EVER heard a Td5-powered Land Rover start from cold, and instantly fill the air with a loud wailing, screeching noise? If you’ve encountered a Defender or Discovery 2 with a failing spigot bush, you’ll know exactly the sound we’re talking about.
The part that causes this horrendous squeal is a small metal ‘oilite’ bushing, called the spigot bush, and its job is to keep the gearbox’s mainshaft perfectly centred in the middle of the engine’s crankshaft at all times. When it becomes worn, the gearbox shaft can move slightly inside the bush, causing the ear-piercing squeal and, in some cases, clutch judder when pulling away from a standstill.
In order to change this pesky bushing (a part that costs less than £4) the gearbox needs to be removed. If you are unsure when the Land Rover’s clutch was last replaced, it’s well worth changing that at the same time, as it’s a wear item. The same goes for the dual-mass flywheel; unlike a traditional, solid flywheel, the Td5 uses a two-piece unit that is damped to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. As the flywheel ages, the damper begins to break down, which can manifest in a rattle at idle, rough engine sound and clutch judder when changing gear. They’re a lot more affordable than they used to be, so it’s wise to spend the cash on one of these too if the Land Rover is still on its original example – you don’t want to have to take the
