DEFENDER GEARBOX PROBLEM ! Advice needed !! help !!

[Dribble]

Took my '97 Defender 110 down to the West Country at the weekend and cruised back at a steady 70mph up the M3 last night and about 20 miles from London and started to hear this tapping/clicking noise from below. Now I am sure its something in the drivetrain as the noise pretty much went away when I pressed the clutch, however there was still a bit of a whine. (the engine still sounds as sweet as a nut). Now weirdly when I got into the london streets the noise reduced a lot and was more noticeable in 1,3 and 5th (but then I could be going mad) ????? . There is no juddering, no more vibration than normal through the gear stick, no other tell tale signs apart from the tapping noise ? oh but the whine got more noticeable especially when I was say sitting at the lights in neutral ?? Any ideas what this could be !!

Low oil in the Gearbox / Transfer box ?
Propshaft ? However these were recently replaced by the previous owner.
Something more drastic ?

[BLUETHUNDER]

Sounds like the start of a noisey thrust/release bearing.

[Dribble]

Aaaah, any ideas how much that will be to replace ?

many thanks

[BLUETHUNDER]

You have to drop the box to do it. No idea on price. The part itself is only a fe quid. The rest is labour. Ive had noisey bearings before. One even went for three years before i changed it. And that was only because it got a bit louder.

[Dribble]

Surely the thrust release bearing would make a squeal when you pressed the clutch. Well thats what happened with my old Austin Maxi ??

[BLUETHUNDER]

From what you describe it sounds like a thrust bearing. Not all bearings squeal. Some make a grinding noise. Best to get a proper opinion. B.t.w are you london based?

Edited by BLUETHUNDER on Monday 30th August 20:16

[Dribble]

Yes I am in London, can you recommend a Land Rover mechanic near Clapham ?

[BLUETHUNDER]

Your not that far from me. And not far from this indie either. Quadratech 53a Brading rd SW2 2AP 0208 671 8100.They have been all things LR for the last 35 years and cheap labour rates as well.

[Dribble]

Fantastic, thanks for your tip, I'll let you know how I get on !

[Dribble]

Well it is the gearbox, time for a reconditioned one according to the experts.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Where did you take it in the end??.

[Dribble]

I took your advice and went to Quadratech, John spent a good hour with it on the ramp and they concluded it is most likeley to be a bearing failure on one of the shafts, but I cannot remember the exact name, but it is very specific as the noise disappears in 4th gear but not in 1st, 2nd and 3rd and this confirms their theory.

A recon box is on the way !

[BLUETHUNDER]

You wont be disapponted with the work carried out. A proper specialist. Not many of those about. I'm sure it will all work out in the end.

[Dribble]

Listen, a big thanks to you for recommending them, otherwise I would not know where to go.

Cheers