lansalot

I'd consider wider wheels if I could get a reasonably-priced tyre/rim* package, incidentally... * wheel-wise. Not into that "other" sort of thing..

Hi folks Advice please? These rims (I believe they're Wolf rims?) are currently shod with 235x85x16. What size could I go to on these rims, anyone know? Looking for Insa Turbos and the next size up is 265x85x16 I think.. Too wide for the rims? Thanks A

9-fingered gloves ???? Where you from - Norfolk?

Had one fitted to my 90 for quite a while now. Ashcroft shafts (seeing as I spent so much on the diff, why risk it with weaker standard-shafts?). It's great, truly a fit-and-forget. However, on snow-ice it can be dodgy as with a lack of traction you may find roundabouts don't provide enough resistance to break the lock and thus you're cornering with a fixed rear. In practice, I was out in the snow and ice last year and I didn't have a problem. But I was very aware of how I was driving due to the detroit and potential for chaos. Also, I suspect that when crossing a side-slope that sometimes the rear can have like a corkscrew effect and slide the rear down the hill a little more than I believe a standard diff would. That's more of an anecdotal feeling rather than hard evidence however. Just something the seat-of-pants leads me to believe.

Get some dislocation cones with hooks at the bottom - your springs might settle outside the cone if not and press against the tyre. Which isn't good..

Absolutely perfect - thanks fella! Trip to the scrappies it is

Hi My Defender has a couple of rails with holes-in cable-tied to the wiper arms for the washers. They're a bit past it to say the least. They look built-for-purpose tho, for what that's worth. I had a google around and a look through the parts manuals, but can't find anything similar. Fitting proper (if such a thing exists) jets is possibly more hassle than its worth. Any idea what these things are, and where I can get them? Ta A

Get into the dumpster at General George and help yourself to some underlay. Works a treat ;-) Camping mat glued to the roof.

As a wee update, I went round the caliper with a dremel and a wee sanding disc. Enough surface rust came away where those retainers go to allow them to fit. I had just used a wire-brush-point on the drill before, but there was some carp still lurking. Dremel got shot of it - plus, I was able to do the job in the warm at the dining table. Major result there.... Job done. Woohoo!!!

Hmm. Good suggestion there, thanks for that. Going to take it into the dining room and have it with the dremel I think... Think the part kits I got are... umm... Britpart...

http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/tools/power_tools_and_accessories/angle_grinders_and_accessories/angle_grinder_accessories_/194545-stand_for_single_hand_angle_grinde.htm Howsaboutthatthen ?

Free insulation? Get a heap of underlay from the dumpster at your local carpet retailing emporium (only to be used in the dry bits tho)

Thanks fella Another couple ruined - with a perfect-sized socket and a hydraulic press. Grrr !! Got 4 more to try, and then that's it - I'm torching the vehicle and claiming the insurance Cheers all A

Ah OK, thanks for the kind offer anyway, much appreciated :-)

Thanks Western, I believe my calipers (despite being on Defender) are Range Rover Classic pre-86 rear - would that be right ? Brake fittings are imperial I think.. ?

Thanks Nigel, yeah that's the rings. I've ruined 3 retainers now so am gonna have to hit the suppliers up on Monday.. Grrr... Tried it with a big piece of flat steel over the whole thing, but it just crumpled. It honestly feels like it's just oversized or something. Annoying, was getting almost-quite-pleased with myself at progress. The little things take the most time, eh ? Pushing the edges in with a screwdriver, I tried that too... that was the demise of retainer #2... It also felt like it was springing-back on the seal. How on earth does this have to be so difficult? Grrrr Any other hot-tips folks ? At the moment, it's all bagged up for a visit to a tame mechanic.... Cheers A

OK, so I read Les' excellent seal-renovation guide in the Tech archive, and very useful it was too. Then found I don't have a suitable-sized socket to get the seal retainer in. Already wrecked one trying it in a vice. Any other suggestions please folks ? And should I fit the piston last? It should make the seal a bit more flexible come fitting-time, yeah ? Cheers A

Thanks, for some reason I had thought they were used elsewhere in the assembly. Cheers :-)

Ooh. One other question.. These come with washers apparently (they're in the car, not checked them out yet). Do I use the washers tho? There's been a bit of discussion around it... http://www.britpart.com/Accessory.asp?pageref=4&AccessoryRef=2235 Cheers A

Thanks guys, will give it a bit of muscle tomorrow night. Cheers all :-)

Got a replacement length from caliper to bracket-on-caliper (front axle), to where it hits the flexi-pipe and goes upstairs. Do I need any special tools to bend this pipe (so it doesn't collapse) or will the good old knee suffice? Cheers A

Hmmm... so we're quite happy to chat when someone just pulls up to say "wow, I really like your LR, what's that rope on the front for, you use it much, it's smart, those tyres look expensive, wow etc", but an enquiry to buy means they want to nick it? Batten the hatches, and never discuss your hobby again! ;-)

I feel your pain. I suffered with this for months, and it's almost put me off completely! My symptoms were, under coasting/idling at around 30-40mph, the steering would be banging/wobbling so hard that I thought I was going to go off the road. A friend in the passenger seat could see the axle poking out the side. To cure it as it happened, I had to just steer slightly to one side, basically lurch the vehicle, and that would stop it for a moment. Not ideal of course! It only ever happened in a straight line, and was more likely to happen if heading downhill or coasting. Sound familiar ? Eventually cured* once I had all these pieces in place panhard rod bushes replaced with polybush steering box free play tightened EXACT bolts used (1/2" I think?) for panhard road. Eye on chassis was 13mm, it required boring out to fit the bolts. There is now zero play anywhere on panhard road, not even a millimeter swapped wheels front and rear From what you're saying about 33s etc, my next thing to try was castor-correction arms. I've a 2" lift and from the look of it, the arms are standard. People say you just lose the self-centring on the steering with a lift, but as the angle increases I reckon you run nearer the risk of the shopping-trolley effect. I'd have thought having 33s on the front and 35s on the rear would have made that worse tho, not better. I'd have expected it to be better if the front was nose-up in other words... When the bush was at its worst, this is what it looked like: Also, have you tried just standard wheels/tyres? * I say cured, I wouldn't be surprised if it returns in time

Underlay, from the dumpster at General George. Stuck it under the seats etc, under the floor mats. Helped a lot !

Sounds about right, Steve. Will visit a few motor factors tomorrow and try and sort it once and for all ! Cheers all A