PUMA owners - please check

[Scallops]

Hello folks,

This morning when I was checking the oil etc under the bonnet of my PUMA, I noticed that on the upper side of the brake master cylinder, there is a hole forming from where the bonnet is rubbing it. The BMC is plastic, so it won't be too long before it is holed. I can also see on the bonnet underside, paint rubbed off where it is in contact with the BMC.

I took it straight into the dealer - who has booked it in immediately to get it fixed - they are going to alter the bonnet underside so it clears it properly and replace the BMC.

I have driven many km of corrugations in mine - which might be why it rubbed - but check yours anyway.

I'll post some pics tonight.

[Scouse]

There was a recent mention in another thread on this.
Maybe a bigger bonnet bulge is needed .

[solmanic]

Are you talking about the booster or the reservoir? The booster is metal but the reservoir is all plastic. Both sit up about the same height on mine but no sign of rubbing or contact - I'm just not driving hard core enough. I can see where the underside of the bonnet has been profiled to clear the booster assembly on either LH or RH drive models but it's a bit poor if they didn't get that right in design.

[solmanic]

There was a recent mention in another thread on this.

I thought that was in relation to the brake line rubbing on the heat shield.

[Scallops]

There was a recent mention in another thread on this.
Maybe a bigger bonnet bulge is needed .

I saw a thread about the brake lines from the ABS cutting through the heat shield - but this is a different issue (if that is the thread you were referring to).

[Scallops]

Are you talking about the booster or the reservoir? The booster is metal but the reservoir is all plastic. Both sit up about the same height on mine but no sign of rubbing or contact - I'm just not driving hard core enough. I can see where the underside of the bonnet has been profiled to clear the booster assembly on either LH or RH drive models but it's a bit poor if they didn't get that right in design.

Yeah - I mean the plastic reservoir - isn't that the brake master cylinder?

[solmanic]

Reservoir Got it.

It would be interesting to get one of those little endoscope-camera thingies to see just how much clearance is in there with the bonnet closed. They must have been some evil corrugations.

[discokid]

Ive just taken delivery of my new Defender 130 a week ago. I saw mention of this problem in 4x4 Australia for there long term 110 tester

Ive checked mine and there is quite a bit of clearance Im wondeirng if they fixed it in later models?

or maybe the absence of ABS means a different brake booster?

Funny enough Ive got the welded A frame brackets which from my understanding were only used in the earlier models?

Can wait to get it on the road next week

[Scouse]

I thought that was in relation to the brake line rubbing on the heat shield.

I saw a thread about the brake lines from the ABS cutting through the heat shield - but this is a different issue (if that is the thread you were referring to).

Problems with new Defender

[RMB3218]

This is known problem on 110 Pumas(not 130 as it has no ABS and master cylinder is smaller) I posted info on this quite some time ago. Every 110 I have seen that has been on dirt roads has this problem. There is a picture of this in the current 4x4 Australia mag. I pointed this problem to the author of the article when I met him in Kununurra. My bonnet has been modified by the dealer. I can't say to much more on this as I am still having "discussions" with LRA on this and other issues.