Thread: Grab Handles For Disco.

Yes please - I have been thinking about doing this for some time but i really want something inside for her to hang on to when we go over the rough stuff. With the airbag on the passengers side the "jesus" handle is gone.

I want to fit one on the pax side of the Defender to keep the missus happy.

Hi All,

By the way our Disco is a 97 D1a with duel airbags.

All I did was got some of the handle's that are above each door....Dont know what are really called, but you know the things I mean, grab handles or suit hangers etc

Anyway take pillar cover off have a look and you will see some large holes on the pillar which should have black tape over them. I could install handle without get that close to them but just be awear of them.

I moved the wire loom out of the way...its just held in place by light metal tabs etc.

I sat the cover back on a little ....marked the holes with handle in place, about an inch or so from the top of the speaker grill. (maybe more I didnt meaure it, Look at pic for an idea)

Took cover off again and drilled the hole's....making sure the holes line up.

Put cover back on propelery and inset drill to make a mark on the steel inside.

I did this because I didnt have anything long enough to mark the hole possie on the piller.

May need to centre punch the hole possie because the bit of steel we are trying to drill is at a very queer angle....so this is the most important thing.

After making the mark on piller I used a small steel tek to drill......its very tight trying to drill with the windscreen in ! One of those small palm type drill/screwdriver's would be ideal, I was useing a full size battery drill, hence small metal tek.

I started to drill and after I had made it in a little I moved the drill back to me (sitting in seat) to try and get the angle right for when we put the big teks in etc.

After all holes were drilled I just put cover back on , screwed handle onto cover and then sat cover near its normal possie....to try get an idea where it needs to be. I found I had to play with the cover clips by bending them a little to help .

Just line the hole up best you can and just take your time to start each screw.

One thing I didnt do was pack out the inside of the cover....so when all screws are tight the top of the cover pushed out towards me....but by the sounds of it more people want more pics so I might pull one side off pack it out and take more detailed pics.

When on I gave them a hard time by almost swinging off them....Im 80-90kg and they didnt pull out and feel very strong etc....very happy....If I do say so myself

Sorry if this is all too long, any questons just ask I and I will do my best to help out.

I have 2 pics of the handles in....but my PC wont let us post pics here, send email and I will send them to you or unless some can help post them.....please?

Originally Posted by amshaw

Hi All,

By the way our Disco is a 97 D1a with duel airbags.

I couldn't resist... Do you walk ten paces, turn, draw and shoot?

Originally Posted by BigJon

I couldn't resist... Do you walk ten paces, turn, draw and shoot?

Only when I need to and the Law says I can !

So has anyone installed overhead or pillar mounted handles into a Defender ?

Do the wagons have overhead ones in the back ? I dunno I've never been inside a wagon...

yep deefer wagons have the grab bars over the rear doors

Just went out in the rain to get more pics for you blokes.

If you want to see all 6 just Email amshaw@bigpond.net.au and I will send.

Regards
Andrew