Replace rear crossmember.. can I ask the audience

My 1994 300tdi 90 is due its MOT in March. My rear crossmember is not good and needs a fair bit of welding/patching. I have thought about trying to do it myself and looked at other threads re replacing. Cant see the point of a repair that will need more work next year.
I am going to get a new crossmember and have it fitted. I have found a heavy duty 3mm with extentions on ebay and they will supply AND fit for £350. My first impression is it looks like a good deal. It is too bigger job for me to tackle.
What do you think?
Any thoughts about "T" slots instead of Jacking Tubes? I have no idea what a T slot is.
defender 90 rear crossmember heavy duty 3mm fitted on eBay (end time 22-Jan-10 08:57:43 GMT)
Many thanks in advance

seams cheap, worryingly cheap

Actually it is a good price,I had one of there original crossmembers and it fitted great.Wish they were doing that one when I was buying.The owners uncle used to own spi and he does the tooling,they are called 4x4rus and they have a web site...give them a call if you have any doubts but I reccomend them.

Had mine done, including new copper break pipes and waxol for £380 by a local mechanic in his spare time

jamescronin said:

Had mine done, including new copper break pipes and waxol for £380 by a local mechanic in his spare time

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i'd say that's reasonable - but i find it hard to believe that a commercial garage would be able to do a quality job for just £350 as advertised, irrespective of how good the quality of the part being replaced is

overseas mechanics on £6/h maybe ?

Seemed like a family run place to me maybe if they put there prices up?

does the add note mean its £350 with all the other bits fitted...fitted for same day dispatch???? not fitted to landy????

Thanks for the replies... I gave them a call at tea time and the x member appears to be good quality... 3mm instead of the 'standard' 2 mm. They will supply and fit, put the tow bar back etc and will even fit a new set of mud flaps I have ordered. The exhaust has to come off and if it is in good condition they can refit... if not I will have to have a new back box/pipe fitted, but they carry them in stock.
So... I have booked it in for 8.30am Monday and they will have it ready for tea time. I will take some pics of before and after.
Thanks again for the helpful replies.... will keep you posted!

Went to Warwick today and had the new crossmember fitted at 4x4 reborn.
What a really good job pics attached of before and after. I bought new grab handles (£4 each) and new mud flaps (£16.40p + vat) and he fitted them for me.
I travelled 110 miles to get it done and went into Warwick while he did it (6hrs)
This is a 3mm heavy duty xmember and I have to say I am delighted. The owner, Steve is a really nice bloke and he fitted it. I was shocked when I saw my old one in the scrap corner.... it was well rotted and I was lucky my tow bar stayed on.
I think I have got a great deal and would recommend him to anyone. He is still advertising on ebay.
Anyone thinking of making a long trip and a 'while you wait job' Take drugs or someone with you... Warwick town centre is the pits and the castle is over £20 to get in... I had a **** in the carpark as a protest

sounds good does that. I would have to travel about 200 miles there and back. not sure if need to replace yettttt. but great others recomend it . was your exhaust put back on?

RUDDdefender90 said:

sounds good does that. I would have to travel about 200 miles there and back. not sure if need to replace yettttt. but great others recomend it . was your exhaust put back on?

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Yes, exhaust went back on no problem.... I travelled over 200 miles return. Dont go on a Monday morning.. took me 3hrs 30 mins on M6 south. Feckin nightmare and I set off at 0500hrs!

hey mate, can you take some pictures of where it joins etc. would be good to see quality of that area. Have you tried pulling anything etc. I know you just got home, but test it out

been on that m6 on way home on friday rush hour, aint fun I knows that :-(, was picking up a car for my mate. He only gave me £30 to travel about 240 miles and I was driving my defender 90 200tdi! grrrrr. mates and all that.

bet your well happy yeah? I take it your front end of chasis and everywhere is sound, hence just replacing the x member, right.

whats the welds like ?

Chasis is in good condition so should have no worries for many years providing I treat it. The 'hitch lift' on the tow bar is not off a Landy and it had been drilled to fit onto the original xmember. He would not drill into the new xmember to make it fit so it is just on with 2 bolts. I am going to get rid of it on just put the tow ball on.... don't need anything fancy.
I looked at the welding.... neat, complete and painted ready to waxoil or whatever.
I am very happy!

can you show us some pictures mate? also will give me better clue to exactly where the new joint is, ie will it cover the problem areas I have

RUDDdefender90 said:

can you show us some pictures mate? also will give me better clue to exactly where the new joint is, ie will it cover the problem areas I have

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Will take some pics in the morning underneath and post them.... looks okay to me.... but I am not a real welder and I have never seen a replacement fitted.
The new joint is governed by the size of the xmember extentions to be welded onto the chasis? Pic on ebay but I guess they are standard?
I will sort out pics anyway...

cheers mate, im very much a novice to welding and all that jazz. I have two patches to be welded on me x member. It was also welded last year. was yours much worst than that? 50 pence holes on mine. I look fwd to seeing your pictures

regarding rear chasis, I have seen one goes past the wheels, so longer than the one on ebay. but if ya dont need it, ya dont need it as it all costs!

oh I live about 150 miles from warwickshire!!! so thats 300 miles!!! what did you compare the price of the ebay one too? I assume must have looked around as that was a serious treck you made!

cheers

RUDDdefender90 said:

cheers mate, im very much a novice to welding and all that jazz. I have two patches to be welded on me x member. It was also welded last year. was yours much worst than that? 50 pence holes on mine. I look fwd to seeing your pictures

regarding rear chasis, I have seen one goes past the wheels, so longer than the one on ebay. but if ya dont need it, ya dont need it as it all costs!

oh I live about 150 miles from warwickshire!!! so thats 300 miles!!! what did you compare the price of the ebay one too? I assume must have looked around as that was a serious treck you made!

cheers

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Attached is a pic showing the new xmember welding and position onto the chassis.
I decided on getting a new crossmember because mine had a few holes in (see first pics) and when tapped with a light hammer bits began flaking off. You could hear the different 'tones' on the softer rotted bits.... this is a 3mm rather than 2mm standard xmember. Comments from others who reckon it is good stuff. A one day service. Getting my old xmember welded would have been throwing money away, I could have bought a MIG and give it a go but I would only be likely to use it once or twice. Plus... burn or cut your wiring and could be expensive. (for me that is) Paying a welder to repair... over £100 and likely £100 next year.
I reckoned that £350 was a good deal, supply, fit etc plus a lick of paint and thats it... job done. Just need to give it another coat underneath, steam clean and waxoyle the chassis asap.
I was really amazed at how rotted my old xmember was once it was off and you could see it properly. I could have lost the lot if I had tried to recover anything heavy or stuck.

have you got some higher resolution images showing the welding please