Puma failure in Cape York!

[n plus one]

Well the trusty Puma finally let me down - blew two low beams on the drive home from the Cape. I blame Nolans Brook - anyone know what type of trade-in I might get on a new Navara :angel:?

In all seriousness, my total list of issues for three weeks up the Cape (plus a 6k commute) were:

* two low beams (on the drive home):
* a couple of new wind screen chips:
* reverse light is operating intermittently (pretty sure this kicked off before I left):
* minor oil leek from back of transfer case (drive flange nut needed half a turn - sorted over a beer at camp):
* bloody KM2s still won't balance:
* my Ashcroft diff appears to have a (very slight) porous weld on the pegging plate: and
* the ODS trailing arm to diff mounting bolt needed two turns (thought that one was a major! Mechanic fitted new ones before I left so I suspect a little settling occurred).

Bloody thing is a complete disaster, too scared to take it anywhere (except maybe the CSR solo next year)...

[PAT303]

You won't get the KM2's to balance,I tried two different tyre shops to no avail,totally over rated tyre for the outback IMHO,and they throw rocks,my pet hate. Pat

[DeanoH]

I know how you feel, we've just returned with the OKA from a 16,000 Km around Australia jaunt including 600 Km through the Great Sandy Desert, not even a puncture but the rear pinion seal started weeping going into Kununurra so I had to replace it. Bloody POS ! ;)

Re the KM 2's, how about 1/2 a bag of wheel balancing sand in each one ?, very common and effective balancing with truck tires and works a treat with the 305 70 R 19.5's on the OKA. Try Googleing Centramatic wheel balancers, there's a very good video out there which shows how they work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ullnFQD4F1I





Deano :)

[spudboy]

Good to hear!

For the tyre balancing, there a lots of 'bead' type balancers you can get from eBay. Some steel some glass. Counteract Tyre Balancing Beads 2 X 12oz 340G | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Counteract-Tyre-Balancing-Beads-2-X-12oz-340g-/181397329928?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a3c1f9808)

Do some research and you'll probably even find some old posts on AULRO about it too.

[n plus one]

Yeah, got a bunch of beads to go in the KM2s at some stage - need to break the beads and give 'em a try. Hopefully it's not a lateral imbalance issue...

Hey Deano, you weren't in FNQ in the last couple of weeks were you? I had a chat with two OKA owners at Lakelands on my way up the Cape.

[Patchy]

I wouldnt recommend balancing sand we use to use it on trucks at work its fine until the tyre comes off and needs to reseal coz the beads always leaked after the first use.. not recommended for a 4by with running low pressures as beads may come off easier and leak.. also something you dont have to worry bout with a car but it also use to wear the casing so limited the amount we could cap them for the tags.

[leeds]

We use BFG M/T and BFG KM2 in size 255/85/16 and they balance up ok.

So is the issue the actual tyres or the people doing the balancing?




Brendan

[weeds]

never had a problem balancing my K M2's, on my second set

[n plus one]

Appears to be the tyres - six different mobs have had a go (including rolling balances, balancing specialists, etc).

Seems like plenty of guys in the States have had similar issues with KM2s too. Not a big deal, just makes the transport sections a bit tiresome...

[PAT303]

Tiresome,try driving from Headland to Newman with the front shimmying the whole way and two safety people with you at the same time,both of them are luck to be alive. Pat

[goingbush]

I told you lot that Landrovers were unreliable !!

BFG's appear to have dropped the ball, they used to be great tyres but my last set were crap.

Re tyre balancing beads , I'll never use wheel weights again ,

I also would not use the sand / powder media , Ive tried a few brands but the ABC beads are about 3 - 4mm diameter and cause no sealing problems, absolutely fantastic for trackside tyre swaps,
ABC Beads ® | Tyre Balancing Beads Australia (http://www.abcbeads.com.au)

[DeanoH]

Hey Deano, you weren't in FNQ in the last couple of weeks were you? I had a chat with two OKA owners at Lakelands on my way up the Cape.

Went up the Burke Developmental Road in early/mid July up to Karumba etc so it wasn't me. Was one of the OKA's towing an aeroplane and had a couple of minor drive train issues ?

Deano :)

[MLD]

If you go the balancing beads save yourself a lot of grief and do 2 things:

a) fit longer valve cores;

b) make sure you use the larger stainless beads for 4wds.

The finer beads have a habit (mine do) of getting caught in the valve when airing down and then you have to stuff around to connect the air compressor to force air in to clear the valve. Otherwise you can be left with a slow or fast leak depending on the amount of debris caught. When airing down I have to rotate my tyre so the valve is at 12 o'clock to minimise the risk of the beads getting caught in the valve.

