W

WaltD

New Member
Hi guys

I have stripped down the dash to remove and replace the the wiper wheel boxes and come across a tricky problem.

There isnt enough clerance between the bulkhead and the dash carrier to pull them out. basically the wiper spindles are too long to allow this.

I have heard that you have to bend the dash carrier out with a crowbar to make the space - sounds rather drastic!

Anyone done this before - any tips?

Thanks

Walt
 
WaltD said:
Hi guys

I have stripped down the dash to remove and replace the the wiper wheel boxes and come across a tricky problem.

There isnt enough clerance between the bulkhead and the dash carrier to pull them out. basically the wiper spindles are too long to allow this.

I have heard that you have to bend the dash carrier out with a crowbar to make the space - sounds rather drastic!

Anyone done this before - any tips?

Thanks

Walt
Click to expand...

I'll go getme crystal ball from the loft.............................









Just in case it takes me awhile are ya on about a Disco or a Defender :fish:


:welcome:
 
Sorry its a Defender 2004 so it has the newer type wheel boxes with the drive cable at the bottom.
 
WaltD said:
Sorry its a Defender 2004 so it has the newer type wheel boxes with the drive cable at the bottom.
Click to expand...

Unless they done something pretty radical between 1999 and 2004

there are two 8mm bolts holding the dash carrier in place ;)

You would be best advised to download the free Rave manual
 
Sadly I'm not with the car now so can't send a pic but what I call the dash carrier runs right across the car and the facia bolts to it. To remove it will be a major job as it is connected in plenty of places and has upright sections attaching it to the tray below.

I think it is 'Buster' on this forum who has some shots that show how to extract the wheel boxes but on his model the drive cable is at the top so it must be an older model.

The available Rave manuals only show the older type up to 2004 as well!

Feeling a bit stumped at the moment.... and rather loath to attack it with a crowbar!
 
WaltD said:
I have heard that you have to bend the dash carrier out with a crowbar to make the space - sounds rather drastic!

Anyone done this before - any tips?

Thanks

Walt
Click to expand...

The plastic "dash carrier" can be twisted gently out. If your really struggling drop the parcel shelf..... there's about 8 screws at the bottom holding two metal plates either side of the transmission and you may need to remove the air ducts too ;) then there's the two 8mm bolts I was on about at the top under the plastic tray.

Fiddly but like I said it will help. While you're there have a look at the header's you'll be able to see if there's any sign of melting :rolleyes:
 
Does it look a bit like this yet

19122012544.jpg
 
Thanks

Yes that helps I think. Your pic definately shows a slightly different set up to mine though - On mine the motor is mounted upright and the wheel boxes are the other way up.

But yes the dash hanger is the long black panel in your pic with the vents going though it. It looks like I will have to take out the parcel shelf support and the upright supports either side of the transmision. fiddley as mine has AC!

What do you mean re Headers melting?
 
Hi Walt

I feel your pain - got conned into replacing the wiper spindles boxes on my (ex) bosses 2004 Defender. Bloody nightmare and like you say not enough room to pull the spindle though the bulkhead before hitting the metal inner dash.

Being the bosses truck I ended up using brute force and eventually they went in but sods laws my 2002 110 needs a replacement spindle on the passenger side now.

Bought the parts for both sides about 2 months ago but have been putting it off ever since.

No help to you I know, but the only advice I can give is if you're doing it replace everything back to the wiper motor whilst the dash is stripped out as its not a job you want to do again.

My plan is to replace both spindle boxes, spidle cable from wiper motor and new wiper arms - hopefully it'll not need doing again.......!
 
WaltD said:
What do you mean re Headers melting?
Click to expand...

See the blue plasticy thingy's in the loom well if your lighting has overloaded at some point and your light switch has needed replacing there's a fair chance one of those horrid little things has started to melt..........

So with the dash off anyway it's a good time to just give em a look over ;)
 
Thanks chaps that is good to know. I was beginning to think I was the only one to have this problem. Now it looks like its just a bastard job and needs a bit of brute force.

I have taken your advice and will replace all the gear that might wear so I never have t do it again! Oh and I will check the headers too.


All the best. Walt
 
Thanks, sounds pretty drastic but I can understand how a crowbar will help, a lot better than bashing it with a hammer!
 
Job done. The key was removing the plastic instrument cover/liner and the two vertical steel bracing panels behind the center console. A little extra work but made all the difference.
 
Having a nightmare with mine Walt.
Can't seem to seperate thr wheels from thr rack. I have taken the backs off the wheel boxes so thought they would just slip back off the rack but seem to be suck fast. Any suggestions gratefully received.
Regards.
 
Yes I've done mine lately and took as much of the plastic stuff off the dash as I could and then levered out the frame gently with a block of wood and a big screwdriver. This gave me just enough clearance to get the spindles through the holes. You can bend it back into shape later.

There's a flexible cable with a smaller cable wound round it in a spiral shape that acts as a 'rack' and this goes in tubes across the fascia. The wheelboxes have plates on the back held on by two small nuts and bolts to hold the tubed and flexible rack in place. Get these off and out of the way completely and it's a lot easier. You don't make much progress just by loosening them. Sometimes the flexible rack is jammed under the gear wheel and takes a bit of wobbling and levering to free it.
 
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