BONNET MOUNTING WHEEL

HI

I have a late 08's defender 90 me and my brother are rebuilding we are close to finishing.

The spare wheel is mounted on the bonnet which has chequer plate fitted I want to fit the buffers to the bonnet. My be a silly question do the brackets that you screw buffers into go on the inside or outside of the bonnet, there are supports under the bonnet already but don't think the thread is long enough to go through.


Any help would be great

Mark

MARKMAC said:

HI

I have a late 08's defender 90 me and my brother are rebuilding we are close to finishing.

The spare wheel is mounted on the bonnet which has chequer plate fitted I want to fit the buffers to the bonnet. My be a silly question do the brackets that you screw buffers into go on the inside or outside of the bonnet, there are supports under the bonnet already but don't think the thread is long enough to go through.


Any help would be great

Mark

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Welcome to the loonyzone, Mark!

If you mean late 80s, that will be a Ninety, the predecessor to defenders.
I don't quite understand your post, but I think you will need to remove the chequer plate to bonnet mount a wheel. IIRC there should be four rubber buffers, held on by little bolts to the frames, and a big steel dish in the middle of them, with two threaded holes in it. It may help if you post a pic of what you have at the moment.

Myself I hate having the wheel on the bonnet, it blocks visibility close in front of the vehicle, very heavy when you lift the bonnet, and puts a lot of load on tired old bonnet frames and hinges!

I can take photos of whatever bits you need as I have my wheel on the bonnet.

There isn't a dish in the middle, that was series vehicles. On 90/110 era vehicles it's a 3 pronged arrangement and a pair of bolts to hold it down.

The buffers are are affixed with nuts on the other side. You may have to drill out large holes for the buffers to sit in so they fit.

flat said:

I can take photos of whatever bits you need as I have my wheel on the bonnet.

There isn't a dish in the middle, that was series vehicles. On 90/110 era vehicles it's a 3 pronged arrangement and a pair of bolts to hold it down.

The buffers are are affixed with nuts on the other side. You may have to drill out large holes for the buffers to sit in so they fit.

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Fair point! No dish, just bolts through into the middle of the frames on a 90!

Drill larger holes in the chequer plate I mean not the bonnet!!!

MARKMAC said:

HI

I have a late 08's defender 90 me and my brother are rebuilding we are close to finishing.

The spare wheel is mounted on the bonnet which has chequer plate fitted I want to fit the buffers to the bonnet. My be a silly question do the brackets that you screw buffers into go on the inside or outside of the bonnet, there are supports under the bonnet already but don't think the thread is long enough to go through.


Any help would be great

Mark

Click to expand...

Hi

Sorry meant late 80s. Shouldn't try typing things as your getting ready for night shift. Will post pictures once I dig out bonnet from behind pile of bits.

Thanks for quick responses.

Mark

Hi

Here are photos not the best but nearly broke my neck getting into take these. I may have figured it out after having a proper look at it - drill through where the two struts at the back and bolt the buffers.

Mark

That's a rear door mount held on with what looks like thread cutting bolts/screws/self tappers just into the ally (but can't tell properly from pics ) if they are either take it off or mount it properly with some proper nuts and bolts and washers.

Also is that a fiberglass bonnet?
And surely it would be easier/safer/tidier to mount it through the ally with just three holes for the prongs and the plate underneath?

Its a metal bonnet. Not sure how it's held on but will take a proper look, previous owners handy work.

That's a rear door mount, will take photos of a proper one tomorrow

blue beasty said:

View attachment 93464

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That's a series item, they are quite different on a defender 90/100 era vehicles

flat said:

That's a series item, they are quite different on a defender 90/100 era vehicles

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Sorry I thought they'd want a proper one

blue beasty said:

Sorry I thought they'd want a proper one

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Haha very funny!!

Well here is a defender one, I am not sure a back door mount put on the bonnet will work - I think it will hold the wheel to high and it will wobble and flex/crack the bonnet.

The genuine defender part makes the wheel sit on the 4 rubber buffers then the mount clamps the wheel down onto these so it is solid and doesn't move.

See attached photo. The buffers bolt through the frame of the bonnet and the 3 pinned wheel mount bolts from the underneath and is held in place with 3 small bolts.

Last pic

Jam1 said:

Also is that a fiberglass bonnet?
And surely it would be easier/safer/tidier to mount it through the ally with just three holes for the prongs and the plate underneath?

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I think the reason it looks like that inside is due to soundproofing material. It is a good idea, mine has similar!

flat said:

That's a rear door mount, will take photos of a proper one tomorrow

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Yes, rear door mount! And quite badly installed as bonnet mount, by the look of it!
Would be much better to get the real thing!

blue beasty said:

View attachment 93464

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Oooh! Careful! Flat is some fussy about the originality of his wheel mounts!

bastids

Yeah it's held on with self tapping screws. Think I will be investing in a proper kit, Paddocks do one for £50 worth the peace of mind the wheel will still be there after an emergency stop.

Thanks again for all your help probably would never have looked at how the thing was attached without your suggestions.

I have a bit of work yet till I get to the bonnet

lol yeah