Rodewaryer

I started to notice a clicking on rebound in my Series 1 at 107k mi. I thought a shock was bad or broken. I looked but couldn't figure out what was wrong so I had my mate that runs a shop check it out. He figured the sound was front bushings, which he replaced and upon closer inspection noted that the original shocks were leaking so we replaced all 4 and the steering damper as well. $2K to do all this work (did a few other things, front alignment, the oil lines adjacent to the filter were leaking, did an oil change, topped transfer case etc) or I would have upgraded the shocks. I was impressed the stock ones lasted that long without any obvious issues. I do have to add a comment about Dunlop A/T Radial Rover tyres. They're fine off road as I used them extensively a couple months ago, however, they're pretty splashy (soft sidewalls) on the tarmac and made me change my driving style on road since they flex so much prior to responding. I would have expected the LT version of these tyres to be stiffer. Now I'm stuck with them.....If Pirelli hadn't changed their A/T tyres to such a mamby pamby tread design, this would never have happened.

Many thanks for posting that site address. I didn't know that and I need my '96 Disco's dash repaired......

I was a bit apalled at the yeep's but you redeemed yourself with all those nice Landy shots......good thread.

Nice wintery pictures, my compliments.

I think our frame of reference is completely different especially given our country's views on legality of weapons. I suppose in the UK there could possibly be threats in the greenlanes but would imagine them as less likely than in this remote area. The nearest civilization (short of a couple one horse towns) was about 120 miles away, and whilst the predators are merely bobcat, wolves, coyotes and mountain lions (!) I don't visualize being able to reason with any of them, let alone rattlesnakes. I can imagine any number of scenario's where it would pay to be prepared (as my son standing on the rock was). Especially after seeing campsites littered with alchohol bottles and beer cans and every sign (well nearly.....) having bullet holes in them. I was embarrassed to find the guest book register lid (plate steel prob 3/16") had 3 holes in it as well......pretty immature I know but a reality we have to be aware of. Besides, another item on our 'to do list' was target shooting anyway. I find it easy to justify carrying a weapon out there and in the hundreds of times I've been out there, carrying a weapon every time, I've never 'needed' it. I'd rather be prepared that many times for something that doesn't happen than to shrug it off and regret it the rest of my life.

Sadly I no longer have the SPG, or Aero as it's called everywhere else in the world. It was my second one too, I had a black/black '85 intro unit and the red '89 (I know, they didn't do red in '89, it was a brochure car). I tweaked it and tweaked it until I tweaked myself out of anyone that could work on it. So when a good offer came along it went to a guy that collects Aero's. After GM bought SAAB, I lost interest and heard that a lot of their character has been lost in the subsequent cars. Thanks for the comments though, that was a good car.

Could you describe the cylindrical object in a little more detail? BTW, Are you ok with the wiring tips already supplied? Looks like someone beat me to it. FYI, I tapped power for the 'big' lamps off the mainbeams, and have mounted the relays (3 of them) either on the right side of the engine bay 1 on the bulkhead, the other 2 are inside the right wing. Having said that mine is left hand drive so this may not be of much help, but there were already points I could bolt into and didn't have much worry about finding locations for 3 additional relays. You should have little trouble mounting just one. Let us know how your day off/sorting day went. The off road trip went well, I posted some pics in the "Getting Out and About" section.

Interested to see what gearbox we're talking about here.....I think mine is running 'around' that rpm in 3rd with my 4spd auto.......

We decided to get out of the city and spend some time away from it all. so we headed roughly west by northwest of Phoenix Arizona into the Harquahala mountains for a couple days of off roading and general stress relief from the daily grind. The Disco performed brilliantly and we had an especially good second day of making the climb to the 5644 ft summit of Harquahala Mountain. We saw two off road motorcycles and one quad on the 10 mile ascent, leaving the summit to ourselves to enjoy. Leaving tarmac and heading for our campsite. Our less than ideal but comfortable enough camp. Typical conditions of the mountain mining roads were pretty good with occasional interesting bits. A view up at about mile 4 of 10 on the run up Harquahala mountain. Again the view up after about mile 6 of 10. Out the window into the valley to the southeast. Camera doesn't capture the real slope very well...... My son did a little climbing to get this shot. Deceptively smooth when viewed at a distance, but rarely so. At the 5644ft summit. A bit of the road immediately below. Enjoying the view. Interesting how these 'hills' in the distance looked like mountains before we started the climb..... A littel different than greenlaning and what's nice is the number of these types of roads are nearly countless and available to anyone with the urge to explore.

If I wasn't literally on the eve of a week long off roading adventure I'd get you a wiring diagram. I have some experience in these matters. Can it wait or have you already solved the issue? I would advise wiring them through a switch, use the relay and if long range lamps, use the high/main circuit as the switch power, works wonderfully when you need to dip in a hurry.

