Er... why isn't it sitting straight?

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T

thetim

Well-Known Member
Posts
379
Swapped out a Disco 300tdi front axle and fitted a 2003 Defender axle in its place.
I haven't fitted the Panhard rod yet, so the front end's just floating on its springs, but I'm a tad bewildered. It doesn't want to centralise; rather, the chassis is coming to rest offset about 2cm towards the driver's side. What's going on? Is there anything to know about how the springs should go in (right way up, upside down, rotate them to a particular orientation)? Or am I just worrying about nothing, the drive's not particularly flat, and I should just force it to resolve when I weld on a Panhard rod mount?

If no-one can think of anything specific in the way things should be installed then I'm willing to believe that it's just sitting wherever it feels most comfortable. I just wanted to check whether there's any lurking wrongness in how I've assembled things.
 
put a jack under the rhs of axle and raise it till it lines up if chassis is to far over to the rhs likewise on the other side if its too far on lhs
 
Hi,

Maybe would help if you say what you have fitted the axle to.

But if it is only connected via the springs , is the axle hanging on the springs?

Cheers
 
Been and had another look, with the axle level to the cab. I think it's just a function of where the drag link is sitting (duh) and so once the Panhard rod is in, I think it'll be fine. I've tweaked it a bit and it's about central now. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing anything important, but I don't think so. Thanks for the responses.

Oh, and yes, fair point Neilly - it's an oddball I'm half way through building:
P1150178.jpg
 
It's an absolute mission. Looking forward to getting it finished and getting on with life! It's for a hospital in Madagascar whose existing 300tdi Defenders get stuck on the mud roads. Hoping this will be a little better.
 
thetim said:
It's for a hospital in Madagascar whose existing 300tdi Defenders get stuck on the mud roads.

Quite a project & a noble mission on your part, but if the roads are that bad why don't they simply acquire some form of ex-military AWD truck :confused:
Click to expand...
 
Sensible question. The answer is maintenance and spare parts - all of their vehicles are 300tdi Defenders. My starting point would have been something bigger, but they were very clear that it needed to run on the same mechanicals as everything else.

Closeup of the front end below. The steering box is Disco I, tipped forwards on its nose so it takes an input from above and has the steering arm hanging out behind. Leaves the fluid feed and return ports on top, helpfully. The drag link is the main part of a two-piece Discovery track rod, with a RH threaded ball joint at one end and a LH threaded one at the other end. It's precisely the right length, amazingly. The front bolt holes for the radius arms have been moved down by a few millimetres to give increased castor to compensate for a 2" lift - I know 2" isn't much, but I can't get it cleared for road use if the steering doesn't self-centre to the examiner's liking, so I didn't want to mess about.

P1150184.jpg
 
thetim said:
Sensible question. The answer is maintenance and spare parts - all of their vehicles are 300tdi Defenders. My starting point would have been something bigger, but they were very clear that it needed to run on the same mechanicals as everything else.

Equally sensible answer, I wish you every success with the project & will follow your thread with interest.
Click to expand...
 
@thetim

I for one would like to propose that you make a new thread in the Projects section and give us updates on it.. I am really liking the look of this.

Please.........:):)

Cheers
 
thetim said:
Sensible question. The answer is maintenance and spare parts - all of their vehicles are 300tdi Defenders. My starting point would have been something bigger, but they were very clear that it needed to run on the same mechanicals as everything else.

Closeup of the front end below. The steering box is Disco I, tipped forwards on its nose so it takes an input from above and has the steering arm hanging out behind. Leaves the fluid feed and return ports on top, helpfully. The drag link is the main part of a two-piece Discovery track rod, with a RH threaded ball joint at one end and a LH threaded one at the other end. It's precisely the right length, amazingly. The front bolt holes for the radius arms have been moved down by a few millimetres to give increased castor to compensate for a 2" lift - I know 2" isn't much, but I can't get it cleared for road use if the steering doesn't self-centre to the examiner's liking, so I didn't want to mess about.

View attachment 123936
Click to expand...
Love the steering box. Forward Control (almost) :D

neilly said:
@thetim

I for one would like to propose that you make a new thread in the Projects section and give us updates on it.. I am really liking the look of this.

Please.........:):)

Cheers
Click to expand...
+1
 
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