Thread: Rebuilding Sid

BTW.....

If you need to form a tube for a steering relay..... it’s the exact same diameter as a can of penetrating oil



Think those Land Rover gits were taking the .......

I got a small length of truck exhaust pipe.

Messy and dirty week...

Front half of chassis has now been blasted, degreased, rust killed and washed down ready for paint. Front diff and swivels the same. Marathon parts washing event.



On the upside, I built myself up to tackle the last of the bushes, these were in the front spring. Having spent a day getting the chassis bushes out I wasn’t looking forward to this.

Not sure what happened but these just popped out. It was like those car programmes on discover where the presenter removes decades old bushes with a small spanner and some old threaded bar whilst talking to camera and not breaking a sweat. A far cry from three hours in a pool of rust, tears and blood on the garage floor while steadily filling the swear jar.

I have been using a penetrating oil I found that actually works. I’ve always bought this stuff in hope rather than expectation as it has been universally useless. But this WD Penetrant is excellent. Bushes came out intact with a light tap through with a hammer and socket.



Front springs done.

Chassis painting today.



The back half I had done by brush and it took forever. The front half I sprayed using a Fuji HVLP unit that I have had for a few years. Much better.

All painted using water based acrylic in satin black.

Bushes in springs are almost always a lot easier to remove than chassis bushes because the pring eye is not a closed circle - it will spring out slightly under pressure. If you are having problems, the eye can be opened slightly by driving a thin wedge such as a small cold chisel under the eye, along the top of the spring.

Back springs weren’t easy, even with chisels, still came out in pieces.

Front springs are different to back, the spring loops completely around the bush so I couldnt use a chisel to open it.

Progress has slowed a bit of late, work has been busy and when I’ve had time to work on Sid, I’ve been let down by parts again.

I am really becoming frustrated at the appalling quality control of both the manufacturer and retailers. Rant over.



Front axle is getting there. Drivers side done. Swivels rebuilt and set up.

Challenge I have though is the left side half shaft. The half shaft bearing was toast so I replaced that and then realised I’ve got to replace the race on the half shaft. But I have checked and I don’t seem to have the specialist contraption in the manual for disassembly.....so stuck.

Any ideas or suggestions? I’ve contemplated leaving as is, but the new bearing is 0.01” bigger which I think is too much play.

Waiting for parts so attention has moved on to the gearbox

Nice therapeutic afternoon sat in the sun scrubbing a gearbox with a little wire brush.