Hello,

I spent over a year considering options for buying a Defender 90. In the end, I decided to pick up a Santana from Spain. It is LHD and has zero rust being the major advantages. The price for the spanish version was also significantly lower.

1988 model with 166,000 KM 2.5 NA Diesel 5 speed.

The most significant difference I have found is it has leaf springs whereas its British brother uses coil springs.

Does anyone here know of any significant differences?

I also would like to upgrade to disc brakes all the way around. Does anyone know which years of Discovery work best for axle assembly transplant. As it has leaf springs I will just cut off the spring perches. I just want to be sure there is nothing that is "deal breaker" in transferring the axle assemblies from a Discovery.

Thanks in advance!

Terry in St. Louis

 

Welcome from the Caribbean , ( you should have bought the Defender 90 )

the difference is - the newer models were upgraded to coil springs , for ride comfort and articulation ... and depending on the region and requirements specs would vary other wise ..

 

They are different in every possible way, i dont even think there are parts that will interchange.
Should have got the 90 or an SIII which is essentially what a Santana is.

 

See if you have series 3 axles if you do. Check on a seires site about upgrading to discs

 

Putting coiler axels in a leafer can be done, but they are a bit wider I think, which is why the Defenders (or 90/110 if you must) have fender flares while the series rovers did not.

If they are stock series type axles, there are disc conversions out there. Of course like everything else without much demand, they are expensive.

 

loanrangie, you must be thinking of the later Santanas. This 1988 is almost identical to a same era Defender. All I have found different is superficial trim items and some other items that are different, like the speedo, but will swap without modification.

Also, the 94-98 Disco axles appear to fit perfectly. However, if I stay with the leaf springs I will have to cut off the leaf spring mounts and make some other minor modifications to the axles. It would not be greatly difficult to buy the factory parts to convert to coils.

The most impressive aspect is there is literally no rust!

 

Thanks to all that have replied!

 

Here is a picture:

 

very nice

 

i like the blue ...