I was going down a steep mountain very rocky and I was in 3rd and riding the break half way down my breaks started getting soft too soft! so I put in 1st gear and layed off the breaks and rolled out. Has any one els had this issue with there disco and did I do the right thing?
Should i had my down hill desent button on would that of help any?

 

Whenever you go down a very steep grade put the t-case in low and the trans in 1st. Use the brakes as little as possible, let the engine and transmission do all the work.
If you have HD I belive that you need to be in first anyway in order to use it.

 

I didnt think of putting the t-case in low! good call


I think my biggest tif with the 03 disco is the brakes and stoping in general! Small brakes + Big heavy tuck= Hard to stop

 

The Disco II models have fairly large brakes by comparison to other SUV's in its class. Both front and rear rotors are nearly 12 inches in diameter. The brakes have a lot of weight to slow down and steep descents using the brakes will produce brake fade. Brake fade can be lessened with better pads (ceramic) and good rotors. Using engine braking along with braking is the best way to control your speed/energy as you descend a steep grade. Slow and safe!

Happy Roving,

Pete

 

I would admit I never looked in to the breaks specs butif I had to guess just by driving it I would say they are to small ! I have 3,000 miles on front pads and 200 miles on rear pads all (ceramic).

 

Adjusting your driving style should do the trick. Rovers are good at slow and steep.

Happy Roving,

Pete

 

From the manual:

HDC can be selected with the vehicle in any
gear, but will only operate when low range
gears are engaged with the vehicle travelling at
less than 50 km/h, and the clutch is engaged
(manual gearbox vehicles).

 

Dont work for s#$%*@# in 3rd lol but it did make a "BEEP"BEEP" sound! Next time I wil put herin 2nd gear T-case in low and set the HDS button! I will also read the hand book for my self!
Thanks Disco2Guy you saved me a trip to the hand book but what is 50 km/h does any one know??????????????????????

 

Well if you want to know what 50kmh translates to then look at your speedometer, it has kilometers on it too.
When ever you off road you always want to be in the correct gear for the worst that you will encounter before you get to it. If you dont know what you will run into then expect the worst and be in low-locked.
When ever you climb or decend a hill be in low and 1st gear. Let the engine and transmission do all the work, save the brakes for emergencies. Besides, if the hill is wet, loose gravel, muddy, soft sand, etc and you hit the brakes you can slide uncontrollably andend up in a bad situation.
When I off road I put the t-case in low, lock it and put the trans in 2nd gear. If you run in 3rd it will shift more and it could overheat. And I have also found that running in 2nd keeps the rpm at the bottom end of the power band so when I need the power it is instant.

 

Def. give your hill descent a go next time, it will keep you at a safe controlled speed. Your main goal is to resist pushing the brakes. Push down on the floor if you get the urge. The brakes can ruin your traction on a decline and put you out of control, especially if its wet. You will learn when its necessary to hit the brakes once you get out there a few times, the more practice the better! But other than that how did the rover do?