Most products you find at tyre retailers are intended for trucks that once fitted won't see daylight until the next tyre change. The nature of 4wding and airing up and down can be a PITA when using non-specific beads.

Longer valve cores help with the above because it moves the stopper valve inwards of the internal rim surface. If you use a speedy deflator that removes the core then the longer valves make little difference.

The large beads don't tend to get caught in the draft of escaping air like the finer beads. Also the stainless beads don't break up into finer particles like the ceramic ones can (my ceramic ones are a mix of larger particles to fine gritty sized bits).

Not sure about BFG KM2's being difficult to balance. I had 2 sets of 255/85 and they were fine. Current set of 315/75 have a shimmer but i think the rim (Dynamic) is to blame. Just remember that larger the tyre or more aggressive the tyre pattern the larger variance in balancing.

MLD

[vnx205]

Land Rover reliability is certainly an issue when you do long trips.

When I travelled 16,000 km from the south east corner of Australia through the geographical centre to the north west corner and back in my Series III, I suffered the inconvenience of the spring in the passenger's door latch breaking.

Wouldn't you think Land Rover could use a better quality spring!

The fact that it was the only thing that went wrong on a 26 year old vehicle is no excuse.
:p

[oldyella 76]

Get the dealer to take the tyre off the rim and see if it is the rim and if that is ok it must be the tyre. I had a BFG's fitted to my defer and one of the wheels had weights halfway round the rim. They said it was the rim. On my last trip I got so sick of it I took the tyre off and got the rim balanced and it was ok so put the tyre back on and took it to the dealer and they did the same thing, so they gave me a new tyre under warranty, they did discount a little for wear though.
Lindsay

[4wheeler]

I have fitted BFG mud tyres to all my 4x4's for the past 20 plus years and never had a problem with wheel balance. I had KM2's fitted to my 2007 Defender without drama. These were then transferred over to a new BT 50 in 2012 and still balanced perfectly. As the Mazda was so smooth and quiet, any balance problem would be evident big time.


I have just traded the Mazda on a low Km 2013 Defender 110 with Continental AT tyres. Will swap to KM2,s as soon as I can. The Continental tyres seem to trap every stone ever made in the treads.


Isn't front wheel shimmy a symptom of wrong swivel bearing pre-load /wear or similar?


I love being back in a Defender as I would trash the Mazda underbody off road but wow, the Defender now seems so old, loud and rough compared to the Mazda, bearing in mind I have previously owned a Defender. But may I say, way more fun!

[Ean Austral]

Well the trusty Puma finally let me down - blew two low beams on the drive home from the Cape. I blame Nolans Brook - anyone know what type of trade-in I might get on a new Navara :angel:?

In all seriousness, my total list of issues for three weeks up the Cape (plus a 6k commute) were:

* two low beams (on the drive home):
* a couple of new wind screen chips:
* reverse light is operating intermittently (pretty sure this kicked off before I left):
* minor oil leek from back of transfer case (drive flange nut needed half a turn - sorted over a beer at camp):
* bloody KM2s still won't balance:
* my Ashcroft diff appears to have a (very slight) porous weld on the pegging plate: and
* the ODS trailing arm to diff mounting bolt needed two turns (thought that one was a major! Mechanic fitted new ones before I left so I suspect a little settling occurred).

Bloody thing is a complete disaster, too scared to take it anywhere (except maybe the CSR solo next year)...


Don't let the Toyota faithful read that list, they will have a field day destroying the rep of the puma.


Lucky you made it home by the looks of that list.


Hope you managed to find time to enjoy yourself.


Cheers Ean

[djam1]

Might be best to lock them out of the rest of the forum though[emoji16]

[patclan]

Appears to be the tyres - six different mobs have had a go (including rolling balances, balancing specialists, etc).

Seems like plenty of guys in the States have had similar issues with KM2s too. Not a big deal, just makes the transport sections a bit tiresome...

I have/had the same issue, 4 places tried to balance them and they are shocking, worst tyre I ever had for driving distance, the 255/85 are full of wobble also on my car, they are sitting in my shed 50% worn, I put some cheap Hankook dynapro ATM RF10 on and they are a marvel to drive on compared to the KM2, they have done Fraser Island and my back yard so far and no issues, might put the KM2 on my spare wheels and use them on the next trip, but that depends out how good these Hankooks go.
Anyway just my 2c worth, I am glad they are not all bad as they are not cheap and I would hate for others to have wasted money also but it does appear that it is hit and miss if you get a good batch.

