Fuel tank cradle

I recently took my 2003, 1.8 petrol Freelander to a local Indy to discover the source of a knocking noise from underneath. Whilst he had it up in the air he had a good look at everything and gave me a list of things needed doing. One of them, and the most urgent according to him, was the fuel tank cradle is badly corroded and needs changing. I knew this part was susceptible to rust when I bought the car so it wasn't much of a surprise. What I want to know is, is it a difficult job for a diyer whilst it's parked on the road. Does the petrol tank need to be removed and is there anything else associated with it that I should change at the same time. Or, will it just be be better to let the garage fix it. As always your comments will be gratefully received

Col

It’s a bit of a sod, but do-able. Book yourself a good few hours and some nice weather. Give the new cradle a few coats of stonechip, but be prepared to re-touch after fitting.

1. Start with a nearly empty tank.
2. Jack up and support rear end using jack points, not rear subframe.
3. Discconnect rear prop from diff and tie out of the way. Unhang rear two exhaust hangers.
4. I threaded a ratchet strap between tank and cradle and tied it off on top of the car.
5. Undo the four rear subframe bolts all the way one by one, and thread them back in a few turns so subframe will drop but not fall off.
6. Unbolt the old cradle - quickest just to cut it up but watch the tank.
7. Cough, fart and curse the new cradle into position.
8. Remove ratchet strap before nipping up the cradle bolts.
9. Etc.

Ok, thanks for that. It does sound more involved than I was hoping for. I expect garage labour rates are gonna make it a £300+ job if I take it in for them to do. They did say that it needs a new exhaust as well so it sounds like it would be a good idea to get that done anorl. The car only cost a grand but I've already put 4 new tyres on it and a recon vcu and bearings. By the time I've done the cradle and exhaust and a couple of other things they mentioned, I will have spent nearly double what it cost to buy.

Col

Paint it with a decent paint, after treating the rust. This will make it last as long as possible, before a replacement is needed. It's a 3 hour job to change the cradle, if you are doing on the drive, laying on your back.

Thanks Nodge, I haven't crawled under for a look yet so just taking garages word for it but they seem decent enough. Are there any reports of the cradle actually failing and dropping the tank?

Col

Cut all the old parts out with a really hot flaming Oxy-Acetylene torch or a plasma cutter.
Sell tickets in advance. Top up the life in-sewer-ants.
Make sure it gets filmed for the 10-O'Clock news.

JK, good luck with it. ;-)

I got some ratchet straps and threaded them through between the cradle and tank and just opened the back door and put them together and ratcheted the straps up until tight and then the tank was safe and then after doing the cradle which I had done a couple of hammer right a week before ,I just released the ratchets and all was good.

Mines a three door, so the straps will have to go up over the roof. If stays dry this weekend I'll get underneath and survey the extent of the rust. Thanks for all comments.

Col

I cut the old plates out and replaced them with ones I made from Alloy. In my case the plates were toast but the bars were OK. Cost me almost nothing.

This one cost £300 plus from Land Rover. You can get an identical one from another company in the North West for about £80.00 (Can't remember their name). Apply a couple of coats of Hammerite before fitting.

That is a heck of a price difference between the landrover part and a copy part, Colonial. I have seen them on eBay for around £80. I suppose an original one might last longer, mine has managed 14 years but I doubt if the car will still be around in 10 years so a cheaper copy should be ok especially if I give it another coat of protective paint.

Col

A pro active job I keep forgetting to do to SWMBO's Freelander, last time I looked it seemed pretty rusty but solid enough, want to pop it off and restore it, but if I can get one like Colonial pointed out for £80, its not worth the time and money tarting up the rusty one.

Just had a butchers on eBay, now don't take this the wrong way, good luck to the sellers and buyers, if another 100 people want to buy them at that price good to all of them. I cannot fathom why 4 people paid £400 and 16 paid £276, for the same aftermarket cradle that is £75 on the same page, unless the numbers can be fiddled. Even if I had enough money to use £400 as firelighters, I would buy the £75 one, That is what I don't understand

The quality looks good enough to me, some good under seal and job will be a gud un.