Hi all, new to this forum but been an avid reader for a good while !
Okay here we go :
Defender Hi capacity pick up, 200TDi - UK L reg, 125000 miles.
Travelling along motorway at a steady 60 or so all good, start to hear a whine that seemed to be more evident under load, coming from under the "middle" of the vehicle. Keen to get home so pressed on cautiously as you do, on a gentle incline.
A sudden BANG best described as feeling as if I had driven over a house brick on the motorway - from the "back end". Oh dear thinks I, what the hell was that ? Genuinely felt as if I had gone over a brick !
Moments later BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG as if someone was under the rear tub with a sledge, felt as if the Landy was hopping almost, very quick pull onto hard shoulder.
I look underneath expecting to see a prop hanging off such was the severity of the banging / jumping but no visual carnage other than oil vapour coming out the front diff and the diff appearing very hot indeed. Strange I thought as banging was from the rear it seemed.
Recovered home where today I start the Sherlock Holmes fun. I check all the UJ's and half shafts, no wear to speak of. I drain the rear salisbury diff, no particles in the oil. I drain the front diff - almost no oil, seems the seal had given up !
I remove the PTO cover from the TB and there again is no wear evident as per the various web based guides. Only about an egg cup of oil in the TB though. I remove the bottom plate, the internals seem again free from excessive wear, no sign of heat damage etc.
My plan is to remove the props from the TB and check the play on the splined output flanges, the violent nature of the jumping / crazy banging makes me think that perhaps a bearing has collapsed somewhere somehow in the drive train enough for slip between splined components but where ?
When I was offloaded from the recovery wagon it drove well up and down a couple of hills admittedly only in first but NO INDICATION of any issues, but obviously need to get to the bottom of it !
ANY thoughts pointers MUCH appreciated !
Jon
