Thread: Defender TDI transmission slop?

Nick
There is a list aslong as my arm of reason why it is doing it. But to check the cheap ones first. But as you have not said what year or model it is i will go with these first
My money would be on the bits people blame for a gearbox but is not. On bearing in the front noise of the diff, if this is lose or worn it will cause back lash in the transmisson.Also the end caps on the rear axel can wear and be lose and cause the slack to be coming from there. The prop shafts splines or UJ's could be nackered. Or it can just be that the bushes on the front hockey sticks and rear radius arms are nackered , which will tilt the whole axel each time power is taken up and cause the noise
If it is a defender TDi then they have the LT77 box which is know for layshaft problems which can cause slop in the take up of drive. But i have never had a problem with them and i have given mine in the past complete death and they were alright . Oh and i mean complete death. My favoute hobby is getting stuck and still have 2cm of movement and then jamming it in 1st and then reverse quickly time and time again untill i get out.. But i would try the others first
Nick where abouts are you in Aus

hey reads90,
Thanks for the quick reply.. It is a defender 110 1995 tdi with 165k on the clock. The guy is asking $15k but im sure i can get him down to $10k easily... Would u suggest that i skip this one or should i look futher into it, ie book a mechanics inspection?
Im located in canberra....the joyous capital full of blood sucking pollies!!!

is there anything specific that i should be looking for in defenders that are known problems... I know that the timing belts need to be changed every 70,000 but besides that and good maintance...anything?
Thanks again, and look forward hearing from you
Regards
Nick

Hey Nick

Welcome to the forum.

Go the Defender.

Cheers
Simon

Originally posted by Nicklon01
hey reads90,
Thanks for the quick reply.. It is a defender 110 1995 tdi with 165k on the clock. The guy is asking $15k but im sure i can get him down to $10k easily... Would u suggest that i skip this one or should i look futher into it, ie book a mechanics inspection?
Im located in canberra....the joyous capital full of blood sucking pollies!!!

is there anything specific that i should be looking for in defenders that are known problems... I know that the timing belts need to be changed every 70,000 but besides that and good maintance...anything?
Thanks again, and look forward hearing from you
Regards
Nick

mmm well the cambelt in the uk we cahnged them every 60,000 miles so that 100,000Ks.
As for problems with the defender. mmm not alot just regular mentance keeps away problems like the ones which i think are cuasing the slop in the truck you are looking at.
Now what box is in yours. They changed from the 200 to the 300 Tdi in 1994 - 95ish. So you could have the LT77 lay shaft problem box . But unlikely i surpect it is a 300 TDi which means you have the stronger later R380 gear box which should not be causeing the problem. My money is on bushes , or end caps
Yours will not have the ecu 300 TDi but the one like in our 90 so you can fix the whole truck with a hammer and a chisel

Hi Nick,
your model should have a 300 Tdi engine and the R380 gear box (change came between ´93 and ´94 models). The splines on the output shaft of the gear box into the transfer box will wear out due to lack of lubrication which will lead to the typical "clonk" noise. From ´97 (I think) models onwards this was remedied by a modified bearing in the transfer case which allowed for decent lubrication.
You will get a certain distance still with the old shaft, then it suddently will just quit its service and leave you stranded and yelling for a tow truck. Happened to me :roll: :roll: . A gear box rebuild comes at quite an expense!8O

I trust this (in Europe) well known trouble affected Australia less as many Landy owners allegedly put oil of a different specification into the gear box.

I still have the worn shaft at home as a warning for all to see. I just have to get round to taking a few pics one day.

Cheers and Good Luck!

id put money on the input gear of the LT230 Transfer.

if your lucky it will only be a worn gear and the shaft might be ok. but proberly not.

if he is after $15k then i doubt he will drop to $10k as Defenders are sort after and still hold there price.

my gess is he might drop 2k, but not $5k

Good luck.