My trusty '98 reg 110 300TDI needs its rear cross member replaced. Does anyone have any recommendations who or where in (or near to) north Oxfordshire could take a look and do the job for me for a non-excessive cost please? Thanks.

Hmm just thought to check inside the fob and found the battery loose due to a broken solder joint on the little battery holder "cage". That could have been causing an intermittent battery connection which would or could have caused the weirdness, I guess I'll know in the next few days but it...

My old '98 110 300TDI has no central locking but does have the old style 2-button fob where one button I believe should (or did) have a lock symbol on it? Anyway, sometimes I get in and put the key in and it starts fine, but other times the red LED comes on on the dash and I occasionally (but...

Actually I was referring to the different grades of poly bushes?

Ok I mean best value - for example, are the "cheapest" ones good value, are the mid-range ones a good choice, or do the most expensive ones offer any significant advantages over the others?

You mean these ones?: https://www.paddockspares.com/front-bush-kit-2.html

So the old girl ('98 reg 110 300TDI) needs the aforementioned bushes doing, but there are a variety of options available so which is/are best, particularly in these cashflow-restricted times? It seems I could go for "standard" ones (with metal jackets) or poly-type ones (without)? It feels like...

Ok job done, and thanks for the advice, GKN it was with lots of moly grease! I found that getting the old one out was not happening by hitting it, but reasonably easy with a well greased bench vice as a press, 19mm socket one side and an open ended spanner the other. However, putting the new...

Much has been said and discussed on this subject so apologies if this aspect has been covered elsewhere and I've missed it, but mine need doing and I can see that there are basically 2 types available, those with grease nipples and those without. Are the ones without even worth considering? I...

A quick update, but first a disclaimer: I am merely describing my method of solving a problem. I do NOT claim it is an ideal solution, and I will NOT advise anyone that my method is better than the standard or accepted procedure(s), whatever they may be. If you choose to do as I have done, and...

Just replacing my fuel sender on my 300TDI and the plastic pipe on the old one snapped as I tried to undo the fuel connection. Looking at it away from the vehicle I don't see how it would have been possible to undo it without the pipe snapping, particularly as it took a fair bit of effort to...

I need someone to repair/rebuild the offside front swivel hub on my '98 reg 300TDI 110 either this coming week or the next as I don't currently have the spare time myself to do it. Someone north-west of Bicester (Fritwell/Somerton/Ardley or maybe Brackley etc?The vehicle is drivable with care...

Ah ok so 3/8 UNF, yes, sorry, I've just found a full kit for this too here: https://www.jgs4x4.co.uk/defender-rear-propshaft-nut-and-bolt-kit/

Just a quick query, what size are the 4 nuts which hold the rear propshaft to the handbrake drum? Mine have clearly been manhandled before and are a bit mullered, so having just had to fit a new handbrake cable I'd like to replace them too. Thanks.

I think greasing the splines at the flange ends wouldn't hurt, it might at least keep moisture out and perhaps slow down any movement in there from wearing the splines away again. I haven't had a moment to do this job yet but I am looking forward to some clunk-free driving afterwards :-)

Removed, stripped, cleaned and rebuilt the handbrake drum assembly even though it turned out it was the cable that was partially seized.

My '98 reg 110 300TDI is going to need some new rear half shafts soon, but I've seen various reports about the different makes/types so since I don't want to do this job again soon, which ones are the best option?

Right, thanks @jamesmartin, my flexi goes straight to the cylinder (hence my original query about it not fitting!) so in that case I need the 5202! I actually got neither @Gmacz, I ended up with paddock spares part 591231 which (apart from the pipe thread) appears to be identical to what I have...

With all due respect Gmacz, you'll see from the previous dialogue that it doesn't really help to know what I own, the gearbox is definitely an R380 but not the original so could have come from Sainsburys for all I know! The cylinder will most likely be either be the 5072 (as you say), or the...

Ok so yes, it does look like I ordered the wrong cylinder, although I thought the difference(s) between cylinders for LT77 and R380 boxes made them completely unable to be fitted to the wrong box? The cylinder I have definitely fits my R380 box and is the same shape and size as the original...