Thread: First time defender, long time admirer

Never done the A frame bushes.


No way of telling if timing is due.


I replaced my radius arms and put in cranked trailing arms with my inherited 2" lift. Took away some vibration but mainly made it smother to drive, speed humps etc. Time again, would have gone back to standard springs.


I would do the timing, replace gear box fluid with Castrol Syntrans, replace diff oil, check all other suspension and ball joints, uni joints, radiator flush and give a full service, then your starting from scratch.


I personally have been building up a parts stores as we intend to travel. Lift pump, water pump, all hoses etc. I also upgraded my clutch and radiator and put in a bigger intercooler.


Have fun, don't be in rush, drive it for a while and see how you go.

I did the cranked radius arms same as tonic with 2inch lift, made the car much quieter and smoother[if i had known the improvement was that good i would have done it sooner]
Plenty of info on the net changing the timing belt and its not hard[i take out my radiator assembly so i can see straight through for line up pointers], need a large two legged puller to remove harmonic ballancer, do it so you know its done...
A frame bushs are straight forward but also check a frame ball joint for slop

Replacing the A frame bushes isn't too difficult, but you need to keep the axle from rotating when reconnecting the radius arms, so it's easiest if you have it up on axle stands. Removing the bushes is a pain, however, as they tend to "weld" themselves to the radius arms. I've fit polybushes in part because removal and replacement is to much easier.