bukko

Well-Known Member
Full Member
I'm thinking of buying a Defender that needs the rear main seal replacing (allegedly) - bit beyond my facilities and skill so I thought I'd get some quotes first.
I had a local indie LR shop in mind for the work. Bit late in the day so I thought I'd ask on their FB page for some kind of quote.

Me: "Hi, could you give me a quote for replacing the rear main seal on a 2008 Puma Defender please? Thanks"
Them: "No"

Now - I get that this could be tricky as they are probably asked to do things all the time that turn out to be something else - but really? Seems like a standard piece of work so they could have said "if it's just that, then x amount..." etc.

Fair enough. There are plenty of others places out there.
 
I'm thinking of buying a Defender that needs the rear main seal replacing (allegedly) - bit beyond my facilities and skill so I thought I'd get some quotes first.
I had a local indie LR shop in mind for the work. Bit late in the day so I thought I'd ask on their FB page for some kind of quote.

Me: "Hi, could you give me a quote for replacing the rear main seal on a 2008 Puma Defender please? Thanks"
Them: "No"

Now - I get that this could be tricky as they are probably asked to do things all the time that turn out to be something else - but really? Seems like a standard piece of work so they could have said "if it's just that, then x amount..." etc.

Fair enough. There are plenty of others places out there.
It's probably more of a money earner to do other jobs instead. That's a shed load of labour for a 5 quid part
 
It's probably more of a money earner to do other jobs instead. That's a shed load of labour for a 5 quid part
Plus £60 an hour labour (or whatever the indie rate is these days).
If he'd have just said "That's 2 days labour, so £1000 plus parts", I'd have been cool with that as the car is a cheap buy because of that and a turbo issue.
I'd expect to be spending a few grand on it.
 
It is the time / labour to get in there that's the problem. And given that cost one may as well renew the clutch, clutch fork, release bearing, and slave at minimum. Being a Puma I would be looking at the gearbox output shaft as well.
 
It is the time / labour to get in there that's the problem. And given that cost one may as well renew the clutch, clutch fork, release bearing, and slave at minimum. Being a Puma I would be looking at the gearbox output shaft as well.
That's possibly true but I need a quote so I can negotiate with the seller if needs be. Seems cheap as it is though, to be fair.
Thanks btw - all good info.
Will just have to shop around.
 
You should have a good look at it, may be something else that is leaking and oil is just ending up at the bottom.
 
Try calling Hallam Brothers in Hayfield Derbyshire on 0166374 3266
they specialise in Defenders including the Puma, they will almost certainly give you a quote and won't chuff you off like the other place you tried.
They will likely be too far from you, but they won't mind giving you a quote and then at least you'll have an idea.

Obviously if it's the crankshaft seal that's leaking, as already said it may be something else.

Alternatively buy a TD5 Defender as they are better.
 

Similar threads