Thread: Converting 1993 Defender 110 Rear Drum Brakes to Rear Disc Brakes

Originally Posted by JDNSW

The rear brake setup is, as far as I can see, identical to late Series 3. I should comment though that I have never had any significant issues with snail adjusters on any of my Series vehicles. Perhaps because they have never been driven in seawater?

The worst issue I have had with the rear brakes on the County is hub seals leaking onto the linings, but this largely reflects oil lubricated wheel bearings that definitely have advantages for bearing life and half shaft spline life.

With the drum brakes, they need to be adjusted every service, not exactly a major issue.

One problem I did have - I replaced the drums about ten years ago. One of the new drums was significantly faulty in that the centre hole was not concentric with the braking surface by a few thou. This was solved when I was given a pair of as new drums by someone converting from drums to discs!

Hello John,

Thank you for providing the detail and insight into the County's brakes. I changed a couple of single circuit Series III 109s to dual circuit systems and overhauled or replaced the brake components. I adjusted everything up to having very firm and responsive brakes. So, I am happy with and had prior success working on Series III brakes.

That 2A shorty though - I could not achieve a firm brake pedal then one of the new OEM wheel cylinders leaked overnight. Then the other corners followed suite over successive days. Not even bench-bleeding the master cylinder and pressure bleeding the whole system - including all new flexible pipes could get a firm pedal. It probably needs all new metal brake pipes and unions. The replacement snail adjusters were useless too.

The previous owner had converted over to an early Toyota diesel motor out of Land Cruiser. They might have even upgraded the brakes to 109s. It was some years ago now and I have some memory of ordering brake parts just by going off the model and year then finding out the parts did not fit the car. So it was a bit of Heinz variety. A Series I push button starter to engage the dash mounted Toyota glow plug warmer unit. Then turn the standard Land Rover ignition key to start the motor. The wiring loom a hybrid of Land Rover and Toyota - plus years of upgrades and deletions. The bloke was a sugar cane farmer and self-taught engineer with a very well set up workshop. He did all the conversion work himself. My second ever Land Rover purchase was one of his last projects that he never got to finish due to ill health. A Series III with a Nissan diesel motor conversion from a Patrol. He loved Land Rovers but hated their engines! He also held numerous patents for sugar cane machinery innovations.

Kind regards
Lionel

Hello Ron and All,

I just received an email from Brad at KLR and the Perentie conversion kit does fit the January 1993 Defender 110. I still have to get a clarification about whether the original wheel rims will still have clearance; and a quote on the post for the kit and some other parts too. Fingers crossed that the originals rims will be okay - otherwise there could be two Wolf rims being ordered.

Thank you ATO for my tax return refund. I know where some of it is heading. I want to get Snowy back on the road in 2024.

Kind regards
Lionel