Thread: Rear wheel carrier problems

not had any problems with ours yet..only that the powder coating is coming off and the bloody thing now has to come off for a paint.

Something I learned last week was that the Pumas already have strengthened rear door internals for the wheel carrier.

I met up with a mate up bush who had a 2001 Defender and the rear door frame had cracked. He'd purchased a new (puma type) door, as it had some serious reinforcing as standard.

He still had the inner skin off it, so was able to show me the new standard bracing. It looks like it should solve the cracking problem. I guess time will tell, but the after market carrier may not be necessary in most Pumas now.

Cheers Brid

to my knowledge the rear door is the same since 2002.

The Brisbane dealer told me that the Puma rear doors were in fact different and have been made significantly stronger - did I believe them? Well, I bought a wheel carrier 3 hours later.

Seeing is believing...just remove the trim and have a look.

A pleasant surprise to know LR have rectified (or attempted to) an old problem...pretty rare event!

Ok I'm interested now.

here is the inside of my latish model td5 rear door. Is it different to this:

Originally Posted by Brid

Seeing is believing...just remove the trim and have a look.

A pleasant surprise to know LR have rectified (or attempted to) an old problem...pretty rare event!

It's not that I don't believe they are different - I just don't believe a wheel carrier is now unnecessary.

And to provide an answer to the original poster's question - although I have an OL carrier, it broke in multiple spots after a flogging on the Gunbarrel etc. So check it regularly and be prepared to remove it and weld up cracks / add gussets as required.

I wish I'd taken a photo of it now to compare direct.