RichardE

All, I'm trying to connect a new brake pipe onto the RL brake of a defender 90. The threads of the brake housing are a bit scruffy and old and I'm having trouble getting the screw to screw. I'm worried about cross threading it. Any advice or good technique I could learn from out there?

Les, what do you think causes the bottom two bolts to strip? Richard

Les, brilliant. it worked fine I think. I had to use longer bolts in order to get the nuts on as the standard ones didn't come through far enough inside the swivel pin housing. Once the long ones were in I could get the nuts on then tighten them up hard against the inside of the housing and then angle grind the bolts with a small grinder to reduce their length to flush with the nuts. It all seems to have worked though although I've yet to drive it. Very very satisfying. Sometimes a repair like that is so much better than getting a new one. Richard

Les, thanks very much for this suggestion which sounds good. When you've done this in the past have you found a problem with the nuts catching on the CV joint? Any way of ensuring they don't? Richard

On my well worn 1987 defender 90 I've replaced the oil seal inside the stub axle to cure (I hope) grease from the swivel pin housing leaking at the end of the axle. When bolting the stub axle back onto the swivel pin housing the bottom two of the six bolts won't tighten, the threads in the housing appear stripped. Could this have happened when hitting a big bump as I'm certain I didn't overtighten them. Is the only cure now a replacement swivel pin housing or is there some other solution? I wondered about trying new bolts although all bolts work in the good threads. Thanks for any advice. Yours frustrated and going to have a beer... Richard