Hi All
I am getting a brief fairly quiet clunking sound from somewhere under rear floor area as I accelerate away from a cold start, the noise stops after a couple of seconds and only repeats when I drop down to near standstill and accelerate again.
It seems to vanish after a few miles, could it be center propshaft bearing or something similar (I would have thought this would get louder as speed increases) noise is only there in lower gear(s)
Any advise would be most helpful.
Regards
Malcolm

Could be that. Get under there and have a look.
Chock the wheels and put car in Neutral.
Be safe  Gone to a good home: 2011 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE Buckingham Blue with Ivory and clear glass = "Rory"
New Defender D300 90
1974 Series 3 Lightweight = "Millie"
My preferred specialist: www.glenrands.co.uk
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prop shaft issues are usually more pronounced under the greatest torsional load that the prop is under which is consistent with pulling way.

however, those conditions also exist under max acceleration whilst moving so try giving it beans whilst you're moving at a steady pace (say 20mph) in a low gear as that will also provide those conditions.

cant see prop shaft issues being subject to change after a few miles.

Got underneath yesterday, center bearing shot, as I have access to a ramp I'm going to hopefully sort it later. Is it a big no no to re-use the torx bolts?

Did you take the exhaust off to check it? 1995 4.6 v8, green/tan (long gone)
2005 4.8iS X5, blue/black
2011 4.4 tdv8, black/black (gone)
2003 3.0d X5, Oxford green/black/manual
2021 p575 SVR, BR green/vintage tan

No, Did a slight "mod" to the heat shield and am hoping to extract the shaft rearwards over the ex. pipes. Just need to get a torx socket first.

This is timely, mine developed a similar clunk yesterday, it’s definitely not connected to the steering, shocks or brakes but sounds like something underneath is knocking as the body moves. I did think it sounded like a prop shaft bearing but on wiggling and levering everything underneath I couldn’t detect anything that looked like it was making the noise.

I didn’t think to put it in neutral...doh! And only tried to wriggle the prop shaft to no avail.

I’ll get under again tomorrow and have a look again, where might I find this bearing Sounds like it’s hiding behind something.

Cheers

Jools

Can only speak on mine, TDV8, where the 2 exhaust pipes come together there is a space that you can get your hand through to reach the front half of the rear propshaft, if it's in neutral the lift in the propshaft is obvious.
I was lucky as I have a ramp, but book says remove the exhaust before you start as it is a real pain getting the heat shields out to get access but with a little twisting and pulling I managed to remove both shields with exhaust in place, then it's just a matter of using a selection of extensions on socket to undo the Torx bolts.
bfn
Malc R
ps Took longer to split the center spline than the rest of the job !!

I've found on the L322's that clunks when setting off are often from worn rear hub knuckle joints.

There's two on each rear hub, one top one bottom. Common failure point on the L322 / RRS / D3/4, etc. Bit of a pig to change, made much easier if you buy a sleeve puller kit off eBay.

Hope this helps identify another possible cause,

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Mine was deff. center bearing, sounded like tapping with a rubber mallet! All changed and sorted now.

Great news Mousey Appreciate you'd already had yours in the air and diagnosed

Was more thinking of JoolsB post, as centre diff bearing not a common failure point on the L322 AFAIK, so chances of two in a row unlikely!

EDIT! - I've just googled this and have to stand corrected, it looks like the centre carrier bearing failure is more common than I thought. I've run L322's for 7+ years and have fixed most of the common failure points, not come across this one personally (yet! )

Jon 1992 RR Classic 3.9 efi Vogue
2014 Disco 4 HSE
===================
Both my fatties now gone...
Previous: 2011 L322 4.4 TDV8 Vogue SE /// 2002 L322 4.4 V8 HSE /// 2009 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 XS /// 2004 Defender 90 TD5 /// 1993 110 V8 Snatch Landrover /// 2005 Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 SE (Aus) /// 1990 110 Isuzu 3.9 County (Aus) /// 1976 Series III Trayback (Aus)

Thanks for the advice all, I’ve been away so not managed to get under it, but will do so today. If I need to replace the bearing, would you advise replacing the prop shaft as well, or just reuse the one I have?

Cheers

Sorry, another question.

If the centre bearing is shot or starting to go, is the vehicle safe to drive, say, a 100 miles or so?

I ask because we’re supposed to be away again before I’ll have a chance to change it and if it’s not ok, we’ll have to pile in the defender instead (or worse, herselfs car )

Cheers again

I ran mine for 2000 miles plus, the noise didn't get any worse until I ran through some heavy rain.
The way the bearing is made and located I wouldn't think you could do much damage if you take it easy !! Other people may have had different experiences though.
Malc.

Cheers. I think last week may have been the first time it had ever been off road and through some proper ruts, the noise only started on the way home from that. I’m thinking that may have contributed to the demise of the bearing.

Quite impressed with it in the sticky stuff though.