Installed a right front lower control arm yesterday.....

Installed a right front lower control arm today.....

Hoping to do a right rear upper tomorrow, pray for me...

 

We're the Bolts for the 'rear' Bushings seized? Mine were, quite common, and I needed to saw through the Control Arm close to the Bushing, and then saw through the Bushing and bolt, to remove it. Made sure that I had a complete brand new set of nuts, bolts and washers. Mine has been a Midwest vehicle since new, its a 2008 model with 125,000 miles on. Not sure if these Control Arms or Bushings have been changed before, I purchased at 78,000 miles, but it's running very smooth now. I no longer have the 'knock' when I hit a slight bump or road imperfection. After getting the Alignment done. Which was also a 'project', because the place that did the Alignment lost my Keys...

Today I'm going to put back my aluminium Mantec Front Skid Plate. I had it off to do an oil change. It's been off for a couple of weeks, and we've had some snow, so yesterday I washed off the underside of the vehicle, to remove any salt, and I will be using a Tap and Die set to make sure the threads are clean and corrosion-free, so that the bolts dont get rusted in place. The Skid Plate was fitted to the vehicle when new, along with a Warn 9.5xp winch. Same as G4 setup I think.

I'm getting the vehicle ready for an off-road trip here in Wisconsin, weekend of Saturday 24 Feb. About 30 minutes north of Eau Claire. Goto www.rpm4x4.com for details. Would be great if a few more Land Rovers came along!

Cheers, Simon

 

Something you might consider adding to your tool kit, (if not already in it), is what is called Copper Anti-Seize paste per below. This is something I dab on bolts that as subject to rusting. For whatever reason, the paste keeps the threads from rusting and seizing. At the same time, it is neither Loctite Blue nor Penetrating Oil.

I use the Permatex product, as I like the smaller container. I also use a bit on my wheel nuts - just a sheen, so to speak, but for suspension and bolts underneath, it really is the solution to use to reduce thread rusting.

I do not use it on the oil pan plug as the oil pan is aluminum and in many situations, uncoated copper and aluminum do not like each other. Per the data sheet, the Permatex material was designed specifically for use on stainless steel or similar alloys. This also includes normal steel.

 

New shoes showed up ATTURO Trailblade XT. Hopefully mounted tomorrow.

 

Alignment done, tires tomorrow. Took to long at the shop to get the tires done today. So I will be a few hours late getting on the road to Winter Romp tomorrow.

Tried to put them on my parents rental but....

 

got my Gap IID tool this week. Had a bit of a play around and scared myself at how much you can actually effect with it. Should have got it a lot sooner, so anyone thinking about doing the same - to quote Shia LeBeouf 'JUST DOOOO IT'.

 

Little behind here. Tires are mounted.

Got on the road to Winter Romp, around Staunton VA. The timing tensioner blew apart, lost the main belt, aux belt, thermostat housing and cut through the timing cover.

Got put back together at Land Rover Alternative in VA.

Caliper slider froze on the right rear around Boston, Mass.

Enjoyed Winter Romp.

Saturday found out what the brake noise was. (see above) and how bad the damage was. Clamped the caliper to the lateral link and secured it with hose clamps (thanks Don owner of Anarchy Fab for the great idea). Also picked up my new to me Roof Top Tent and Warn VR10000s winch.

Made the run across to Lucky 8 in Buffalo, 30 mins later the brakes were repaired and I was back on the road to GA. Got home Monday late afternoon.

Today I cleaned the LR3 inside and out, fabbed up a front mount bar for the Roof Top Tent so no more ratchet straps holding it down. Mounted a spare on the front part of the rack. Added bonus is that putting the spare there cut the wind noise down considerably.

 

 

Army, do you have the V6?

 

Abran, No got lucky just destroyed the cover all is well in the motor so far.

Houm_wa no 4.4 liters of Jag goodness under my hood.