First time under a landy

Hi there,

I’ve been lurking for some time as I’ve been looking at disco 1-2 but not really got a chance to get hands on with anything. Been fixing my own cars for 20 years, mostly French stuff, some Japanese and latterly some German.

So anyway, next door neighbour was fixing a local farmers 2014 defender 90, and I offered to lend a hand to find out how it bolted together so I knew what I might need letting myself in for should I finally take the plunge on something BL .

It had brake failure and needed quite a bit underneath.

New shocks
New bushes for the hockey sticks
New discs pads calipers shoes all round, brake hoses, wheel bearings and a load more poly bushes
All for under a grand!

Couple of photos to go along with the morning, took us about 1:30 mins to strip the right front hockey, change the bushes, swap the strut.

It’s a farm car and is thoroughly abused but seemed solid despite that, however you can see why the chassis rot from where the corrosion is coming through.

Luckily my neighbour is an ex engineer and has an oxy acetylene torch that did a good job of heating things up to undo. And made light work cutting the bottom of the strut out. Speeding things up no end.

the transmission jack came in super handy.
A reminder to wear ppe as the grinder disc disintegrated cutting the strut top nut

Cheers
J

It is a shame so many folk, and not just farmers do not take basic care of their vehicles. A good clean underneath once a year and when dry a spray of preservative goes a long way. I was doing similar work on mine recently and all bolts that needed undoing did so. Thirty plus year farm truck.

Most of it looked doable- the only two bits that I was a bit… why did they build it like that.

The globe shaped hub seal cover at the end of the axel, those tiny nuts that hold it on, are gonna snap. Chances of getting them off in one piece given the time they’ll be exposed to everything salty.. zero.

Then the e / castellated bolts that hold that and the hub assembly onto the axle, there’s no space behind them and they also look ready to go bang when you try and undo.

I recently did 6 turbo studs and had to drill four out of the turbo, after they snapped.

All those bolts you mention came free on my truck with just penetrating oil. A good ring needed for those swivel housing to axle bolts. Some shock helps.
Heat is your friend with stuck stuff as your neighbour knows. No head left, angle grinder and vice grips with heat.
Mine having a good annual clean.

Most of it looked doable- the only two bits that I was a bit… why did they build it like that.

The globe shaped hub seal cover at the end of the axel, those tiny nuts that hold it on, are gonna snap. Chances of getting them off in one piece given the time they’ll be exposed to everything salty.. zero.

Then the e / castellated bolts that hold that and the hub assembly onto the axle, there’s no space behind them and they also look ready to go bang when you try and undo.

I recently did 6 turbo studs and had to drill four out of the turbo, after they snapped.

tottot said:

All those bolts you mention came free on my truck with just penetrating oil. A good ring needed for those swivel housing to axle bolts. Some shock helps.
Heat is your friend with stuck stuff as your neighbour knows. No head left, angle grinder and vice grips with heat.
Mine having a good annual clean.

Click to expand...

ha ha, angle grinder, heat, telehandler!

My 2005 looks better underneath than that 2014 one, some farmers really care for there kit others just run it until it stops