Disco upgrades, part 1.
Disco upgrades, part 1.
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Discussion

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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A rather large pile of suspension parts...

Given that its 9 years old and 113k, does a bit of towing and gets regular abuse off road with my "I'm sure it can go here" attitude to that.
I think it's time for a refresh.

So, we have the following.

Front upper wishbones with fixings.
Rear upper wishbones and fixings.
Rear lower wishbones and fixings.
Front and rear arb bushes and bolts.
Track rod ends.

All new, all genuine parts and a price that would make you cry.. hehe

Means I've went round all the bushes, and wishbones and everything is nice and new. So will drive a whole lot better.
Getting fitted on Saturday and wheel alignment done on Monday.

Part 2 involves the brakes... Watch this space...

sherman

15,153 posts

243 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
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Is this not how the Bucketlander started? hehe

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
No. hehe

That started by being broken and vowing never to be truly fixed.
The Disco works, but needs some TLC to keep it at its best.

Given that I will have it for 4+ years, I'm doing it properly. smile

sherman

15,153 posts

243 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
So this time your going the other way and taking it to pieces for the sake of it?
You don't really like having your cars all in one piece do you?

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
Hardly, wink

Replacing worn parts is par for the course.

Remind me, how many miles do you get from your petrol powered water wheel before it needs a costly rebuild.

sherman

15,153 posts

243 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
The engine has never been rebuilt. I changed a few ancillary parts a few years ago and the rest has been going strong ever since. The rotor tips need done at 120,000 but thats not for another 42,000 miles.

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Thursday 24th October 2013
quotequote all
Well i'm a few miles ahead.

It works out cheaper to fix it this way, the guy i use had worked on the car before, knows it and knows D3s very well.
To take the car to a garage, remove the rusted in bolts, press out old bushes, press in new ones and refit with new bolts, that would cost £45+ an hour labour plus parts.

Then £80 to get the 4 wheel alignment done. I could change the wishbones bit by bit, but then it would need that £80 alignment every time. More cost.

So chuck everything in one go, get it rebuilt properly and 1 alignment. Cheaper.

Preventative work keeps it good, plus some of the bushes are pretty worn anyway.

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Friday 25th October 2013
quotequote all
Nope.

The removal tool is a 9 inch grinder.. hehe

No farting about with rusted in place bolts. smile

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Friday 25th October 2013
quotequote all
I'm not the one doing the removals and refitting..
That's the job of my mobile Indy guy who's worked on it before. smile

He's done plenty of arms this way.

Shall need to book it into the garage for Monday to get the alignment done.

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Friday 25th October 2013
quotequote all
I prefer smart. wink

He's got the MSV2 reader so it's getting some software updates done at the same time.
Plus sat nav unlocked and unlocked the fbh to work. Plus some fault reading into my parking sensors and why the headlights are a bit naff despite new bulbs in them.

Plus he knows what he's doing and the labour cost is silly cheap. smile

steelej

1,761 posts

235 months

Friday 25th October 2013
quotequote all
A.J.M][IMG said:
All new, all genuine parts and a price that would make you cry.. hehe
I've cried at a lot of prices.

John

6C4GTS

5,186 posts

206 months

Friday 25th October 2013
quotequote all
steelej said:
A.J.M][IMG said:
All new, all genuine parts and a price that would make you cry.. hehe
I've cried at a lot of prices.

John
I remember the price you got for the XKR!! eek

Anyway - wait till you buy a pram buggie 3 x car seat and nursery furniture - good for a new 430 gearbox!

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Saturday 26th October 2013
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Well, a mixed bag of results today.

Following items got changed.

Arb bushes all round.
Front upper wishbones,
Rear lower wishbones.
Track rod ends.

Following software updates got done.
3 flash indicators.
Sat nav on the move unlocked.
Clock on dash.
Fuel burning heater cleared and unlocked to work again.

However, ( there is always a however, with my cars for some reason... )

Rear upper hub bushes are gubbed and the bolts need cut off to remove the bush. I didn't have said bushes so the rear upper arms can't yet get changed.

Also, my rear brake pipes need changed, the front right flex hose has a bulge in it so needs changed, the drivers front caliper is sticking and needs sorted.

These will be sorted shortly though.
Plan is to upgrade to Rangey Sport Brembo front calipers and D3 V8 rear disc's and pads so will get the brakes done at the same time.

So, good changes but still a fair few more quid to get it back to full health. Joy.

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Sunday 3rd November 2013
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Well Part 2 was ordered tonight.

I now have a set of RRS Brembo caliper's bought, with disc and EPC yellowstuff pads.
Also have new rear disc's EPC pads, sensor, and handbrake kit with shoes, springs and clips.

All shall get fitted next weekend.

The Disco is going to corner like a brand new model and now has a brake set up that only 2 other D3's that i know of on the Disco3 forums.

Now to choose a suitable colour for the calipers so they stand out behind the wheels. biggrin

sherman

15,153 posts

243 months

Monday 4th November 2013
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Got to be G4 challenge orange for the callipers

tonytifoso

1,385 posts

251 months

Monday 4th November 2013
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A.J.M said:
Well I will have the fastest stopping Fordson Major in the land.

Now to choose a suitable ghey colour for the calipers so they stand out behind the wheels and make the impossible possible, notably, make me look an even bigger Richard!. biggrin
Fact. wink

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
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Front brakes are here.

Sherman has informed me that his RX8 has 12 inch discs...
These are 14 inch discs.

Overkill? Me? biggrin

sherman

15,153 posts

243 months

Wednesday 6th November 2013
quotequote all
323mm to be precise

amccan10

589 posts

206 months

A.J.M

Original Poster:

8,375 posts

214 months

Sunday 10th November 2013
quotequote all






So, all work today was finished.
I now have new rear brake lines fitted. Common disco issue with age.

My rear upper arms are changed, the old ones had over half inch of slack in the bushes they were that worn!

Plus all new brakes are fitted.
The Brembos are sprayed blue, fitted and bedding in along with my all new rear set up and the handbrakes shoes.

Still a few things needing addressed, I need a new front inner parking sensor to fix the sensor problem.
My intercooler is packed solid with mud ( no idea how that's happened... Some bd previous owner most likely hehe )

Only thing now is to let the bank balance recover as its took a severe kicked to get the car back in shape as again.

There are only 3 other Disco3s that we know of on the forums with Brembos so I'm park of an exclusive club. smile