Standard or Modified?????

[1985CountyPhaser110]

Can someone please help me identify whether this extra piece of material around where the front radius arm bolt connects is standard or has been modified! Defenders only have the one piece of metal this seems to have two???This is important to get a refund on airbag man airbags. This is on a 1985 110 land rover county. Thanks in advance.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/01/1050.jpg

[Loubrey]

There does appear to be a bit of strengthening welding going on there... I compared it with mine and it certainly isn't that "thick" either side of the bolt hole, if that is what you are referring to. Another issue might be that my bolts are obviously HT with a much finer thread and sticks out quite a bit more beyond the axle mounts.

Older cars might however have thicker metal used in the past, but the County boys can comment on that...?

Cheers,

Lou

[landy]

It has had the flat washers welded in place. This is a standard 'fix' to fix elongation of the bolt hole. It is quite common that the bolts come slightly loose and as they wear they course the holes to elongate. The tell tale sign is a loud creaking or groaning from the front end on acceleration from the stand still.

Hope this helps.

[1985CountyPhaser110]

Thanks I found quite a lot of people on FB that could give examples of the same thing including this one pulled from google.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/01/1026.jpg

[isuzurover]

My 87 county has washers but they look different and are only welded at the top which is chamfered.

[AndyG]

I suppose it is possible, that Solihull used different washers and welding techniques on different days of the week,:confused:, to give it that hand built craftsman look. :p

[JDNSW]

Washers fitted on my County, and I am certain this is original. (Neater welding than yours, but I would not go so far as to say that distinguished them as not original!)

John

[Vern]

Why would this affect the airbags?

[1985CountyPhaser110]

The reason it effects the airbags is because the lower mount for the shocky mounts in this position. Airbag man has designed the bracket with a small recess which mates with the single thickness of the metal. Its held on only with the radius arm bolt. The bracket goes under the axle which stops it swinging down. This mated recess is meant to stop it swing up, but with the extra thickness it does not lock in the edge as its supposed too! My bracket swang up and got stuck, which could then swing down when cornering again! Sounds pretty dangerous to me.

[isuzurover]

Just turn the mount around already and run the shocks at the back of the axle.