Defender Chassis/ CV Joint

bendelaurence · Jul 20, 2010

Hi all!!

I've found a defender i really like the look of. The seller says it only has 2 small faults.

2 small patches of welding on the chassis - he says the rest of the chassis is sound and rubber waxoyled

A faulty CV Joint which causes a knocking on full lock.

Im going to look at it tomorrow.

Any tips on checking the chassis and cv joints??

Thanks

Ben

steve-o · Jul 20, 2010

For CV full lock both ways and pull away. Not a major job. About £70 for BOTH cv joints and seals from paddocks!

larrynumber1 · Jul 20, 2010

take a hammer and flat screwdriver, if he's confident about his chassis he shouldnt minf you havin a poke around it.

Give all the flat surfaces a good taping with the hammer-

you want to hear a ping noise when you do this, this means the metal is strong

a thud or dull noise on impact means the metal is moving and absorbing the impact (rust causes low strength which allows movement)

then with the screwdriver give a good firm stab into all the little nooks where the hammer wont fit, check the ends of rear crossmember, inside of cross mem, spring mounts etc... basically anywhere where muck can sit.

also lift carpets in front to examine footwells

keep an eye out for damp floors which may indicate leaking bulkhead

Condition of door bottoms also - galvanic corrosion occurs here where the aluminium door skin meets the metal frame!

bendelaurence · Jul 20, 2010

Thanks guys.

So a little welding here and there isnt that bad?

It passed its mot back in feb so i'm guessing the welding was done for that

hughesy · Jul 20, 2010

bendelaurence said:
It passed its mot back in feb so i'm guessing the welding was done for that

Wouldn't bank on it.

bendelaurence · Jul 20, 2010

hughesy said:
Wouldn't bank on it.

Go on........

larrynumber1 · Jul 20, 2010

i think what he means is that just because its passed its MOT doesnt mean that same welding will get it through again!

So dont assume it couldnt be that bad just because it has an MOT

Looky here, this guy bought his with an mot too i think
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/mo...-take-look-underneath-big-mistake-112398.html

hughesy · Jul 20, 2010

I've bought a few landies that had not long been through MOT's and shouldn't have passed is what I meant Applies to all vehicles not just landies.

bendelaurence · Jul 21, 2010

Right, so I'm taking a hammer and a screwdriver and having a good couple of hours banging around. It will be a shame if it's shot as the body looked great!!

MrJC · Jul 21, 2010

Just remember waxoyle and stone chip paint can cover a nightmare. Front outriggers are another popular rust point. Beware of any thick coating on the rear x member just below rear door.
Dont jump the gun and buy cos you love it today.... this is a marriage not a one night stand

Just in case you aint sure... pics of MOT fail front out riggers and rear x frame. This still had 3 months MOT on it...so much for an MOT

bluehaze · Jul 21, 2010

Rear cross member looks in need of some TLC

bendelaurence · Jul 21, 2010

MrJC said:
Just remember waxoyle and stone chip paint can cover a nightmare. Front outriggers are another popular rust point. Beware of any thick coating on the rear x member just below rear door.
Dont jump the gun and buy cos you love it today.... this is a marriage not a one night stand
Just in case you aint sure... pics of MOT fail front out riggers and rear x frame. This still had 3 months MOT on it...so much for an MOT

Telling me!!! Just like you said, thick coating of waxoyl around the rear cross member, along with a couple of weld patches. I tapped along the chassis from front to back with a hammer. I rekon there are alot of rotten parts, even though non of it was rotten all the way through. The engin definately wasnt right, a real lack of power, in a v8? Definatly been driven through some rivers in its time. Sounded good though. but i think ill pass!

But i REALLY WANT A V8 NOW!!!!

bendelaurence · Aug 2, 2010

I'm looking at this defender at the moment. He has sent me these pics as he is 250 miles away. I know its hard to tell from pics, and i will be taking a hammer with me, but how do these look to you guys?

Any visible potential problems?

Thanks

sypher · Aug 2, 2010

doesnt look too bad from here but like u said its hard to tell from just pics , they might be old pics ??? but thats my way of thinking tho lol .
Another place to look at is to the left of the master cylinder/servo ( when looked from the front to back ) they go down there where the seam is . also where the inner wing bolts to the bulkhead , theres a braket that rots out - then take out the bulkhead .

Where is the landy ?

bendelaurence · Aug 2, 2010

Practically in Newquay. It was resprayed 12 months ago, u can still see some red, not the best job, but that's cosmetic. Also it's chassis is only 10 years old and has been waxoyled every year so fingers crossed. And a 3.9 v8 on holleys. U know what it's like though, it's a long long train ride to find something major wrong and have to come back empty handed, but there's only so much u can find out by phone.

SHEDJIM · Aug 2, 2010

Good luck, It looks like it's a good one from the pics. I took a mate with me when I bought mine. I was excited and my eye for a **** heap was blured with shiney,new, must have syndrome which I can only assume is made worse by a V8 on holleys

.
Luckly it was a goodun, hope yours is too

Defender Chassis/ CV Joint

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