Close call
A worn trackrod end almost meant a failed MOT
WE’VE had a Freelander now since 2002, and are now on our third, and driven around 290,000 miles in 18 years. The current Freelander 2 is a 2013 MY XS with 60 odd thousand miles on it. In all those years none of the three have ever failed an MOT, or even come close to failing it. This year could have been different, but as in previous years all the Freelander’s have been in for their annual service, including a pre-mot inspection, at the same time when the test was due. To be honest this is something that should be done at a service by any good Land Rover specialist garage. Fortunately, none of the Freelanders have ever required any additional work to get them through their Mots. Mind you, last year it did come back with an adversary that the tyres where getting close to the legal limit, which I already knew and four replacement tyres were already in hand. I was just waiting to get the last few miles out of them or until they felt like they were losing grip, which was in fact, what happened first before they reached the legal limit. Back to this year, and during the service inspection a worn part was found, which would have meant an MOT failure. To be honest I wasn’t surprised as I’d already heard a clunk for a month or so and mentioned it to Patrick at Maddison 4x4 before he started work. The clunk would just happen occasionally on the odd section of road, and it sounded just like a loose damper bush. I’d put off investigating as I knew the service was due, which I know really isn’t something you should do. But as it wasn’t getting any worse or happening all the time, and nothing felt too wrong or likely to fall off, I went with the standard default setting. Put it off until it gets worse and needs sorting.
After agreeing with me that there was a clunk on the suspension/steering, Patrick’s inspection with a prybar soon found the culprit. A worn trackrod end on the nearside anti-roll bar link, which at least is a simple part to replace and inexpensive. A quick spray with perpetrating oil and the worn trackrod was off and a new anti-roll bar link assembly front (part no. LR002626) on, it couldn’t be an easier or quicker job. Mind you the prices of an anti-roll bar link do fluctuate depending on what you buy. With prices ranging from over £35 for a genuine part to as little as £4. I opted for an OE replacement which Maddison 4x4 had in stock, so it was mid-priced. Once fitted and the service completed, the Freelander was off for its MOT and it came back with a pass and no advisories, so all set for another year of motoring.
The Freelander 2 is still a great Land Rover and does everything asked of it. Just a shame JLR decided to not update the range in 2014 with a new model rather than scrapping the
Freelander. A few people locally that have replaced their Freelanders with either an Evoque of Discovery Sport have been very disappointed and at least one traded their one-year-old Disco Sport for another brand with a funny name. I guess I will face some decisions myself when the time comes to replace it.