85 Rangie Cracks around the door frame

[Peterc5561]

Hi Guys, just back from a big trip to north WA. I'm home to lick my wounds and make repairs (South Coast Vic). Gibb river rd and Tannmi rd have taken their toll. :(
I have cracks accross the B pillar on both front doors, just beside the door lock button. Tha right hand pillar has cracked that bad that the doors wobble all the time. Has anybody had this trouble before? If so, what is the best fix?
As well both rear disk stone guards have cracked and broken, ive made temporary repairs and now im looking to fix it forever. Dose anybody have any solutions on how to repair them properly?
I also have a sucking noise under the dash, but the only thing that it could be is the Brake Booster. There is nothing else that runs on vacume. It also makes a rattling sound when you put your foot on the brake pedal, the symptoms disapear after a while or when it gets warm. Has anybody hade trouble with the brake booster? if so what was the problem?
Im new to all this and have only had the Rangie for 10 mounths, so any help would be of great help, thanks for your time. Pete:rolleyes:

[damo]

Can't help ypu with the crack, but the disk guards you can discard. I have had mine off almost since i got my RR. I am not sure about the vacume booster as mine just went POP one day the pedal went hard. The other sucking noise you might have is vacume line to the transfer case diff lock.

[p38arover]

Not uncommon. My '86 RR had cracked on one of the B-pillars, too.

Ron

[Sith]

I had cracked Bpillars in my old 87 RR , due to a full length roof rack system and the torque and twisting of the body off roading took it's toll to the point that the rear doors wouldn't close properly .
Took it to a company in Perth here that re welded and braced them for around $350 from memory and then had to get them painted up .
From what the guy told me the best roof racks to get are alloy with movable /adjustable legs not solid rails [like i had] , also alot of manufact cmpanies only really supply to fit by length and width where the RR roof line is curved from front to rear and when you crank down on those bolts it doesnt do your gutters a world of good

[Peterc5561]

Thanks Guys for the replies,
DAMO, sounds like I dont need the disk guards, what did it cost you for a new vacume booster? and i'll have a look at the difflock line to make sure its ok.
P38arover, what did you do to fix your B-pillars?
Sith, thanks, i've not had any roofracks on the rangie - but the previous onwer may have, and now with a rough trip i've finnished them off.

Looks like i'll be out with the welder and paint, off with the disk guards, and pull the brake booster out and have a look.
Ive also got a problem with the fuel guage - intermittently it dose not work - must be a loose conection.
And the gear stick has a grinding/squeaking noise in the stick when you change gears!
This will keep me bussy and off the net, thanks again for your help. Pete

[DEFENDERZOOK]

it may not be that easy to weld.....are the pillars steel or alloy....?

[damo]

Nope. won't need the stone guards. They can catch and hold rocks and debri against the disks. As to the booster, I put a second hand one in as my original was some other retro-fitted one by the previous owner. You should eb able to get a kit to recondition the booster at less than a new booster.
The only hard bit will be getting up under the dash to unbolt it!:mad:
The pilars are steel so they can be welded pretty easily,although someone with experience is always worth it.
Good Luck:)

[Peterc5561]

Thanks for the help guys, i've striped the pillar down removed the back door and welded up the cracks and now the doors dont wobble any more.
Thanks again for your help:D

[rick130]

I re-fitted the rear stone guards on my Defender (they'd been ripped off by the previous driver/s) as the rear discs were being given a hammering by rocks and gravel.

[loanrangie]

Peter, i have had the same prob with my booster and fixed it by taking it out and pulling it apart and cleaning the inside with a dry cloth. Check that the diaphram has no holes or splits in it, wipe some oil aoring the inside and reasssemble, i have done this my 81 rr about 8 years ago and still going strong, also did it to my 85 rr about 2 months ago when i replaced the brake m/ cyclinder. I also have a crack in the B pillar just above the waist line.

Regards,
Nick.