As suspected I couldn't get the bolts off with a socket, the heads just started to round off. So, cold chiseled the head off one no bother and then it started to rain. At least I'm moving forward, if slowly.

Thanks for the advice. I did manage to shift the bleed screw at the weekend and then ran out of light. I'm off tomorrow morning so if it's dry I'll try to get the bolts off. I read another similar thread from 2010 and the owner took off the bolt heads with a chisel and lump hammer.

Hi, fitted new brake shoes to back left then...couldn't get the new drum on. The self adjuster is as far back as it can go.I did finally get the drum on but it's really tight and the brake is dragging a bit. On closer inspection I'm starting to to think the problem is the brake cylinder. I can...

Yup, got a sealey breaker bar as well. I'm amazed how many new tools I've bought so far. The most useful so far has been the external torx socket set. Used them to get the prop off the Hippo, then reused it last week on the Saab gearbox turret.

My budget when I started out on my project Freelander stretched to a new set of six sided Sealey sockets, I reckoned they were a better bet than my dads 30 yr old bi-hex Kamasa socket set. The Sealeys have worked fine so far until I got to the caliper bolts.

Yup, ill try the mole grips again and some more heat. Then it looks like a set of bolt removers as you suggest.

Yup, the bolts are starting to round, so I'm in a bit of a fix. ..and yes the new pins are Britpart!

Hi, the rubber gaiter was split so I took it off anyway. I've got new pins and gaiters to fit. My other problem is that I cant shift the big bolts that hold the caliper bracket on.

The braking performance of my 200 l series f1 seemed pretty poor, had a look and both left and right lower guide pins stuck. I freed up the drivers side with copious plus gas , twisting with mole grips then a big hammer and chisel. The other side is stuck and cant shift it. I've tried freeze...

Punched a 20cm x 10cm hole in the rear sill. Bubbles had started to show under the rubbery stonechip paint so I couldn't stop myself investigating. Depressed now

Thanks for the tips, I'll check under the seals. I haven't worked with drum brakes before, done plenty of pads and discs. I reckon I'll change the shoes as well, there's about 4mm left on them but face of them seem pretty contaminated with oil/grease.

Hi, thought I'd check out the condition of the brake shoes before the next Mot and found them to be OK but the whole brake assembly was covered with black gunge. http://1drv.ms/1nbZf6H I assume this is a sign that the brake cylinder seals are past there best? Cheers

Mmm, I've got no service history with the Hippo, that why I thought I'd change the oil rather than just top up. The syringe tool didn't get it all out though, got about 450ml out and I replaced with about 500ml. I guess if I do the same in 6 month intervals it'll be mostly new oil in it a year.

I thought I'd better change the oil in the rear diff, so, I used a syringe toil to suck out as much as I could. The oil that came out wasn't clear at all, it was a dark brown shade , a bit like a bad cup of coffee. Is this to be expected on a 15 yr old Hippo with 112000 on the clock

Ah ha, apologies, must be gremlins with the new system, came up as recent activity. Funny I was really looking for "what have you done with your Freelander today" which I couldn't see at all. Anyway, I was wondering what are the recommended sites for getting a new key fob without spending much...

Hi, can I ask, where did you buy the new fob

Thanks for all the posts, I've ordered Blenheim silver now, got to do a bit of a respray job on the sill ( when it stops raining some time next year). I've finally got a decent picture too in between showers.

Cheers, I'll try to bend the tube a bit. The same thing happened to my old L series Rover 400 as well. At the time there were plenty of Rovers in scrappies, so it wasn't hard to get a replacement.

The plastic bit at the end of the dipstick has broken off and hopefully is in the sump. I dropped into a few scrappies at the weekend but no L series freelanders. Now I'm wondering if a rover car with the l series diesel would have the same dipstick. Does anyone know? Any chance someone could...

Hi, thanks for the update, that's reassuring. I'm going to go ahead and order Blenheim silver, I need to spray a patch on the rear sill where an old weld was just covered with black underseal. Interestingly her indoors reckons its silver, I should have listened to her I guess.