada £165 (estimate – see below*)
  • Rest of The World Shipping £215 (estimate – see below*)

*Please note, some remote areas may be subject to a shipping surcharge. If your country / area may be considered remote please contact us with your address for a shipping quotation.

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

2 year Unlimited Mileage Warranty

Our warranty covers you for a replacement power transfer unit / transfer box / front differential in the event of any failure of a component due to faulty parts or workmanship.

IMPORTANT: The warranty covers you for failure of any internal component due to faulty parts or workmanship. Please ensure the original cause of the failure is identified and rectified, as an external cause is not covered by the warranty.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR PURCHASING AN UPRATED RECONDITIONED POWER TRANSFER UNIT (PTU)?

There are two alternatives to receiving your reconditioned Power Transfer Unit (PTU) / transfer box / front differential:

  1. If you pay the listed price plus shipping:
    • Remove the Power Transfer Unit (PTU) from your vehicle;
    • Drain the unit of oil;
    • Package securely (well padded / bubble wrapped) in a sturdy box and securely taped up);
    • Send us a message or call us to let us know the unit is ready for collection;
    • Your unit will be collected by courier (covered in the shipping price) and delivered to us;
    • Once we receive your unit we will inspect it to ensure it is reconditionable – generally it is reconditionable provided there are no cracks or holes in the casing;
    • We will ship out an uprated reconditioned unit to you (covered in the shipping price), generally within one working day, and send you the tracking details;
    • You will receive and fit your uprated reconditioned unit (it is advisable to also fit a new sleeve and associated seals at the same time – if you require these please send us a message with your Freelander chassis / registration number and we will send you a price);
    • You are back on the road, enjoy!
  1. If you pay an additional £300 refundable surcharge (invoiced separately – please request this option at checkout or by message after checkout):
    • We will send you an invoice for the refunadable £300 surcharge;
    • Once the surcharge is paid we will ship out an uprated reconditioned unit to you (covered in the shipping price), generally within one working day, and send you the tracking details;
    • You will receive and fit your uprated reconditioned unit (it is advisable to also fit a new sleeve and associated seals at the same time – if you require these please send us a message with your Freelander chassis / registration number and we will send you a price);
    • You are back on the road, enjoy!
    • Drain your damaged unit of oil;
    • Package your damaged unit securely (well padded / bubble wrapped) in a sturdy box and securely taped up – you may be able to use the same box the reconditioned unit came in);
    • Send us a message or call us to let us know the unit is ready for collection;
    • Your unit will be collected by courier (covered in the shipping price) and delivered to us;
    • Once we receive your unit we will inspect it to ensure it is reconditionable – generally it is reconditionable provided there are no cracks or holes in the casing;
    • We will refund your £300 surcharge, normally within two working days of receiving your damaged unit.

Please ensure we have your email address and telephone number when ordering.

PAYMENT

We accept almost all forms of payment (who does not want to get paid!) including:

Paypal

Credit / Debit Cards

AMEX

BACS

Cash on collection

But no Tesco Club Points I’m afraid!

Shipping

We aim to ship out stock items within 1 working day whenever possible.

For drivetrain units which are reconditioned to order we aim to ship within 1 to 3 working days whenever possible.

For reconditioned engines, we always recondition these to order and the process takes approximately 2 weeks.

Please check the listing details for more information.

If you would like a firm shipment date, or have a specific deadline you need to meet, please contact us and we will do our best to get your items to you on time.

We ship worldwide – provided we can get a courier to take it there, we will ship it there!