2011 puma 90 worried.....

[Game Owner]

Finally scraped enough cash together to get a 2011 special edition X Tech? Defender 90. Silver, Sawtooths and leather awesome I thought.
Gear change is the worst I have every tried, my 78 Game is better.
Anyone else have issues with it balking going from 2nd to 3rd, it doesn't grind as such just feels like it almost is.
It's done 60k and I changed the gearbox (but not transfer) oil for Penrite 75/90
Clutch pedal was squeaky but some grease cured that.
Rear brakes squeal like a small mammal is being electrocuted and enjoying it....

Just looking for some advice on the gear change quality and what I need to do to make it a more enjoyable experience.
I've also got a 53 80", 57 107", 59 109" and a 78 88" Game and to be honest they are the better option at the moment.

Help...:mad:

[n plus one]

Finally scraped enough cash together to get a 2011 special edition X Tech? Defender 90. Silver, Sawtooths and leather awesome I thought.
Gear change is the worst I have every tried, my 78 Game is better.
Anyone else have issues with it balking going from 2nd to 3rd, it doesn't grind as such just feels like it almost is.
It's done 60k and I changed the gearbox (but not transfer) oil for Penrite 75/90
Clutch pedal was squeaky but some grease cured that.
Rear brakes squeal like a small mammal is being electrocuted and enjoying it....

Just looking for some advice on the gear change quality and what I need to do to make it a more enjoyable experience.
I've also got a 53 80", 57 107", 59 109" and a 78 88" Game and to be honest they are the better option at the moment.

Help...:mad:

Be careful about the oil you run in the g/box make sure it's yellow metal safe or you could be spending big $$$$.

[BilboBoggles]

There is a dealer note on a small mod that can be done to the gear shift linkages so that it does not balk as bad. Apparently it's something like a replacement plastic bush. That may be something that is causing your's to be notchy. Both of my Puma's are/were a little notchy, but I got tired of trying to convince the dealer about it so ended up living with it.

[Tikka7mm08]

squeal like a small mammal is being electrocuted and enjoying it....
:

LMAO... my 08 Puma 90 is also notchy going into 3rd...as above just decided to add to the list of things I am prepared to overlook.

[JamesB71]

My 13 puma 90 has a gearbox like a bucket full of marbles and a wooden spoon compared to my previous japanese vehicles. I figured this is just how they are and put it down to character.

[Game Owner]

Thanks for the responses, character you say......we'll it certainly has lots of that.
Happy to overlook it and live with it, slow changes seem to help.
I've also got a 2012 Ranger with the same box and it a pleasure to change gears in, smooth, light and dare I say it ...a nicer experience.

Overall happy with the Defender looks awesome, feels great to drive and knowing that not only will it get me off-road but will (mostly) get me back as well is a comforting thought.
On the gearbox oil it is the fully synthetic 75 /90 that Penrite recommend for it, I'll also change the transfer case this weekend.

On the squeaky clutch pedal I read a post on another forum from South Africa and found that on the side of the linkage box there is a hole covered with silicone which is tapped for a 6mm thread, simply scrape off silicone and screw in a grease nipple, pump grease and hey presto no more squeak or stiff pedal.;);)

[Psimpson7]

Still under warranty? If so go to the dealer.

heres info on the linkage tsb

DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - LTB00585 Difficulty Selecting Gears/Poor Gear Shift Quality (http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic29132.html)

[Game Owner]

Great article thanks
I'll have a crack at the greasing the linkages this weekend.
Unfortunately the dealers here in SA are few and far between. To be honest not sure that I trust them.
The 90 I have has a full dealer service history for every 10k so tells me a lot about dealer servicing.
Many many thanks for all the advice guys, appreciated.:D

[solmanic]

The rear brakes on our 07MY Defender squealed from the moment the original pads were changed out. And our 03MY, and 02MY before that. Some pad changes it got better, some it got worse, but it never fully went away.

[JamesB71]

Unfortunately all of my dealings with two different Land Rover dealers has been very poor. They are yet to manage one single transaction without completely screwing it up.