[LoveB]

if its an ashcroft diff is it realyl LR's fault? hehe.

[n plus one]

if its an ashcroft diff is it realyl LR's fault? hehe.

Fixed with 5 minutes work with a file, some sandpaper and some JB Weld - too minor to even bother talking to Ashcroft about I reckon.

[n plus one]

I have/had the same issue, 4 places tried to balance them and they are shocking, worst tyre I ever had for driving distance, the 255/85 are full of wobble also on my car, they are sitting in my shed 50% worn, I put some cheap Hankook dynapro ATM RF10 on and they are a marvel to drive on compared to the KM2, they have done Fraser Island and my back yard so far and no issues, might put the KM2 on my spare wheels and use them on the next trip, but that depends out how good these Hankooks go.
Anyway just my 2c worth, I am glad they are not all bad as they are not cheap and I would hate for others to have wasted money also but it does appear that it is hit and miss if you get a good batch.

What size are the Hankooks?

[LoveB]

Good to read about the KM'2 though.. I wanted to get em but if I cant balance em I'll just get upset lol

[patclan]

What size are the Hankooks?

I put on 265/75/16 - not as high as my km2's but I think that was a bonus not worth having with the stability issues and steering was rubbish compared to the new ones.

[n plus one]

Well, looks like I spoke too soon, I was climbing under the Deefer today and found a pretty serious issue - the rear brake shields have finally cracked, bloody disaster! :D

Anyone know a cheap source of replacements/have any experience not running any shields?

PS I may have been falsely accusing the KM2s - looks like my issue might be hubcentric. Bloody things still make the truck pull left though!

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Well, looks like I spoke too soon, I was climbing under the Deefer today and found a pretty serious issue - the rear brake shields have finally cracked, bloody disaster!

Any chance you can post a pic of where the brake shields have broken?

[n plus one]

Any chance you can post a pic of where the brake shields have broken?

They crack around the mounting holes - it's very common. Can often be welded up (subject to how bad they are). No big deal, they're just a bit of pressed tin.

[Iain_B]

The rear brake shields don't last long, I'm on my fourth pair. I have had to replace them after every big trip. Seem like corrugations kill them. When you hear the rattle, stop and take them off. I heard the rattle, but since I was only 20km from the camp ground at Mitchell Plateau, I just carried on driving. Not long afterwards the ABS light came on, the broken shields had pulled out the ABS sensor. Lucky for me it was not damaged and I was able to put it back in. Dealer replaced the shields and sensor under warranty each time, but now it's out of warranty.

I was told that the best way to fix the problem, is to get some big fender washers for the bolt holes, and put a blob of Sikaflex behind the washer and fit them loose. When it is dry, tighten them up as normal The Sikaflex dampens the vibration and stops them from cracking. Going to try it before we do another outback trip.

[PhilipA]

And verily it has ever been thus. And he sayyeth that it always the LH side first. I welded mine back together over the cracks on my RRC and that lasted quite along time even with my first attempt welding .
So keep them and weld them back together . I wonder if it is partially caused by the stamping introducing stresses.
Regards Philip A

[n plus one]

Mine are pretty toasted (in bits) but they lasted almost 120k of which around 40k would have been heavily corrugated dirt, so I'm happy with that.

Got a set off a rolled over MY13 on the way.

[PAT303]

Pull the bolts and fit mud guard washers to them,it spreads the load and they last a lot longer. Pat

[noogie]

You won't get the KM2's to balance,I tried two different tyre shops to no avail,totally over rated tyre for the outback IMHO,and they throw rocks,my pet hate. Pat

My KM2s are balanced.
I've had no probs

[Sirocco]

I feel your pain.

After 42,000km last year we had to swap out 2 rear UJ's (yes TWO!) AND get the viscous fan welded up.

I expected a lot more from my 300tdi on 200,000km. I nearly didn't bring it to Australia and considered driving it off the port in Russia ;)

G

[rangietragic]

Land Rover reliability is certainly an issue when you do long trips.

When I travelled 16,000 km from the south east corner of Australia through the geographical centre to the north west corner and back in my Series III, I suffered the inconvenience of the spring in the passenger's door latch breaking.

Wouldn't you think Land Rover could use a better quality spring!

The fact that it was the only thing that went wrong on a 26 year old vehicle is no excuse.
:p
thats gotta be crap!Don't you know land rovers, especially old ones,won't make it more than 100 kays without breaking an axle,blowing a diff or just stopping for no apparent reason?Now my land cruiser has done over a half million kays and i havn't so much as had to put air in my tyres blah blah blah:D