Thread: What did you do on your Landy today?

Well, yesterday and today I did my first service on my Defender (Hector). What fun that was! I took a bit of head scatting at times, some running in to check things out on this forum, but I got it all done and feel pretty good about it. The more I work on Hector the more I am enjoying the experience.

Used the 2 litter milk bottle trick on the oil filter and it worked a treat! However... I found the flow of oil out of the sump a bit like the flow of a little boy who drank too much coke! Missed the container completely ! Fortunately I had put cardboard down, but still a lot of oil got under it (and through it!).

Next on the list was the gear oil. What a pretty colour that blue oil is! How pretty it is splattering over the chassis rail! How evenly the splash is - pretty sure the rail is directly under the bung! More oil spilt! Next was the transfer case - so easy, it was almost boring - not a drop spilt.

That was all the time I had for yesterday except the clear up of the garage floor before SWMBO came home (her parking spot).

Today was the fuel filters and air filter. There are 2 in-line filters for each tank under the drivers side seat - these were so dirty it is a wonder any fuel got through, the main filter was a doddle! So too was the air filter.

The only thing left was to take it on a test drive (to get some degreaser for the garage floor - my cleaning last night was only marginally successful at best).

Hector drove like a dream - I think he likes having diesel flowing freely!

So, what did I learn? Defenders are pretty easy to work with - and mightily satisfying! Also, next time - use a funnel when emptying the sump and gear box!

Ripped the rear brake rotors off and had them machined. I measured them at 12.05 and 12.35 knowing the limit was 11.7. When I got in to the shop they straight away said "Oh, they are under limit. They're only 11mm". I looked at their plastic calipers and said "I don't think so, I measured them with a micrometre". What do you know when they measured them with a proper micrometre, They were exactly what I said they were. Even when he had no idea how to use the micrometre. Guess they wanted to sell me new rotors. Lucky the rotor machine was pretty easy to operate.

Anyway. Machined discs and new pads. All the calipers cleaned up and the slide pins greased with ridiculously expensive brake caliper grease.

Happy Days.

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

I'm going to assume this is why my fuel economy is now absolute ****e.

Noooo, it's because of the extra weight of the dog **** you're carrying around.

Changed the front brake pads and had to stop then as we were going for lunch. So I'll do the rear tomorrow.
Then an oil and filter change.
Maintenance never really stops if you're going to keep running well.
AlanH.

New 12mm bullbar bolts, new swaybar D bushes, new side light and parkers with assistance from SWMBO

Fairly typical D2 fractures on the sway bar bush clamps....



And what looks like a sheared bolt in the sump

It's not a broken bolt it's an alignment dowl in the gasket

Started on the Puma again,fitted the spotties and antenna back on front bar,put new 'smart' charger on the battery as the car has been sitting for a while.Painted a bit more tectyl on here and there,dam good stuff.Gave the jack a bath in oil,as they seem to get a coating of rust on them.Replaced all the metal self tappers in the floor panels with stainless screws.

Back to the D4,for those of you that have the 2.7, there is a coolant hose that runs down the left side of the rad and rubs on the edge of the lower clip that holds the fan shroud onFitted a piece of grey electrical hose around the hose,very difficult to get to,have to pull off a plastic panel and attack from underneath.Also if you have the Traxide dual battery kit,the same hose does a loop and rubs on the battery mounting plate,also needs a bit of hose on it to stop chafing.

Replaced the lift pump and fitted up new shocks and 2" lifted springs to the 130.