Snagger Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 Given the damage to the brackets to attach that tubular support frame, it’s reasonable to assume the wing attachments are deformed. The brackets, support and slam panel need removing, repairing and refitting centrally to pull the wings into line. It’s be worth checking the chassis hasn’t been bent to one side, too - clearly there has been an impact at some point, and while some parts may have been replaced, some have been badly repaired and others ignored, so who knows what is damaged? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, Snagger said: Given the damage to the brackets to attach that tubular support frame, it’s reasonable to assume the wing attachments are deformed. The brackets, support and slam panel need removing, repairing and refitting centrally to pull the wings into line. It’s be worth checking the chassis hasn’t been bent to one side, too - clearly there has been an impact at some point, and while some parts may have been replaced, some have been badly repaired and others ignored, so who knows what is damaged? Yep, i've inspected the chassis numerous time while working on the drivetrains and everything is nice and straight, i think it had a frontal lateral collision in the past... not a big one but enough to mess alignement and some brackets. I live in Africa so... previous repairs must have been done "under a mango tree" Today i"m investigating further more and i play the "7 mistakes game" For starter the ac condenser is not the right one "they still manage to make the ac work" Regarding the slam panel here is it's current condition The central bracket is shot The whole panel is bent on several places... The brackets that hold the intercooler both look shady as well... Edited November 17, 2019 by Victor Normandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share Posted November 17, 2019 (edited) So... to get things back to a proper standard... I would need a new: Slam panel ABG710040 Intercooler brackets PCU103780 PCU103790 Air con condenser frame top bracket JRF100410 And possibly a new condenser fan assembly JRB100660 GOD ! i think i'm gonna leave its crooked smile for a while... Edited November 17, 2019 by Victor Normandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted November 17, 2019 Share Posted November 17, 2019 TIA, as we say around work - this is Africa. 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share Posted November 17, 2019 Does anybody have a picture of a LHD TD5 AC PIPE FACTORY ROUTING ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 Just spotted this thread... My drivers wing has drooped since I've had my truck.... Assumed it was history I didn't know about but no evidence of a crash elsewhere on the truck... No brackets issues like yours, but it's got Air-con so wonder if that's part of the issue as stated early in the thread. I'll watch with interest but not sure I will be doing anything about mine until it really needs to come apart for other reasons... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 18, 2019 Author Share Posted November 18, 2019 8 minutes ago, V8 Freak said: Just spotted this thread... My drivers wing has drooped since I've had my truck.... Assumed it was history I didn't know about but no evidence of a crash elsewhere on the truck... No brackets issues like yours, but it's got Air-con so wonder if that's part of the issue as stated early in the thread. I'll watch with interest but not sure I will be doing anything about mine until it really needs to come apart for other reasons... Yes, Looks like it needs shims on the lower part to compensate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted November 18, 2019 Share Posted November 18, 2019 3 hours ago, V8 Freak said: Just spotted this thread... My drivers wing has drooped since I've had my truck.... Assumed it was history I didn't know about but no evidence of a crash elsewhere on the truck... No brackets issues like yours, but it's got Air-con so wonder if that's part of the issue as stated early in the thread. I'll watch with interest but not sure I will be doing anything about mine until it really needs to come apart for other reasons... That’s the normal droop I mentioned. You just need some big washers between the chassis bracket and bottom of the wing. Ideally 4mm on the right side and 3mm on the left wing. Look carefully and you’ll also see how the plastic square around the lights is cocked even further in the same direction, the top edge out of parallel with the panel joint between wing top and front. The left side will be the same, but not as pronounced. They have been like that ever since the 300Tdi came in, and quite probably before that. Every Defender I have seen has it, always worse on the right, and looks terrible with light guards where the slats emphasise the misalignment. The plastic needs to be removed and the sidelight and indicator holes filed out to set them square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) Some news on the "why my wings look awful" investigation I did remove the row of bolt securing the galvanized mushield to the top of the wing, i loosened the 2 bottom bolts on the front of the wing. So now the wing is more "loose" but can't put it straight. While removing the mushield i noticed something. The mud shield is almost touching the suspension turret this way The right wing has the mud shield almost touching this way So maybe that's why the left wing looks bad... How can i adjust the mud shield ? Edited November 19, 2019 by Victor Normandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 Just checked on google.... it is supposed to be like that😫 Back to square one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 (edited) Some progress ! the previous owner had shims welded to the slam panels sides. So i cut them, straighten the slam panel. Shimmed 3 to 4MM the lower front bolt of the left wing and attach the slam panel without any shims. First i bolted it to the right wing and then i bolted the left wing and it forced the wing to align perfectly. With a spirit lever i compared the leveling of the front fender to the top of the wing and it's spot on ! Now i have to find the way to make the right wing nice and straight... obviously i can't use the same technique... Edited November 19, 2019 by Victor Normandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 That looks so much better , great job. cheers Steve b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 On 11/18/2019 at 10:37 AM, V8 Freak said: Just spotted this thread... My drivers wing has drooped since I've had my truck.... Assumed it was history I didn't know about but no evidence of a crash elsewhere on the truck... No brackets issues like yours, but it's got Air-con so wonder if that's part of the issue as stated early in the thread. I'll watch with interest but not sure I will be doing anything about mine until it really needs to come apart for other reasons... Uncle - those folks over at Defender2 who are fastidious over things looking straight and flush (my wing isn't after today ) have a thread on this. Basically it requires a few "shims" (washers) on the bottom bolt that goes through to the sticky up bit on the chassis. Having said that you can probably just pick up the bottom corner and lift it back into shape. Not leant on it too heavily recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 It's been like this since I've had it Ed... This pic is from the winch installation something like 5 years ago... I've climbed all over it and the angle of dangle hasn't altered so don't think it's related to anything heavy on the wings.. 🤣 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Given it's always been like that then maybe a shim to the outside of the chassis between the wing might sort it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Something I now have on my "Do sometime" list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Uncle, it really is straightforward to sort your wings. I'll bring the sledgehammer next time we're up the farm 👍😊 Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 If you could demonstrate the process on your vehicle first It'd be appreciated !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Going off topic... But didn't he do that on Dicky's at mine... Albeit rear wing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 That was just a club hammer Ed, this will be advanced. Mo 😘 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 20, 2019 Author Share Posted November 20, 2019 On 11/19/2019 at 5:11 PM, Ed Poore said: Uncle - those folks over at Defender2 who are fastidious over things looking straight and flush (my wing isn't after today ) have a thread on this. Basically it requires a few "shims" (washers) on the bottom bolt that goes through to the sticky up bit on the chassis. Having said that you can probably just pick up the bottom corner and lift it back into shape. Not leant on it too heavily recently? Can't find the thread on defender2... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted November 20, 2019 Share Posted November 20, 2019 Not the thread I'm thinking of but found this: https://www.defender2.net/forum/post12442.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 23, 2019 Author Share Posted November 23, 2019 Quick question... How can i check if the mushields are straight ? Is there a reference point ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted November 23, 2019 Share Posted November 23, 2019 The rear end of the inner arch is bolted to the front face of each foot well vertical face & to the wing top outer edge & forward end to bracket on the chassis. The vertical part that joins to wing top should be vertical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victor Normandy Posted November 23, 2019 Author Share Posted November 23, 2019 Ok, but nothing related to the suspension turret ? Like, is ti supposed to be centered ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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