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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20964  
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Check the wheel bearings, check front diff oil isn’t leaking and if it’s in good condition and qty.
Props and UJ’s might need re-greasing. Any transmission leaks? Tyre pressures at expected levels? ____\We|Will|Win/___ ____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰*\\_ |
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26th Aug 2025 8:07pm |
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| CrisEverett1975 Member Since: 26 Aug 2022 Location: High Wycombe Posts: 11 
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It’s been in for oil change on diffs and gearbox, plus the transfer box has been out for a new shaft, as I thought that might be the issue.. I’d expect them to say if the oil was bad.
I have lifted each wheel and spun iit, that seemed ok. Apparently need to spin both wheels in the air to test diff further, that’s a test for tomorrow But I presume the diff oil would be dark if that was an issue??? Thanks |
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26th Aug 2025 8:16pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17935 
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You may well have a 2-gear front diff in which case on a Puma 110 it more a question of 'when' rather then 'if' it will fail. You may be exceptionally lucky and have a 4-gear diff, which is much stronger and unlikely to fail.
It's easy to see which type you have by looking through the filler hole (other threads on here tell you what to look for) and I suggest doing so. If it's a 2-gear diff it could be the source of the noise and having it fail completely whilst driving is not a pleasant experience. Did whomever changed your oil check for debris and metal fragments? Another possible source of rumbly noises is MT tyres - as they wear they can develop quite a vocabulary. You haven't said what type of tyre you have. |
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26th Aug 2025 8:25pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8393  
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Is the noise on overrun or under load or both?
What oil did they put in axles when recently changed. Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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26th Aug 2025 9:41pm |
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| CrisEverett1975 Member Since: 26 Aug 2022 Location: High Wycombe Posts: 11
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Under load, and most noticeable when towing, my wife was towing 2.5 ton and she didn't think she' make it back Sunday, doing 50mph on the M4, must have been a slight hill as I think she dropped t 4th or 5th, she can't remember.
But it has gradually been getting worse last 2-3 months, from not really noticeable and thinking it might be the road surface to vibration. That's why I had the output shaft changed as I figured that would be likely at 108k miles. The guys who did it are agri and LR specialists so would have mentioned debris in oil etc I'd have thought. Would a diff fail with no oil evidence? I don't know the answer to that. I have BFG M/T tyres about 50% worn, but it definitely feels a drive train issue and it would be worse under load, and the rumble would be there all the time. I drove about 80 miles today and at 60-70 didn't feel right, especially accelerating under load as traffic moved. Also on county lanes up hills at 40+ was worse I guess I'll jack it up and spin both front simultaneously as that was a check suggested. I only spun one wheel and seemed fine. |
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26th Aug 2025 9:58pm |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3677 
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borrow someone else's wheels and tyres and try that.
I was just about to press go on a new transfer box and new tyres fixed my rumble. Also if you press your ear gently against the seat belt it magnifies any bearing noises and rumbles, I had a wheel bearing that was getting warm, first detected via the seat belt DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS, I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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27th Aug 2025 7:27am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8393
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So there is a rumbling and loss of power? Or rumbling is worse a higher revs when working hard? Just trying to see if there is a pattern with dropping gears for hills and accelerating.
Does everything spin freeling when jacked up? I don't understand the lack of power under hard load making the rumbling worsr, which is my deduction of 2nd explanation. Cheers James 110 2010 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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27th Aug 2025 8:08am |
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| CrisEverett1975 Member Since: 26 Aug 2022 Location: High Wycombe Posts: 11
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So jacked it up, noice increases with speed. I think it is either the transfer box or the differential. It is difficult to tell exactly where the noice is coming from. Spoke to my agri - LR dealer they will look at it tomorrow.
Don't think it is bearings as wheels seem solid. Propshafts were replaced 4-5k miles ago so unless I got a bad batch, can't be that. |
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27th Aug 2025 9:07am |
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| MadTom Member Since: 10 Sep 2013 Location: Olomouc Posts: 682  
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Remove one propshaft, engage central diff lock and try if. It will run only as 4x2, but without power to front or rear axle it should change the noise. Than do the same with the second propshaft.
Sometimes it is hard to identify, where the noise is comming from. You can also check oil from both diffs, gearbox and transfer box. Look for burnt oil, watter in oil or some "particles or parts" sticked to the magnet on to drain plug. "Drobek" = The Small One - Discovery 2, "Blufínek" = The Blue Thing - Defender 130, and for me at least Ford Mondeo  |
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27th Aug 2025 10:11am |
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| Scotm Member Since: 28 Feb 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 694  
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I had the same - the front tyres sometimes become castellated on the edges which causes the rumble. I am starting to get it with my current set. |
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27th Aug 2025 10:36am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20964
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Opposing tread block wear can do it, with MT’s you just live with it to some extent, it’s not really louder than engine noise anyway.
 ____\We|Will|Win/___
____/🇬🇧🇺🇸\____ _//*⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰*\\_ |
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27th Aug 2025 3:59pm |
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| CrisEverett1975 Member Since: 26 Aug 2022 Location: High Wycombe Posts: 11
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Thanks for the tip. In this case, it happens with the front wheels off the ground. If you put it in gear as the speed increases so does the rumble. I think it will be the front diff, transfer box or perhaps the Transfer differential.
six or so months back my hand brake light wasn't working and my wife drove around a bit with the handbrake on......apart from wearing out the handbrake shoes and the smell etc. I wonder what damage that has done to the transfer box with that different load on one section and not the other. |
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27th Aug 2025 5:44pm |
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| Dinnu Member Since: 24 Dec 2019 Location: Lija Posts: 3605  
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Front wheels turning, rear wheels not is not good for the center differential.
Driving with handbrake on will put more load on the front final drive, differential and half shafts. 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing 2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black |
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28th Aug 2025 6:07am |
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