Rear bumper counterweights?

[AndrewM]

I was crawling under the back to see where I could run some cables and noticed what appear to be large swinging cast weights up inside the ends of the bumper. I'm intrigued as to what these are for - maybe vibration dampers or something to do auto leveling?:confused:

[stig0000]

i asked the same thing at work,, an they are harmonic balencers for the chassie, there are 2 of them,, one each side, to help get vibrations out of the chassie an help keep it qwiet,,

[Lotz-A-Landies]

i asked the same thing at work,, an they are harmonic balencers for the chassie, there are 2 of them,, one each side, to help get vibrations out of the chassie an help keep it qwiet,,I need a little education at this point.

My understanding was that the D3 is a monocoque design and therefore no chassis.

Can someone enlighten me?

[djhampson]

I thought only the Freebie and Freebie 2 were monocoque?

[BigJon]

D3 has a monocoque type of body shell mounted on what you could call a chassis.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

D3 has a monocoque type of body shell mounted on what you could call a chassis.When you say "could call a chassis" are you suggesting it has a subframe connecting the front end, engine and gearbox to the monocoque but not the rear suspension. Or it has a true chassis that mount all the running gear (engine, transmission, diffs and suspension) and the monocoque body sits on top?

[stig0000]

yer the LR2 an LM are the only land rovers with a true monocoque, the sport an d3 have both, they run the same floor plan, hence why they are soooooo heavy, its cos of some production resions they have "2 chassis"

[BigJon]

When you say "could call a chassis" are you suggesting it has a subframe connecting the front end, engine and gearbox to the monocoque but not the rear suspension. Or it has a true chassis that mount all the running gear (engine, transmission, diffs and suspension) and the monocoque body sits on top?

I haven't been under one for about a year, so I am a bit hazy on the mounting systems.

As far as I recall, the mechanical components are all mounted off the chassis and the body mounts on top.

I know the rear driveshafts pass through the chassis rails for clearance reasons.

The Range Rover Sport and the Discovery 3 are very similar in underbody design, but the Sport is on a shorter wheelbase.

[Neil P]

Someone on the D3 design team posted on D3 UK
3 or so years back that the intention was for weights in
all 4 corners, but costs had to be contained.

The money saved was then spent on the ingenious tow
bar design .... and the underslung exhaust

[Jamo]

The body mounts onto the chassis and the drivetrain etc is all attached to the chassis.

In the UK (I don't know about here) to do things like replace turbos, they will undo the 12(?) mounting bolts, disconnect the necessary cables etc and then hoist the body off the chassis. Understand it doesn't take much time to do this.

[Scouse]

In the UK (I don't know about here) to do things like replace turbos, they will undo the 12(?) mounting bolts, disconnect the necessary cables etc and then hoist the body off the chassis. Understand it doesn't take much time to do this.Yes, here too. It's a body off job to do a sump gasket on a TDV8 :eek:.

[BigJon]

I have been told that turbo replacement on a TDV8 Sport is body off chassis. I don't think the TDV6 engines require it (Sport or Discovery).

[Scouse]

TDV6 don't but it's a PITA to do (about a day). We haven't done a TDV8 one yet.

[B92 8NW]

Hmm that asks an interesting question.

In ten, fifteen years time when these vehicles are owned by people like the majority of people on here, what's going to happen if such a job needs doing? Is an independent realistically going to be able to remove a body to do a gasket cost effectively?

Is anyone concerned that once out of warranty it could be up to $1500 to do a sump gasket?

[Jamo]

Dude, where there's a will, there's a way.

With the TDV6 you can change the sump gasket by crawling underneath. Pretty well everything can be done with the body on the chassis. Some things may be easier with the body removed, but some things are easier with a hoist or pit and I don't have one those either.

I'm sure the TDV8 is the same.

And if the body needs to come off, all you need is a crane, some straps and a spanner to undo the bolts.

Next question!

[B92 8NW]

Dude, where there's a will, there's a way.

With the TDV6 you can change the sump gasket by crawling underneath. Pretty well everything can be done with the body on the chassis. Some things may be easier with the body removed, but some things are easier with a hoist or pit and I don't have one those either.

I'm sure the TDV8 is the same.

And if the body needs to come off, all you need is a crane, some straps and a spanner to undo the bolts.

Next question!

Actually now that you put it that way no-one is really too concerned about whipping the body off a 15year old D1. I doubt the level of concern would be any greater on a 15 year old D3. Bring on the forklift:D

[Jamo]

I'd have probably tried by now, except that my shed roof is so low I can't even get the rooftop tent on and still drive through the door.

[norto]

IIRC the weights operate the DCS

[Scouse]

Dude, where there's a will, there's a way.

