First thing being. I noticed when under my Land Rover the other day (as you do) and noticed, the centre cross member that spans across the underside of the gearbox was missing. I have heard some people remove them as the prop shaft can hit them off road. When it had the clutch replaced a year or so ago by a Land Rover specialist, nothing was mentioned, unless they too it off and never put it back... How much of a problem is this and should I replace it?

2) leaks (oil). Yes they leak but seemingly more recently. It seems like nearly every bolt on the underside of the transfer box and gear box and the sump plug has a little drop of oil/fluid on it. The engine has recently had an oil change and the washer replaced. It was leaking from here too before this was done.

3) Passenger door. It doesn't close very well. At all. If it wasn't for the bit of foam tape I put round the frame, I would easily be able to run my hand down most of it! Drivers door fits fine. Had it re-skinned a little while back and it is noticeably worse since this. What can be done here?

4) Front brakes have started squealing under light to moderate braking. Have checked the pads and discs. Seem to have a reasonable amount of use left in them. However, they are touching the disks when the brakes are not on - Cant help. The drivers side disc is fairly well grooved, the left not so much. Pad wear on the left side seems uneven however the sound seems to be coming from drivers side. Disco 1 front axle.

And for a moan, I also have to now replace the rear seats as the old ones have seen better days and are now starting to crumble apart...

Cheers.

Personally, I'd be apt to try and find the old crossmember or get a new one. Later model chassis don't seem to have much cross bracing, unlike the old ones, so it could reduce the rigidity quite a bit. Plus, if things are flexing you'll be more likely to get fatigue cracks where the welded in cross members join the main chassis rails.

Oil tends to spread everywhere as it blows around in the breeze as you're driving. Can you clean things up a bit and that way you might be able to work out where it is coming from more readily? I was getting concerned about the amount of oil on the underside of my bellhousing but it turned out to be seeping out from under the rocker cover.

Squeaky brakes - are the springs that hold the pads apart still there and still working? A little light contact between pad and disc is not unusual and I wouldn't worry about it. Have you got any anti-squeal shims fitted? They're usually to be found between the pad and the pistons. I haven't got any myself because when I fitted new discs and pads they were so tight there wasn't room. But some people find they help.

Thanks for your reply. Had a good check under the 90 today, looked at all the cross sections from the front all the way to the back. I cant see any ripples or cracks. I would say the cross member has been missing for some years. I cant believe I haven't noticed it before. Then again my first Land Rover so I guess I wouldn't... I would appreciate some other opinions on this. Should I replace it ASAP or leave it? As before I guess it was taken off to stop the prop hitting it off road? Guessing it will be a REAL pain in the ass to get back on after years without it...

Brown said:

Personally, I'd be apt to try and find the old crossmember or get a new one.

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Same here, can't see Land Rover bothering to fit them if not needed either for strengthening, rigidity or bracing. Just a thought but could the question you asked some time back about why your standard size tyres catch on full articulation be down to excess chassis flex?