Hello, and several questions

Hello all.

I've just finished rebuilding a 1978 s3 88, and I've got a few questions about parts.

First, does anyone have any experience fitting wheel spacers? The small spacers that fit between the brake drum and the wheel. They bolt on to the wheel studs, and have studs of their own, effectively giving you 4 inch or so of a wider wheelbase when installed on both sides. I have seen these fitted to other 4x4s, but never a series Land Rover. Just wondering if this was possible, I have heard good things about doing this.

Another issue I have found is that when driving off road, or on gravel, the front wheels can throw debris and rocks at the windscreen. This seems like a great way to get a cracked windscreen. I was wondering if it would be possible to fit "eyebrows" (or arch flares?). I know this is not a standard on the series 3, so defender eyebrows would have to be fitted. So my question is are the wheel arches the same shape on a defender as they are on my 88?

Thank you for your time.

-Aaron

fitting wheel spacers isn't all that good an idea.. it puts extra strain on the hub bearings etc...
i think you can fit the defo flares to a series but i think you may have to modify them slighty , not sure on that thou.

correct. you need to modify the flares slightly, but they will go on.

BTW. spacers are not really the done thing.

In the mini scene years ago alot of people use spacers, in fact the rear drums have 1 inch spacers built into them when the 12inch wheels were fitted from 86 on.. they might put more pressure on the bearings but they still last a fair old time! The thing these days is to put the big 13inch wheels on, now here yes it will put more stress on the bearings as i have found out personally! but i'm using cheap pattern ones here, not the propper timken type which is also fitted to land rovers

However saying that your studs probably are not long enough. Also landy bearings are much bigger and stronger than mini ones.

that may be so, but so is everything else that hangs on the hub bearing. and with the extra leverage the strain can be enormous. it just aint worth it. certainly not for off roading.

Ok, thanks for setting me straight on that one.

Anyone know exactly how I would have to modify the eyebrows?

Thanks again.

-Aaron

dont think you modify the flares as such, as you modify the wing shape to fit them.
i saw an article on doing it, on the www a while ago. cant remember the site for the life of me. sorry.

one_carb_or_two? said:

In the mini scene years ago alot of people use spacers, in fact the rear drums have 1 inch spacers built into them when the 12inch wheels were fitted from 86 on.. they might put more pressure on the bearings but they still last a fair old time! The thing these days is to put the big 13inch wheels on, now here yes it will put more stress on the bearings as i have found out personally! but i'm using cheap pattern ones here, not the propper timken type which is also fitted to land rovers

However saying that your studs probably are not long enough. Also landy bearings are much bigger and stronger than mini ones.

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yer mans on about about putting 2" spacers on each side. which by the time you get to where the wheel touches the ground will increase the levering force being apllied to the bearings et al by quite a bit.

if you want to get yer slide rule oot and work it out, go on but common sense says its not a good idea.. wheels and hubs are designed to keep the weight in as vertical a prospective as possible. putting 1" spacers on a mini that had 10" wheels on it changes things a hellave lot less than 2" spacers on a 16" wheel.

Why not fit wider wheels?

why bother?

why not?

How ever defender ones are a different shape and look better......
But thats just personal opinion!!!

Just something else to fall or be ripped off!!