WesBrooks Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 The front right chassis leg has bent towards the centre line by about 10mm at the tip. Looking at a hydraulic pump and ram body repair kits. I appreciate more is easier but will 10 ton do, or will I need 20? Chassis is a '95 Discovery V8i. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Have you tried a big sledge? Do you know where it is bent, before or after cross member? If it is just after the cross member then a piece of hard wood to protect the leg, and a large sledge should move it. Mind you, are you sure it wasn't like that from factory? 10mm is probably within LR tolerances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lo-fi Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I've moved bits of chassis about with a high-lift jack, so I'm sure 10 will be fine. Any idea what buckled it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 We have used Hi-Lifts, winches and sheer grunt for this. However, the questions is what caused it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesBrooks Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 It had been involved in a front end prang at some point. Damage appears to be limited to in front of the cross member. I've been looking for an excuse to get a sledge hammer! A Wilko sledge is a reasonable expense verses the £100 - 200 for the hydraulic pump and ram, particularly if I buy a 10 but find I need a 20! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I have successfully straightened an old beetle chassis using nothing more than a 10lb sledge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I've used a bottle jack and some wood just check which way up you need the jack most jacks only work on there side one way up. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesBrooks Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 My last involvement with tinkering with vehicles was old '73 and '74 beetles! Needless to say I'm not used to the shear quantity of rust found on my '95 disco! ;-) Ace. Sledge hammer on the shopping list. :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studmuffin Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Wes - definitely try a sledge first. If its safe to do so try a little heat at the point of divergence, particularly on the side which needs to stretch more. If it doesn't work some tool hire places do hydraulic rams and pad jacks, some of them hand pumped as well as with powerpacks. From my past experience in straightening steel structures, although I have to say not chassis,, you generally need a higher rated than you would expect. The higher rated jacks are just as controllable as a 10T but generally are a fair bit bigger dimension wise, and there isn't a massive difference in the hire cost. Best of luck Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 last time I had to straighten a very stubborn chassis leg on a BMW, hammering didn't work, a very long lever didn't do it, but putting a lifting sling round it, attaching the other end to a range rover parked at 90 degrees and then smacking the Rangie in reverse jolted it out very quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanuki Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 I've used the "rope trick" in the past for straightening things. Get a length of rope and form it into a loop across the longer diagonal of the not-square chassis. Make sure all the knots are tight then get a length of pipe and put it through the middle of the loop. Then start rotating - to wind the rope up in the same fashion as was used by the Romans in some of their siege-catapults. As you wind it up, the ends of the rope are pulled inwards with spectacular force; and each turn of the 'handle' pulls inwards with a well-controllable 'heave'. Just don't let go of the handle: the tension in the rope (and the chassis-being-straightened) will spin the handle with immense force and if you happen to leave limbs, jawbones or skulls in the path then the results will be 'medically impressive' as a friend would put it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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