Shock brackets

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mundungus

mundungus

Active Member
Posts
754
Location
Essex
OK, so bought my first Landy (1994 300TDI Defender) a couple of days ago. Only got round to having a good look round it today.

Somehow I didn't notice at the time of buying that one of the rear shocks isn't actually attached to the axle, and the other side has a cracked bracket also.

Photos here
Landy random pics

Question is, what do I need to fix it?

I've found a couple of places on the interweb that sells what appears to be weld on replacement brackets. Only I don't know where is best to buy from nor what exactly will fit my Landy.

Also, whilst I'm under it with a grinder and a welder and have the shocks off. Is there anything else I should be thinking of taking the opportunity to do to it?


BTW, the missus thinks I'm a numpty and has told me that in future I'm not allowed to buy another car without her seeing it first. :eek:
 
From the photos supplied that vehicle looks like it could be fun.
The rear-crossmember appears to have been recently rust-proofed but the axle-casing & pipes appear to be seriously rusty (i.e. fur-coat & no knickers). I take it that we are talking private sale here and the MOT is not brand-new? If they let it get in to that state (and didn't notice, yehhhh!!!) then what else awaits you?
Axle casings are known for rusting out around the bottom of the pan (new pans available but they are weld-in again) so if the damper mountings are like that then you need to have a serious poke around to check the extent of the damage. Depending on your welding skills might just work out that a replacement casing is the easiest way out (i.e. all nuts & bolts with no welding required).
 
Replacement casing being the whole axle case right?

I don't like the sound of taking an axle apart and putting it back together. From my (limited) experience of axles, I'd have thought that is a specialst job.

Yep, the mot is till march. And yep, pretty much everything under the car is wax oiled, possibly recently. It did come from a local dealer, he only had it a few days, took it in part ex on something else apparently.

Am happy to try to weld it, assuming there is a good bit of metal to weld to. I was kinda guessing this is a common thing, what with there being weld on replacement brackets available online.
 
mundungus said:
Replacement casing being the whole axle case right?

I don't like the sound of taking an axle apart and putting it back together. From my (limited) experience of axles, I'd have thought that is a specialst job.
Click to expand...


stripping an axle and refitting everything into a new casing is a very straight forward and simple job. half a day should see the old one out and the new one refitted.

If you do need to glo down that road.
 
Yeah, I guess I'd better take a closer look under there.

Thanks for that link to the metal place. They have much better pictures of the parts than the two sites I found. And they're cheaper.

Planning for worse case then, whats a new casing likely to set me back?

Also, what else should I be checking having bought a new landy with little known history.
 
Well firstly if it came from a dealer then he is obliged to sort it out because at the moment it is not in a roadworthy condition, there is no way he can wriggle out of it by saying something like you got it at a cheap price (did you?) or it was a trade-in bought without warrenty, if you bought it from his dealership he HAS to sort it. Go to Trading Standards if he gives you the runaround or even check with a solicitor (have you got legal cover on your vehicle or household insurance?).

If you decide to do it yourself (why?) then a new casing is very easy, don't confuse rebuilding diffs with stripping the components out of an axle-casing. If you are not handy with a welder then a new casing may be the best option (especially after checking the pan as I said before), a brand-new one is £132 so is hardly going to break the bank. If you can weld and the pan is ok then you will probably get away with new brackets.

Like I said though, I don't think it is up to you to do it anyway, surely that's why you bought from a dealer in the first place?
 
It wasn't a showroom dealership, but the guy was definitely a dealer and wasn't trying to hide that.

I think I paid a fair price. Although admit Im a complete newb to landys so don't really have much to compare to.

I'm ok to weld it myself. I have a good mig set and don't mind having a go myself. And i very much see your point about trading standards and the law etc, and would be more than happy to take on that battle if need be. But when I consider that 20 quid worth of brackets might be all I need, I have to think it's not worth the hassle to go the legal route. I mean even if he doesn't dispute it and takes it back and has a garage sort it out, chances are they'll fix it to a lesser standard than I could.
 
"It wasn't a showroom dealership, but the guy was definitely a dealer and wasn't trying to hide that."

Doesn't matter what type of dealer, if he wasn't a private seller he doesn't have a leg to stand on. That said, to sell a vehicle in that type of condition makes me think he is a complete cowboy who needs reporting before he does someone a serious injury.
I understand your concern that he might not do a decent job he would be leaving himself open to more action if he did that and if he knew you were on the ball he would have every reason to do a decent job first time.

Don't be fobbed off, the law is on your side and there is no reason for you to do this job. I am sure there will be plenty of more work to get your hands dirty with later, have you had a good poke around the chassis & bulkhead to see what is underneath that lovely recently applied Waxoil?
 
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