Freelander 1 TD4 Fuel Tank Cradle

Firstly has anyone replaced this and advise as to the best approach, I've searched and can't find any good info.

Second if anyone is looking to get one I've seen other threads where people have been charged quite a lot for bad condition second hand ones I've just sourced a new bearmach one for £57.86 Inc vat and delivery from totalparts.co.uk part no. WFZ000010

I replaced mine with a cradle purchased from my local Land Rover dealership. It cost £308.00 inclusive of V.A.T. I put several coats of Hammerite paint on it before it was fitted by a local Land Rover Independent mechanic. As I've said on another thread tonight, "Buy cheap, buy twice".

I'd agree with most parts but just a metal plate doesn't warrant it, especially as at that price I can buy 6 times and I can't see it rotting any worse than the genuine one

With regards to best approach I mean a rough how to, drop sub frame, intermediate exhaust etc. Thanks Will

I mean in what order and does the prop need removing or can I just drop the rear

VVill said:

I'd agree with most parts but just a metal plate doesn't warrant it, especially as at that price I can buy 6 times and I can't see it rotting any worse than the genuine one

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lol, yeh there are lots of things where buy cheap buy twice (or many times more) - but going by posts on the forum the LR cradle isn't exactly the best bit of kit you can buy!

Having said that - its amazing how much more cars rot in the UK compared to here. Underneath my '98 almost looks like it just rolled off the production line.

Inside though its had to put up with us for 5 years!

GrumpyGel said:

lol, yeh there are lots of things where buy cheap buy twice (or many times more) - but going by posts on the forum the LR cradle isn't exactly the best bit of kit you can buy!

Having said that - its amazing how much more cars rot in the UK compared to here. Underneath my '98 almost looks like it just rolled off the production line.

Inside though its had to put up with us for 5 years!

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Prolly better to get one fabricated up ...

I had my cradle replace at the garage (I was busy with work at the time , or I would have done it myself). The garage fitted a used rusty one they had laying about, added a splash of paint to it, and along with the brake pipes that needed doing, I got a £700 bill, mostly labour as the fuel tank has to be drained ( I just filled it up before going to the MOT - d'oh), prop shaft removed, etc etc. So £300 v £65 is still a good deal if you are going to pay someone £300 to fit it!

With regards to best approach I mean a rough how to, drop sub frame, intermediate exhaust etc.

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post no. 25 ..
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/fuel-tank-cradle.166882/page-2#post-2401288
see pics of text only ..
the posted link don't seem to work

( edit ) correction ..
looks like the pics/text refer to removing the fuel tank
but might help as far as getting the cradle replaced

btw: local LR dealer quoted £250 labour to replace the cradle
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There are some on eBay brand new he has nine at £95 each, the way I did mine was first undo the two bearings on the prop and the I loosened the bolts a bit, I then threaded through between the tank and the cradle a couple of ratchet straps one front yone back then opened the back doors and connected the ends and ratched the straps up, boy at this point I wish I had taken photos but it was raining and my camera cost a lot ,so now the straps were holding the tank up without hindering the cradle and no need to empty it , with the centre dropped on the prop you can just squeeze the cradle off and then just fit the other one ,one word just mark out where the bearings are before undoing them and jobs a good one.

Here's my recent experience of replacing mine.

"See this copied from a thread I put up recently about a cradle I bought on Fleabay and my experience fitting it - after searching and reading extensively through this forum
"Right - I received my cradle (quickly) from freelanderpartsuk and like another customer of his on ebay was slightly surprised to find it a bit more basic than his current ebay picture - just two simple plates - no ribbing but a bit thicker - 16wg instead of about 1mm but on two solid rails - not tubes - all finished in a decent looking silver coloured zinc-rich paint. A simple but good workmanlike cradle. I gave mine a couple of brush coats of Wickes Rust resistant black and then greased it with an Admiralty grease that they used to use to mothball battleships (unlike waxoil it never dries out and cracks) Encouraged by Gilbertian's post of 12th July about how he managed by just backing off the subframe bolts to get clearance I got started - I had the back up on ramps but before I wedged the fuel tank I took the precaution of lifting the car a bit and putting axle stands under the jacking points to ensure that when I lowered the subframe nothing moved and either dropped the tank or punched holes in it with my props. Prop off at rear diff only. Exhaust just off the rear rubbers and resting on the subframe. Actually I did not manage to get the old cradle out without completely removing the four subframe bolts but with a jack under the diff it all behaved very well and was no problem fitting back up. The new cradle was a little tight under the back right hand side and rather than squeeze the tank too much I just packed under that corner bolt about 1/4" Job done!"

dfossil, Sep 18, 2015 Edit Report

oops I for got about the sub frame yes I lowered that too but Freelanderspares oh no not them they were famous for the vcu's they did and immediately failed mine did any way and it left me stranded in the snow and plenty of it that winter never again will I deal with them.!

i was just about to order two from there for me and a friend. what is the part like, is it ok??

Thanks Teddy and dfossil, exactly what I was looking for. Lowbank not sure who your question is directed to but the cradle I received from totalparts is a Bearmach one and seems to be same pattern as original LR one.

They look the same

teddywood1 said:

oops I for got about the sub frame yes I lowered that too but Freelanderspares oh no not them they were famous for the vcu's they did and immediately failed mine did any way and it left me stranded in the snow and plenty of it that winter never again will I deal with them.!

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NOT Freelanderspares Teddywood! - Freelanderparts - who I also bought an engine tray from - perfect ebayer both times.
That bearmach one was not available when I bought mine - but I am happy that mine is solid bars and thicker metal - not tubes

I've searched and read a few threads on here regarding the fuel tank cradle. Can I just ask, is the fuel tank supported in any other way or is the cradle literally all that stops it falling off... mine is rusted through

ToffeeMark said:

I've searched and read a few threads on here regarding the fuel tank cradle. Can I just ask, is the fuel tank supported in any other way or is the cradle literally all that stops it falling off... mine is rusted through

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Just the cradle keeps the tank held to the underside.

It sounds like you bought this from a garage is January.

They would presumably have put a dodgy MOT on it because I can't see how that cradle could have got that bad in such a short period of time!