Whats "do-able" by a home mechanic?

[Se7enUp]

I've only owned my 90 for a few weeks and I knew it was a little "rough" around the edges when I bought it.

I'd decided to start tidying it up and bought a few bits for it at Sodbury (paint etc)

I needed the bulkhead corners replacing so booked it into the local LR specialists.

While they had it, I asked them to give it a thorough checkover.

I'm beginning to wish I hadn't!

I've now got a huge list of things that need doing!

All in there's about £2000 of work needed - and that doesn't include doing the rear crank oil seal that's leaking oil!

So, I'm going to mull it over for a while and try to work out what jobs I can do myself and what ones to get the garage to do. (or whether to Fleabay it and cut my losses )

So, out of the following - what is "do-able" by a home mechanic?

Rear axle spring mount rusted (welding?)

Battery box needs replacing (welding)

Rear shox need replacing

Rear "Triangle" bushes worn (I have no idea what they are!)

Drop arm ball joint

Front radius arm bushes perished

Rear cross member needs replacing (is this the bit the tow bar bolts to?)

rear flexi brake pipe perished

Rear propshaft slip joint worn

The following can be sorted with a second hand axle as it will be cheaper part wise and will save on the labour

Both chrome joints rusty and seals leaking

One Swivel hang off

Other Swivel slight play

Front wheel bearings worn

So - should it stay or should it go?

Good news is that the new bulkhead corners look nice

[Ex Member]

If YOU don't know which jobs you can do, how are WE supposed to know?

Some people can do all of those things and others can do none of them.

[Se7enUp]

If YOU don't know which jobs you can do, how are WE supposed to know?

Some people can do all of those things and others can do none of them.

OK, apart from welding (I dont have a welder), do any of the jobs require any special tool or skills?

Do any of them stand out as super difficult or tricky?

Are there any hints or helpfull tips you could give me

...and what is a "triangle" bush?

[BogMonster]

Answers next to each item

So, out of the following - what is "do-able" by a home mechanic?

Rear axle spring mount rusted (welding?) If you can weld

Battery box needs replacing (welding) If you can weld

Rear shox need replacing Yes easy

Rear "Triangle" bushes worn (I have no idea what they are!) Yes easy (bushes on the chassis which hold the rear axle locating arms in position)

Drop arm ball joint Can be difficult if seized, may need puller

Front radius arm bushes perished Can be easy (hammer/vice), can be bluddy impossible without a 50 ton press

Rear cross member needs replacing (is this the bit the tow bar bolts to?) Yes it is so don't do it unless you are 100% confident of your welding!

rear flexi brake pipe perished Easy DIY job

Rear propshaft slip joint worn Replace the propshaft, nuts and bolts job

[Se7enUp]

Brilliant, many thanks for the reply.

Looks like the majority of the work is doable (by me)

I may have found some welding kit I can borrow, so may try the battery box and spring mount.

I'll leave the rear crossmember to some one who knows what they're doing

[Litch]

My usual reply:- Buy a Haynes manual (get both the normal one and the Restoration manual) and you will see what each job entails. Personally I would tackle all of them myself but if you are new to LR ownership you may not be as confident but there is only one way to get experience and that is to get stuck in.

The money you will save on labour will buy you some nice tools and they will pay you back many times over during your lifetime. Even if you don't fancy tackling all the jobs you can save a shed load of money by doing the easy ones (wheel bearings, suspension bushes, brake pipe, swivels, shocks etc).

[BogMonster]

Don't underestimate the collateral damage caused by a spring falling off either...

[white90]

all of them with some advice of help from fellow members.

Welcome BTW

fill in your profile and other will know whereabouts you are.

doesn't need to be an address just a county would help

[JST]

yep all of the do able, even if its a case of take the relevant bit off - (A Frame and radius arms) and take them to some one with a press to get the old bushes out and the new ones in. having said that radius arm bushes come out if you hit them hard enough. A frame one though prob needs a press.

look in the Tech Archive as well, Les H has done some excellent articles on some of the jobs you are about to undertake (front hubs etc

also Haynes advice woudl be well worth taking

if you go for a replacement rear axle and currently have drums i would suggest upgrading to a disc rear axle (ex disco/rangie etc) when you do it. Failing that i have a drum 90 rear axle kicking about with good spring hangers/brakes/diff etc.

only job i would get the garage to do if i were you is the rear crossmember, and source one yourself prob cheaper, get the long extensions on it.

[Se7enUp]

Cheers for the offer of the axle JST.

I'm taking the truck over to a friends next weekend to have a proper look at the stuff thats been picked up by the garage.

If the spring seat is beyond repair I will be in touch.