Thread: What did you do on your Defender today ? (well, this week anyway)

Originally Posted by Standard

I could tell you that it took me 2.5 hours to do the same job. But it really took me 20 years (as a Fitter) and 2.5 hours.

Cheers,
Stan.

Yes thanks again Stan. I have owned Defenders, Range Rovers (classic and series’s since the early 80’s) but never tried to replace the Ball joint. So yes very much an educational experience. But I am looking forward to getting done and actually driving it for a change!

Cheers

Do you have the A arm to chassis bolts done up? If so loosen them back off. Never tighten just one part of an assembly. Allows more play to line everything up. Tighten every thing once all fasteners are in place. Also, PLEASE coat the bejeesus out of all bolts with nickel/copper anti seize. It is your best friend.

Originally Posted by micksta1973

Do you have the A arm to chassis bolts done up? If so loosen them back off. Never tighten just one part of an assembly. Allows more play to line everything up. Tighten every thing once all fasteners are in place. Also, PLEASE coat the bejeesus out of all bolts with nickel/copper anti seize. It is your best friend.

Yup everything is loosely fitted, and was covered in copper anti seize but I will have to put some more as some has come off as I’ve had the bolts out so many times. :-)

Not sure how pong you’ve been working on the a-frame
But the easy way to get it together is with the springs out?

Support chassis at good height,
Drop springs out
Bolt it all together
Re-install springs

If your still struggling pop one trailing arm to axle bolt out and then it will be easy

The time you’ve spent wiggling screwdrivers could have yanked the springs out twice !

S

Took a break from the dam A frame ball joint on the 300Tdi and after chasing a baby black snake out of the shed I got stuck into the rust on the rear cross member of our Puma.

Simple job for a change...





Two under coats and three top coats, satisfied with the results.

Cheers - Simon

Originally Posted by travelrover

Yup everything is loosely fitted .....

Never done a sals diff, but looks like the body needs to lower, or a bit more twist(nose up).
Further to the suggestion to remove springs, maybe add weight into the car to compress springs a bit more.
Do you have firmer/longer rear springs fitted(that you know of).

Also, try removing the trailing arms off the axle ends. The will allow the axle to rotate diff nose up a bit more freely.

Maybe the uni joint is also making it hard to rotate the diff too?
Have you tried with the propshaft removed(if not already).

Originally Posted by AK83

Never done a sals diff, but looks like the body needs to lower, or a bit more twist(nose up).
Further to the suggestion to remove springs, maybe add weight into the car to compress springs a bit more.
Do you have firmer/longer rear springs fitted(that you know of).

Also, try removing the trailing arms off the axle ends. The will allow the axle to rotate diff nose up a bit more freely.

Maybe the uni joint is also making it hard to rotate the diff too?
Have you tried with the propshaft removed(if not already).

Thanks everyone for the advise and guidance. I pulled everything off, the arms and ball joint and reassemble it and this time it went no problems at all. Job done in under an hour. No idea what the problem was before. Operator I guess. Went for a long drive and this one is running sweet now!

Originally Posted by travelrover

Thanks everyone for the advise and guidance. I pulled everything off, the arms and ball joint and reassemble it and this time it went no problems at all. Job done in under an hour. No idea what the problem was before. Operator I guess. Went for a long drive and this one is running sweet now!

Good work!

I'm drinking a beer to celebrate!