With the TDV6 you can change the sump gasket by crawling underneath. Pretty well everything can be done with the body on the chassis. Some things may be easier with the body removed, but some things are easier with a hoist or pit and I don't have one those either.

I'm sure the TDV8 is the same.

And if the body needs to come off, all you need is a crane, some straps and a spanner to undo the bolts.

Next question!Unfortunately, the TDV8 or Supercharged Sport is a bit harder.
Book time for a TDV6 Sport sump gasket is 0.90hrs
Supercharged 14.60hrs
TDV8 13.40hrs

I'm sure if LR could get out of paying 13-14hrs for a sump gasket repair, they would have worked it out by now.

[AndrewM]

On chassis design and how the D3 looks under its skin, Leo posted a great link in the "Disco 3 Centre Differential" thread. There are full vehicle cutaway photos of a 2005 D3 and a 2006 RRS rolling chassis.



doogs, this is what the transfer case looks like inside: (from Vehicle Cutaways and Automotive Projects - Mike McGhee - Cutaway Creations (http://www.cutawaycreations.com/))

If you go to that site, they have cutaways of a RRS rolling chassis (virtually identical to the D3) with good details of the drivetrain.

But back to the original question about the counterweights - there seem to be 2 theories so far - vibration damping and norto says "IIRC the weights operate the DCS". I can understand the vibration damping function, but how do they work with DCS? (Or should this be DSC - dynamic stability control?)

[Timj]

Hi guys,

Here is a link to a discussion on D3.co.uk about the swinging dampers. Has a bit of information and a link to some theory. I did think there was one on each corner (4) but I will now have to check since it may not be. :(

Timj.

[Timj]

Damn, here is the link - DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - swinging weights (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic20284.html)
:angel:

[Jamo]

Unfortunately, the TDV8 or Supercharged Sport is a bit harder.
Book time for a TDV6 Sport sump gasket is 0.90hrs
Supercharged 14.60hrs
TDV8 13.40hrs
.

That's quick compared to how long I usually take!;):D

(Moot point for me anyway. I have a TDV6 and if /when I change cars it'll probably be to another D3.)

[haydent]

I just removed mine to save weight off the rear axle for towing. Will see if there is any noticeable effect, cant see it being so compared to the roads we drive on.

32 Kg ! which at the rear axle, appx 1m so 42kg off the axle (x1.34) off the axle which is significant. at about 8% tow ball weight your looking at being able to add another 350kg+ of payload to your van (assuming you stay under GCM & GVM)

My 2010 L320 it was just 4 bolts and the weights dropped off.

Literally googling for land rover gonads returns results for these threads ! I desexed my car, no truck nuts....

[discomatt69]

I just removed mine to save weight off the rear axle for towing. Will see if there is any noticeable effect, cant see it being so compared to the roads we drive on.

32 Kg ! which at the rear axle, appx 1m so 42kg off the axle (x1.34) off the axle which is significant. at about 8% tow ball weight your looking at being able to add another 350kg+ of payload to your van (assuming you stay under GCM & GVM)

My 2010 L320 it was just 4 bolts and the weights dropped off.

Literally googling for land rover gonads returns results for these threads ! I desexed my car, no truck nuts....
Will be interesting to hear if it makes any noticeable difference, I would be very happy to remove another 40kg off the rear of mine

[Tombie]

Will be interesting to hear if it makes any noticeable difference, I would be very happy to remove another 40kg off the rear of mine

Depends how he drives... Its certainly going to change it. The dampener helps harmonics, the harmonics affect yaw readings... and porposing will also be pronounced..

[Tins]

and purposing will also be pronounced..

Is that related to dulphins?

[BradC]

I desexed my car, no truck nuts....

I was always under the impression that if you removed its nuts you turned it into a Freelander.

[Tins]

I was always under the impression that if you removed its nuts you turned it into a Freelander.

That's evokative...

[Tombie]

Is that related to dulphins?

Related to bloody autocorrect

[V8Ian]

I was always under the impression that if you removed its nuts you turned it into a Freelander.
Or a Uniclander.

[Tombie]

You’ll find in certain conditions you’ll soon come to understand resonance and chassis harmonics.

[PerthDisco]

Via the air suspension or these counterweights the Disco has an excellent reputation for lack of car sickness.

[DiscoJeffster]

Via the air suspension or these counterweights the Disco has an excellent reputation for lack of car sickness.

Tell my kids that please!!! 🤢 🤮

[haydent]

Will be interesting to hear if it makes any noticeable difference, I would be very happy to remove another 40kg off the rear of mine

absolutely no difference, been 30,000 km and dont miss them, you cant convince me these somehow have more significance than the carrying of passengers or a fridge in the back ...