My new Disco - 300TDi

Hi all,

I've just bought a Disco - a 1997 300TDi, in Green.

Already fitted with a winch, winch bumpers, snorkel and 2" lift.

She's not perfect, needs a couple of little bits of welding, and the front prop lower UJ is completely shot (new one on order - I get the impression that is a fairly easy thing to change?), and the gear-linkage doesn't seem to self-centre properly - is that easy to fix? I'm assuming there is a pring somewhere that has lost it's springyness?

This won't be an immense build thread like some on here (I've been particularly inspired by the likes of Mr Noisy and auf_wiedersehen_pet), but the idea is for her to be gradually tweaked as time and money permit - she's also my everyday car so has to remain roadworthy...

I'll be using her for greenlaning, rally marshalling (I'm involved in a lot of local motorsport), and probably some proper offroading once I've got used to driving her.

Nick

Thanks for the mention - I'm looking forward to another Hampshire build.

Took the front prop off last night in preparation for changing the lower U/J, however there is still a definite 'clunk' coming from the transmission somewhere - particularly when I press the clutch to change up - What might this be?

nickclarke said:

Took the front prop off last night in preparation for changing the lower U/J, however there is still a definite 'clunk' coming from the transmission somewhere - particularly when I press the clutch to change up - What might this be?

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Wear in the diffs, more likely to be the output shaft on the gearbox. But could also be a combination of all these things and worn bushes on the trailing arms, radius arms and the A frame at the back.

Still, nice looking Disco. My first one was that colour, it makes it look a little more refined I think.

tetsu0san said:

Wear in the diffs, more likely to be the output shaft on the gearbox. But could also be a combination of all these things and worn bushes on the trailing arms, radius arms and the A frame at the back.

Still, nice looking Disco. My first one was that colour, it makes it look a little more refined I think.

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Thanks - There is a bit of play in both axle diffs, I'd say between 1/8 and 1/16 of a turn. How do you test the middle one and the 'box output shaft? Is it something that needs to be fixed, or one of those "all old landys do it" type things? I suspect rebuilding a diff or box is probably beyond my newbie skill level...

Hello

You can have a fair bit of play in an axle (particularly front) without actually having a clunk scenario

Worn cross pin and/or locating holes tend to give a good clunk

Regards output shaft, take PTO cover off round back of transfer case (just 6 bolts), pop car in 4th gear and get someone to roll the car back and forward against the gearbox, handbrake off of course.

See how much play you have between the centre shaft and the gear round the outside.

Centre diffs in the transfer case tend to end up with a fair bit of play in them, it all wears I'm afraid but you can chase out the worst of it.

Also I have a wide angle front prop for sale, jus' sayin

Ok, that gives me a few things to check...

I replaced the front lower UJ this evening, although I have a feeling I replaced the end 180 degrees out from where it was originally - will that screw up the balancing?

Refitting will have to wait until the new bolts turn up, hopefully tomorrow or Thursday...

Sorry for all the questions!

Refitted the Prop on Thursday, and the clonk has gone...

I have however found that both swivels are weeping oil, so there's another job! Being a '97, it appears to have the later type of swivels that ought to be full of grease and don't have a level plug - presumably they've been refilled with the wrong stuff before? Or does the grease look like oil when it starts to seep out?

Could be grease or ep90. Check for pitting etc on your balls. Id drain them and fill with one shot then see what happens. May sort it.

Thanks - I can't see any pitting. At the moment I can't even get the filler plugs out to check the level - completely siezed. Is there a tool available to remove them? I can find every kind of filler plug socket possible except for a 1/2" female...

Took her for a fairly long journey yesterday, the clonk on gearchange does occasionally still happen, but nowhere near as frequently as before.

hammer and a drift punch is your friend

Filler is 9/16" spanner, level is 5/16" spanner, drain is 7/16 (I think!)

Rust usually makes the plugs odd sizes though!

It's the rust that's proving the problem - I can get a spanner on it, but can't get either of them to move!

Had a couple if land rovers now and in the market for another but what iv found is if you hear something clunking that means it's still attached it's when the clunking goes.... Then it's time to worry

I went for a short greenlaning trip yesterday evening Just a couple of easy local lanes...

No photos alas, as it was too dark...

Well it's not much of a update with no pics