davelr4x4 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi, I've just been discussing my rather rotten Defender 200Tdi rear crossmember with my local 4x4 garage and the general opinion is to replace it with a new one with chassis extensions. I said that I would do all the ancillary work such as removing lights, looms, tow bar, rear portion of the exhaust etc but they have still quoted me 8 hours to complete the work. This involves grinding off the old chassis legs half way down, fitting up the new crossmember and extensions and welding up. I can replace all the ancillary stuff after giving it a good dose of chassis paint and waxoyl. I've not ever had this sort of work done on the landy so could anybody advise if 8 hours seems a reasonable amount of time or are they extracting the urine? Also there seems to be some discussion about which of the Britpart or Bearmach cross members are better. It seems Paddocks had a bad batch in. Can anybody advise on the latest situation? I see Paddocks have them for 120 quid inc VAT. Many thanks, Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 IMHO what they are saying itsn't unreasonable. Its a big job, all the worse with either of the crossmember suppliers you name, I have refused to change cross members for friends who have asked when they supply those bits of junk, thin, poorly made, poorly welded, and often plainly don't fit, takes time and result is still rubbish, buy a genuine one, proper metal fits, and quality, not as smuch as you would think, V8 Freak took this advice from me and was chuffed at the LR one vs junk pattern stuff., It also depends what they charge an hour, but £400- £500 labour is normal for the above Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm in the process of building my own (because i just will not buy the aforementioned junk!) and I would say that 8 hours is reasonable, certainly if it's going to be a good job. To be honest, if someone quoted much less, I would be wary as to how they would manage it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Warman Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 When I did mine I was lucky enough to have a welder as a next door neighbour so he helped me complete the job over a 3 day period on christmas (we had some trouble with the extensions and then ran out of wire after the shops had shut) but all in all it was a bit more than 8 hours as I did my own grinding but it seems a reasonable time frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 [spam] I live in Swindon and have done this sort of thing before. [/spam] http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=24885 Les I'm going to get modded by the demon Ralph now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm not biting anyway it's in the tech archive so it's internal spam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
white90 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Get Les to do it I would if I lived so close and didn't have my own gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 <F BIG COUGH> [private Joke Mode on] 15mm [/private Joke Mode Off] Nige PS I am now in so much trouble you'll never belive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Errr.... Cat, waxoyl..... I think you two ought to just call it quits.... Les fitted my rear cross member as Nige said. I bought a genuine part which I asked Les to modify for me before fitting. All the open areas that typically collect mud and start the rotting process were boxed in. Once fitted we drilled and tapped holed in each box section and sprayed in Waxoyl. I hope this will stop the thing rotting from the inside out. The genuine part didn't come with extensions so Les had a bit of a challenge to weld it all on.. In hindsight I believe he would make up short extensions if doing again to make the welding simpler. It's an excelent job done bloomin well. I'm extremely proud of the end result and would recommend Les for work like that to anyone. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?s=&s...st&p=378931 ? Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McBreadhead Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Attention Les Henson: Resurrecting this post as I am new to this forum and wondered if you can advise who might replace my Defender rear cross member. Not sure if you perform this work yourself but I am based in Hampshire if that helps. Thanks, McB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.