charliefarlie Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Hi, My TD5 defender has failed its MOT because of a “tiny” hole in the bulkhead but I am told it can’t be welded and I need a new bulkhead. 😞 Have heard of all sorts of scare stories but maybe today’s fitters expect to be able to swap out identical parts without the coach building like fitting techniques required to build a defender. Anyway there seam to be 2 options .. shielder (but if a bashing on here) and terrain tech. Can anyone say which one today might be easier to fit ? Is there a better manufactured bulkhead and if so by who ?. If anyone knows of someone good near Glasgow who they can recommend for a bulkhead replacement then please let me know. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Lets see the offending hole Is it within the prescribed area of the brake pedal mounting or bulkhead to chassis mounting ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Gibsons Autos in Cumnock are quite highly rated by all accounts, and not far from Glasgow. A small hole isn’t an issue to fix, the problem is more that a small hole is almost inevitably the tip of a rather nasty iceberg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliefarlie Posted July 8, 2021 Author Share Posted July 8, 2021 Here’s the pic of the “tiny” hole (s) LOL … right next to the brake servo bracket 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliefarlie Posted July 8, 2021 Author Share Posted July 8, 2021 I have used Gibson autos in the past and found them to be excellent. Problem is they have a very long waiting list for type of repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 First off that is a relatively simple repair, secondly change MOT stations as they are being ridiculous or they are hoping to pick up a nice profitable bulkhead change just my opinion regards Stephen 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 (edited) Terrain tech are just a seller I think - they well sheilder parts and often I think the ones they dont put a brand against are the sheilder parts. You can repair that hole as mentioned above. I would take out the pedal box and repair from the engine bay. Bit of a faff but easy access once bits are removed. It is the hidden rot that you dont know about that will appear next though. Edited July 8, 2021 by reb78 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Why did it rust there? I've not seen that place rust before the footwells and the top corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Fairly common as it’s where the internal leaks from windscreen or vent seals end up, and the lapped panels are not seam sealed at that point. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Failure as it within 30cm of the brake pedal assembly Quote (e) The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any braking system actuation component mounting (a prescribed area): (i) is significantly reduced (see Appendix A) (ii) is so weakened that the functionality of the braking system is affected Major Dangerous 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 21 minutes ago, Retroanaconda said: Fairly common as it’s where the internal leaks from windscreen or vent seals end up, and the lapped panels are not seam sealed at that point. Brake fluid spills from messy top ups wont help there either. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 1 hour ago, reb78 said: Brake fluid spills from messy top ups wont help there either. Thought that might play a part. Not impossible to repair, and less work than a new bulkhead, but would take the right garage to take it on. And the rest of the bulkhead want to be okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliefarlie Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 The rest of the bulkhead isn’t OK so think I’m going to have to have it replaced. Any advise on sourcing and fitting from anyone please ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Anything is fixable it just depends on how much you want to spend vs buying a new one. My bulkhead has had both top corners, both footwells and one door pillar too. That was about £1200 a few years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Noone commercial seems to have a good reputation for bulkheads anymore. My personal opinion is that you are better finding a trusted welder who can repair what you have, get it blasted, galvanised, repainted and refitted. Thats belt and braces but wont need touching again. I bought a repaired bulkhead and had that galvanised and will be doing the swap soon as part of my chassis swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Can't remember which, but one of the rebuild/chassis swap companies made the point that its normal to have to tweak defender stuff to fit, even genuine. So they just get on with it and make them fit. How many of the fitment issues are down to other bits being wrong it would be interesting to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 You could try Mosside Land Rovers in Belfast (on FB ) to refurb and galv. your bulkhead or buy a take off in need of repair to send off . Isn't there a company in Turkey making replacement BH's ? With a slightly different profile footwell ? As others have said , the right independent LR specialist could repair that in-situ to give you more time to sort out a properly refurb'd and galv'd one. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelE Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 At the recent Billing show I saw something of interest on the Shielder pitch. They had a galvanised bulkhead on display. Not theirs but unidentified. The footwell stiffener - the doubler with ribs on it - on one side, had been removed. In between the two was a big patch of ungalvanised rust. The Shielder bulkheads don't have this doubler. I vaguely recall Shielder having some problems in their earlier days, but I also vaguely recall that they'd made some progress in getting their act together. And they do make a regular appearance at the Land Rover shows, which shows some commitment. And to be fair, I've had all manner of problems with supposedly reputable third party Defender companies at every point, from sales, shoddy product quality and absolutely carp customer support. So pick a convenient supplier, run with it, make it work, and keep your fingers crossed. No, I have never bought anything from Shielder, have no plans to, nor have any connection with them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northwards Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 I'm in the middle of helping a friend do a bulkhead change on his 300Tdi 90. When deciding where to get the galved BH from there was a bit of negativity about Sheilder, but also some stuff suggesting they had improved. So, Shielder it was. We haven't got to the point of fitting it to the car yet, but on looking at it everything seems to be in the right place as far as I can see. We might get it onto the car next weekend so happy to report back as things progress. I've had previous experience (about 10/11 years ago) doing two swaps on Tdi 110's. At that point we sourced genuine BH and got them galved locally. A bit of work involved there cleaning out excess galv where it didn't belong - but I don't know if genuine BH are available now, or if they've become ludicrously expensive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 I'm sure I'm not the only one that would be interested in your experience fitting a new Shielder Defender BH , so yes please do report back on how it goes . Steve 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat2495 Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 I've just done two shielder bulkhead swaps, and while there was certainly some faff involved, I don't have any horror stories to share. Due to the way they construct them though there are a few things that can't go back on quite the same way they came off. Silly things like the mesh screens behind the vents, which are riveted on the original, are now bonded on to mine as the mounting face is flat instead of contoured. Also the top bar that the wiper spindles go through is thinner, so I made up a couple of spacers for them, just things like that. The biggest issue I had was that the top end of mine had some warp to it, whether from the welding, or the galvanising I don't know. I straightened that up though with a chain bolted between the windscreen mounts and a bottle jack, so no harm done. I've got some pictures somewhere I can post up if you like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 That would be interesting to see Mat2495. Diverging a bit , does anyone have any experience of Shielder Series 2a bulkheads quality and fit ? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash17 Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Swapped my bulkhead 5 years ago for a mossside LR (based in Belfast) refurbed item (delivered to my door on mainland) the excess galv ain’t pretty, I had to tap out all threads and there was a little heat warpage in the foot wells, but over all a really good product for the money, lined up square and bolted in place no problem. (My 110 is operational not decorational) Painting was done by local body shop who washed it in mordant solution first to ensure paint stuck, had no issues since. good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paime Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 13 hours ago, Flash17 said: Swapped my bulkhead 5 years ago for a mossside LR (based in Belfast) refurbed item (delivered to my door on mainland) the excess galv ain’t pretty, I had to tap out all threads and there was a little heat warpage in the foot wells, but over all a really good product for the money, lined up square and bolted in place no problem. (My 110 is operational not decorational) Painting was done by local body shop who washed it in mordant solution first to ensure paint stuck, had no issues since. good luck! Have you got a link for Mosside? My googling is letting me down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliefarlie Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 Hi Gents, Many thanks to all who have added to this thread in particular Mat and Northwands , Am almost sure that it going to have to be a shielder bulkhead. Would be great if you were able to share your experiences fitting and some pics if possible. I will try and get my garage to do the same to add to the up to date “body of knowledge “ on this. Many thanks. I am resolved to the fact that these are bound to need a certain amount of fitting as did presumably the rest of the bits and it is unlikely that the replacement bulkhead is going to be an exact match to the one that comes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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