I doubt the scrapes or scuffs can be removed or repaired, plastic (and subsequent texture) isn't very durable in that regard. All I can suggest is treating the plastic with a protectant like the Armorall Gel, which might make the blemish look a little less obvious.

I already entertained the idea of making my own. I even made a cardboard pattern....however I've been seeing racks that stand in the boot area and then this hinged shelf bit and wonder if reinforcing an item already made to fit, and already the correct color, wouldn't be a bit less labor intensive..... Thanks for the response BTW.

I don't suppose anyone uses one of these solid/hinged parcel shelves in their Disco? Just in case someone does.....my question is whether or not it's substantially built or will it only take light weight items stored on it? For trips out into nowhere I need more gear etc and fancy the idea of being able to stow more inside the truck.......the one I refer to I saw in an MM Land Rover advert, and I'm not certain if those are aftermarket or OEM options.

I might be misunderstanding but when referring to sagging I should have originally been clearer, the material is separating from the shell. Is this what you mean when you say sagging (ok, no old person jokes now......) ? I have no idea (under that material) what a '96 shell is made of but I'm willing to bet it's not glassfibre.....

I've also heard that on a Disco II the sub didn't work right (with an aftermarket Head unit), like it was weak and lacked the original bass power. There are 20 posts in the thread link below where this guy is trying to figure out his Discoverys issue, and not sure they target your problem specifically but you never know, part of the troubleshooting might spark an idea or touch on a similar resolution. http://forums.focaljet.com/ice-car-enterta...-discovery.html

The camo one is definitely different but not quite what I was looking for. I am curious about the 200TDi fitment. Is it solid without fabric on it?

My headliner material is falling (96 Disco). I find the 'material' a bit of a 'posh' fitment in all honesty. Yet I have no plans to gut/strip the vehicle either. What I would like to see happen is a one time install of something like a GFRP version, a carbon fiber one or similar to retain 'some' heat and sound insulating purposes. Is there a solution to this or is it down to either remove it altogether or get it re-lined?

Good question and previous post is good also, I just thought this link was useful too. http://www.accessconnect.com/fog_driving_lights_wiring.htm You eliminate any chance of desensitizing your eyes by mounting lights on the front of the vehicle and if necessary due to your level of equipement etc, mount on the roof. There are many defenses of each method, it depends on your vehicle, level of equipment or plans for levels of equipment. I prefer front mounting, as I had room there and prefer not to get peripheral light anywhere it will desensitize my sight.

Looking for Dunlop Sand Tires, pretty much all I get is ATV and Motorcycle applications. Do they look anything like any of those at this site: http://www.dunloptires.com/catalog/suv.html Regarding the obsolete Pirelli's, you'd think I'd learn, I've been through this with Pirelli before and really just wish we knew when they were going to drop a product line.......I'd have stocked myself with another set at least.

Your original post brought back a similar memory. Blasting along an B road (I think) when I was last in Old Blighty, (as best as a series II Carawagon can 'blast') and I came upon a slow vehicle at one of those moments where you either go NOW to overtake and use the momentum you have taken about 2 miles to build up or stab the brakes and lose it pretty much for good. I, being the adventurous type took the opportunity and stabbed the throttle to go since the overtaking zone was short, just as I moved about half way out of my lane a lorry appeared from around the next bend putting an abrupt end to my perfect plan. However, when I stabbed the brakes the front left wheel cylinder did something rather unexpected, that wheel locked up. It had NEVER done that before and you can guess what that did to the steering, giving myself and the lorry driver a moment neither of us will ever forget by pulling me right out in front of him. I managed to let off and just get back into my lane without involving bodywork contact but just. I looked the next day for my tire marks and whilst the one streak was visible, it wasn't very impressive. It certainly was at the time, and at least 'that' mark was black...... That 66 series II was probably my worst regret ever for selling. Many vehicles come and go but that one had more character than anything I've ever had......

Looking at the rating system of one our tire/tyre suppliers I see the General rates fairly highly, 5th out of 20 tires rated. Pretty good for one with a 'generally' poor reputation. I think the car range of products might be the ones as the source of that reputation.

It had to be said didn't it, it's like fill in the blank..... I see a LOT of series 1's (and a few early Rangy's) being fitted for serious off roading but no Disco series II's. Is it the air springs, the relative new-ness and fear of too much modification? Or is the Series 1's dimensions just more ideal for the purpose?

Thanks, never considered a General as many locals consider them a risk being budget tires/tyres. However if they're good.....I'll look into them anyway. A Dunlop not available in the UK.....I didn't expect that.

Anyone have experience with these (Dunlop Rover A/T)? I'm coming off of a set of the excellent Pirelli scorpion A/T's that are no longer available and find nothing in Pirelli's line up that will compare.

Ok, now we just need to figure out what the 'others' are then.