I was thinking the same. Lots of people on here and Dweb seem to do both with the scale. I am still trying to track down a tool to borrow or buy. I dont have a welder anymore so fabbing one up isnt an option.

Id like to do it the way the RAVE calls for simply because I'd feel better. But I'm not going to go weeks trying to sort this out.

 

Well the disco 1 sticky Swivel Pin Pre-load thread shows the guy using a fish scale? So I mean it's not "exactly" correct per RAVE manual but who on this forum has all the special land rover tools and what not? And I found some online but I don't want to spend $50 for a slim piece of metal..

 

Yea exactly. I can't find it cheap. It should be like 20 bucks or less.

The preload is to ensure the bearings aren't too tight or too loose if I'm not mistaken. Similar to that of the hub bearing? It would seem if its within a good range within a pound or two it should be fine. Unless I'm way off here.

 

Sometimes LRF is amazing at the quickness of responses and times like this you wait and wait and wait for someone with enough Rover knowledge to chime in. Oh well, I'm still waiting for half my parts to arrive on Thursday from Trevor. I haven't gone past stripping my Rover to the stub axles.

 

I cant imagine why the abs models would have a different preload setting, hell ! ANY preload would be an improvement on mine...both sides are wicked loose.....when I get ready to do this, I'm gonna get out the old Zebco "De-Liar" and set 'em at 15#'s or so.

 

That's what I was thinking. Manual says around 12lbs but I figure 15 would be a slight improvement. A little stiffer for some off-road use, yeah?

 

Today I went to the local Land Rover dealership. Its one of my accounts for work and I've been going in for years so I thought someone might cut me a break. No one would loan me the tool and they didn't have one to buy I'm totally shocked.

Well I went to two restaurant supply stores and neither had a fish scale. Walmart Target Bed Bath and beyond still got nothing. Next stop is Bass Pro shops.

 

Too tight preload will reduce the ability of the steering to self center after turns.
Too light and....well, you know the results there.
I expect the different methods are because the upper pin set-up is very different between ABS and non-ABS.