What have you done to your Freelander today

Apparently it should have been recalled and the wishbones replaced foc by Subaru as it's a known fault. not sure why the previous owner didn't have the work done but my son was very lucky to get away with a damaged wing and wheel rim. It only recently passed the MOT too which is much stricter here in Northern Ireland then the rest of the UK. It seems the thing rusted from the inside out but Subaru are going to fix the wishbones for him. Not sure about the damage though.

So, after noticing a few of the dreaded vcu failure symptoms, gone mondo mode today. Recon vcu to be ordered after payday, then it will be back to proper running again!

kernowsvenski said:

So, after noticing a few of the dreaded vcu failure symptoms, gone mondo mode today. Recon vcu to be ordered after payday, then it will be back to proper running again!

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Did you try the one wheel up test? I couldn't get mine to turn at all and now having opened it I can see why. The fluid has turned to glue.

Alibro said:

Did you try the one wheel up test? I couldn't get mine to turn at all and now having opened it I can see why. The fluid has turned to glue.

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Nah. I have a rear diff seal gone and the diff was running hot, rear tyres scrubbing on full lock and a reluctance for the car to move in reverse with any lock on. 90k on the clock so it's time to swap it out.

New vcu and prop shaft bearings. Heaven.
Good job I got bearings, old ones siezed on shaft.

Replaced my pedal rubbers as there were nearly non existence x

Changed the offside rear driveshaft oil seal. Bugger to get the old one out. Lots of choice words .

modified my Hippo to seamlessly blend in, at the Pride of Longbridge show yesterday

DastardlyDan said:

modified my Hippo to seamlessly blend in, at the Pride of Longbridge show yesterday

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LoL That's just sad.

tbh, the letters will be taken off, and a "Longbridge" badge off an old mini will be replacing them

Replaced brake pads

Polybushed and extended rear arms ready to go on

Looking forward to the end result

Changed intermediate exhaust pipe, adjusted handbrake, changed oil and filters and fitted new wiper blades.

wanting to remove the knackered centre rear seat belt I decided I couldn't be arsed to take the seat apart to remove the anchor bolt so instead I cut through the webbing on the anchor bracket with a razor blade.

Obviously whilst doing this I ended up cutting the webbing on the adjacent rear drivers side belt stalk and then said a bad word.

So then I took the seat apart, removed the anchor bolts for the centre belt & rear d/s stalk & went inside & ordered the replacements.

next I replaced o/s front & rear indicator bulbs without breaking anything

then I watched a bloke fit four new tyres - Dunlop Groundtrek AT2. All I could seem to get hold off at short notice. Took it for a spin up & down our road - no more low frequency wobble on the steering so it looks like I did have a misshapen tyre on one corner

still to do:
new windscreen
rear o/s driveshaft oil seal
replace discs/pads

Cheers
Simon

Re-wired terrible rear light arrangement. Now have brake and sides in top cluster (old fog). Indicators in top cluster (old reverse). Then old brake and indicator in bumper become fog and reverse.

I have retained the dual filament lamps in the bumper and have 4 side lights to the rear now.

Looks good - safer - I think, meets regulations and cost 2x lamp holders and 2x bulbs. About £15.

Looking good ...............

And what lights are visible at night when your rear tailgate is open???

There's a reason why the lights were laid out like they were!

I've fitted a usb charging point in the rear of the centre armrest

Thanks for the thought TD4van.

I thought of that already, as I say I now have 4 sidelights, 2 in the high level clusters and 2 in the bumper so I am protected as originally set up.

But I would rather an open door blank out the indicator and brake lights - as I don't drive with the door open and let the lower level fog shine through when I might have the door open in poor visibility and get rear ended.

Not sure that the design thought about the door open - I seem to recall the original poor design is purely a cast over from the original 'trailer' layout of a 4x4.

Ok sorry didn't read your post properly!!

And the lighting layout was considered due to the tailgate as I believe there's legislation that covers the requirement to have tail lamps visible with the door open!