Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Hi Tony,

Yes the leaf springs are extremely heavy! The Fedex driver was very happy to get them off his van as they had been sliding around in the back wrecking all the other parcels!
That will teach him what those tie down loops are for.....

I removed the rear axle with springs still attached, so that was mega heavy, trusty skateboard managed to slide the whole lot out though,
and then the cutting disc on the angle grinder made short work of those rusted U bolts.

The Land Rover workshop manual speaks of using two trolley jacks to reinstall the back axle, one under the axle,
and another under the spring, should be fun!

Cheers Steve

vitesse · Joined: 03 Jun 2013 Posts: 561

I suppose it makes sense to have the engine and gearbox back in first to give you some weight to work against?

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Last night I managed to "loosly" fit the rear axle and springs,
found my steel toecap boot useful at one point to raise the whole lot up just that little bit more Exclamation

Dipster · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 10:42 am Post subject:

When I changed the rear axle on my Defender I was alone (actually in Morocco) without facilities other than what I had in the vehicle. I cheated.

I simply jacked the vehicle high enough to lower the assemble off with its wheels on, roll it out, fit wheels to the new one then roll it into place and lower the vehicle down jiggling the axle into place. Aligning up all the bolts was helped by my large, trusty, Thor hammer and the use of a couple of jacks.

I was knacked at the end of the day though.

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Hi Dipster,

Great story! It might have been easier for me if I had fitted the wheels on the loose axle, just never occurred to me at the time. Doh!

Cheers

Dipster · Posted: Fri May 01, 2015 11:30 am Post subject:

One of the many pearls of wisdom my dear old Dad taught me was that you can do anything (well, almost) if the you give the problem enough thought!

First job was always put the kettle on and take a second.

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Yesterday, with some much appreciated help from my father, we removed the gearbox from the old chassis:

And some more progress today, with some reassembly at the rear:

Steve

Dipster · Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 10:20 pm Post subject:

It is looking great. Well done.

Did you choose the Goodyear G90 tyres? I used those and found then noisy but remarkably good, even on wet roads. I changed them when I noticed nasty looking bulges appearing in the sidewalls.

colwyn500 · Joined: 21 Oct 2012 Posts: 1745 Location: Nairn, Scotland

Wow, that's some fast work. Last ime I looked you were just unloading the chassis. It really is going to be a new Landy. Smile

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

kevin2306 · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 12:34 pm Post subject:

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Cheers Kev,

might have a look when funds replenish a little

Dipster · Posted: Thu May 07, 2015 3:03 pm Post subject:

If you only intend to potter about with the vehicle I think the G9os could last a fairly long time, even with the odd bulge. They are as tough as nails and almost stand up on their own without air! Not sure what an MOT tester would say though.....

I changed mine because I am often out and about in odd and remote places. I carry spares and tools that add quite a bit of weight to the vehicle. So I did not want to take a chance.