defender - rust - corrosion

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RUDDdefender90

New Member
Posts
416
Location
Norwich, UK
hey guys gave the chasis a wash down yesterday as It was rather muddy and wanted to see what was what. pardon the lack of pictures, battery is dead.

its all about the old welding failure and corroded spring cones on me 90 (1991, 200tdi).

On further inspection, I have noticed an old bit of welding on the rear cross member. Think thats right, its sticks out on right side of door. I can see about a line of mm across an inch where the old weld has failed. The other side was welded last year and is sound still. Anything to worry about? just leave it? Got MOT in 8 months, so ages away in respect of that. Cant notice any other problems with the chasis from initial inspect. Didnt use a hammer, just had a good look and poke about.


I also noticed on the front springs that the housing, the metal cone above them is heavily corroded and brocken down (the top part of the cone) on the in side of it, the outside facing the wheel is perfectly fine and solid. Is this normal? a problem to be concerned about?

I also noticed some creamy white stuff come from under the pass side (when laying under landy). Looks like some kinda of metal plate under where the battery is (roughly) and around this is creamy white, not much at all and seems to be tacky. Looked under the pass seat and looks fine in there and solid. Did notice a black wire just touching the floor, ie under the pas seat again. an earth.

What you guys think to these issues?
 
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creamy white stuff will be ali that's been attacked by fluid from the battery

can't really comment on welding until you post pictures, but the turrets should have been an MOT fail if they are as bad as they sound
 
do I need a new battery then? could it have happened when I power washed the chasis?

Ill post some pictures showing the welding and shock absorber mounts (same as turrets?) sooon.
 
Turrets are cheep and easy to replace - 8 M5 bolts around the base (may been to cut them off, and one on the top for the shock..........................

They will cause you to fail your MOT as Sean said (if they spot them - usualy the mud covers up the damage!), and if they fail when the shock is needed you may come off the road and hit a tree!

As for corrosion of aluminum under the battery - just make sure it is not leaking, and that the caps are tight on the top of it............... - You may find (like line is) that it is dying and when its getting charged some of the fluid is 'boiling' off and then condensing on the cold metal and causing corrosion. - This will be the case if it keeps loosing fluid out of the cells all the time
 
hey up, ill replace em then. Paddock spares have good solid ones it seems for about £40-50 plus vat,plus delivery. but non say for defender....

http://www.paddockspares.com/search.asp

Ebay has some standard ones for £35-40 inc post and delivery

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-FRONT-SHOCK-MOUNT-TURRET-RINGS-x2_W0QQitemZ150187464382QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item22f7ded6be

both pairs and both come with the nuts and securing thing. Oh, ebay are 8 pound more for securing ring and nuts etc. do I need em? I got nuts on it already, and if not I have plenty of spare bolts and nuts around home.
 
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Have a look what the rings are like - may be worth replacing all of them to do a good job. Make sure bolts if using your own are upto it.

If your getting from paddocks ask what make they are - a lot of there stuff is britpart (usually thinner steal - what i have fitted :mad:) - if you can't find what you want on there web site give them a call.
 
gave my local landrover place a call today, peter scotts, and priced each turret at £25-27 plus vat, and the rings and bolts at £5-8 the set plus vat. it was about that price, forget exact poundage. guess ya fitted em cos paddocks sent ya the crappart?

here is the pictures of the turrets

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2410-mixture-issues-009.jpg
.

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2411-mixture-issues-012.jpg


http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/membe...ms-turrets-picture2412-mixture-issues-011.jpg
 
that turret doesnt look so bad, the fact that the cheap black paint has mostly come off is making it look worse

what's the second picture of ?
 
here is the pictures where the white stuff is coming from, which is under the pass seat near battery. Looked at the batty again today and all looks clean. one thing I did notice, there is normal wire going to the positive terminal but another wire is just sitting on the floor, and non on the negative terminal. should there be a thin wire attached to both terminals? (not got pic at mo).

this is the areas where white stuff, the melted ali is, if that is still true seeing as the battery terminals look fine and clean etc.

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2413-mixture-issues-014.jpg


also this is the area of welding I was talking about where it has moved, and left a slight hole, about mm wide along the weld edge. which is near the top of the picture, where you can see a the chasis joint as well.

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2415-mixture-issues-015.jpg


and here is another view of the same patch

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2414-mixture-issues-001.jpg



that pictures makes my chasis look awful, but its mega flash and was just cleaned so maybe makes things worst? hmmmm
 
sean that is the other side of the turret, the ouside looks sound, the inside bit is where the damage is. is rather hard getting picture of the inside bit, hence looks bit strange, ssorryy
 
RUDDdefender90 said:
sean that is the other side of the turret, the ouside looks sound, the inside bit is where the damage is. is rather hard getting picture of the inside bit, hence looks bit strange, ssorryy
Click to expand...

so is that the turret or the turret mount ? - hard to make it out
 
might be a good idea to clean some more of that black crap off as i bet it's hiding some nasties

but if your not prepared for some unpleasant surprises just buy some more black crap to cover up the rust

or do the right thing and get a new crossmember
 
RUDDdefender90 said:
how much are these cross members costing now adays? best to buy new as adposed to used yeah?
Click to expand...

the only used xmembers you'll find will be in much the same condition as yours - think i remember seeing a thread on here mentioning a company offering to supply and fit for £350 - or supply only for £160 ish

does that white stuff smell oilly, does it just wipe off ? - its not corroded ali as i first thought
 
update: here is the turret on my offside wheel. The other one only has a small hole towards the top of the turret, the outside bit.

Here is the turret from the outside, taken over the wheel.

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2418-outside-1.jpg


then as I look around the otherside of the same turret as above. we see heavy corrosion and lost of metal. is that the damper you can see, or is that an inner of the turret? the bit on right is the bit you can see in the other picture, just gone round it to give ya clue to exactly what is happening.

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2419-t-inside.jpg


a little clearer maybe

rudddefender90-albums-turrets-picture2420-t-inside-2.jpg


around the top is still intact, but as you can see the top half of it is gone.

sean is that clearer? hard getting behind it, as the bit that is damaged is facing inwards. other side of wheel as it were.
 
Defo replace the turrets and rings ( they will snap when you try to undo them ) that creamy stuff is oxidation , that will just wash off .
I'd also replace your cross member too looking at them pics , but have a good prod about with a screwdriver to make sure .



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