New Rear Springs - Now including a question about Diff Lock!

[Homer]

Hi All,


I have ordered some HD springs for the Rear of the Disco, they arrive tomorrow and I managed to get it booked in to have them fitted next tuesday.

My question to you is are they difficult to fit? I changed the rear shocks and that wasnt too hard, whats involved in changing the springs?


Thanks in advance


Mark

[Spooky]

Mark,
The procedure is actually quite straightforward:

1.  Jack the rear of the car up, and support the chassis on firm axle stands. Remove the rear wheels.
2.  Lower axle, then support one side of axle with jack.
3.  Disconnect the shock absorber, lower end of axle until weight is off the spring. Ensure that the brake flexi hose (above the differential) does not become too stretched.
4.  Remove the 2 bolts holding the spring retainer, then remove spring together with the lower spring seat plate.

To quote the famous saying in the Haynes manuals, 'Refit is reversal of Removal'! Now repeat for the other side.

Of course, this assumes that the spring retaining bolts come undone easily - they can be complete sods, so a good application of WD40 is a wise idea.

If your car has anti-roll bars, it may be difficult to lower the axle sufficiently to remove the spring.  If this is the case, either disconnect the anti-roll bar, or use a spring compressor.

[muddyweb]

Step 1  -   Put the handbrake on, centre diff in, put it in gear and CHOCK THE FRONT WHEELS

;-)

[Homer]

Thanks for the quick replies!!

Think I better leave it to the garage to do, Sounds a bit much for me on my own.

muddyweb's reply reminds me of another question I have, this time about Diff Lock, mine wont go in, I dont think the lever goes all the way across - can anyone give me some ideas of what to check before I pay someone to look at it for me?

Cheers


Mark

[Spacemud]

Mine got stuck in once when I first bought the car and was 'experimenting'. Took it to the local independant Land Rover Garage (Roean in Telford), they knocked about a bit under the car with a screwdriver and sent me on my way, mechanism mended and all free of charge. I'm sure someone here will explain fully but I think it is some kind of mechanical lever which may just need freeing off and lubricating. Worth a look before paying out for a mechanic.

[Bush Tucker Man]

can anyone give me some ideas of what to check before I pay someone to look at it for me?

Cheers


Mark

Try this American site for advice & tips.

When I bought mine, it would engage high & Low, but not diff-lock.
Upon inspection the slider carrying the selecetor was corroded together.

I ended up buying a complete 'turret' (with selector mechanism) from a gearbox reconditioners near Halifax for the princely sum of £5.00!

Half an hour to exchange the item, plus plenty of Copper-Grease in it & it's still perfect

[K9Jim]

you could do what i did and have a look underneath whilst some one wriggles the diff lever for you. you'll see the mechanism moving on the drivers side if i remember right. soak it in wd40 and continue to wriggle, it may just be seized through lack of use like mine was. my trusty wd40 cured it.    :lol:

[Bush Tucker Man]

it may just be seized through lack of use like mine was. my trusty wd40 cured it.    :lol:

On a personal note, I tried that, but it was too far gone. I even removed it & tried to 'drift it' free with a copper headed mallet, but to no avail.


So replacement was the simplest (& as it turned out a cheap) option

[Tyke]

Diff Lock was jammed on my Discovery when I first bought it. Previous owner didn't even know what it was for.

A liitle persuasion and wiggling of the stick soon got  it working again, albeit a little stiff at first.

Now works a treat but I do use it a lot, particularly down the tracks at the moment with all the wet and mud we now have.


Moral of the Discovery diff lock is . . . . Use it - or lose it  

[Homer]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Been out and WD40'd it, it appears to be doing something now (I can see the part at the bottom or the link move and something sounds like its engaging). But the warning light doesn't come on. Any ideas?


Thanks again


Mark

[BrumLee]

Hi Mark

Rear springs are a doddle, if you can wait I'll do them the next time you're up this way.

Diff lock: have you tried driving the vehicle backwards and forwards? Sometimes my light doesn't come on straight away.

[Homer]

Rear springs are a doddle, if you can wait I'll do them the next time you're up this way.

Thanks for the offer Lee, but I suspect you are going to regret it, I will have a chat with you about it at the Party tonight!!    :lol:

[BrumLee]

Rear springs are a doddle, if you can wait I'll do them the next time you're up this way.

Thanks for the offer Lee, but I suspect you are going to regret it, I will have a chat with you about it at the Party tonight!!    :lol:

Don't forget to bring the springs  

[Homer]

Hi All,


Well as usual the advice was correct - Fitting rear springs is a doddle and very straight forward. BrumLee had no problems fitting my new springs! (Thanks a lot Lee!).

Going back to the difflock question, does anyone know where the switch for the warning light is located? I still cant get the light to come on even though it seems like something is now happening when I move the transfer lever. Would like to check for any electrical problems before looking any further at the mechanical bits!


Cheers


Mark

[ChrisW]

Forgot all about this yesterday - could have had a look  :roll:  :lol:
Is there anywhere round your way that has a gravel surface? You can put it in diff-lock then drive round in circles (slowly) and you should get the wheels on the outer circle spinning/crunching to release any build up - you know it's working then.
(You can probably do it on tarmac too but I wouldn't go more than a couple of times round in a circle before unlocking and making sure it's off).

[muddymart]

DIfflock???

I have  a green switch located in the trim near the gear sticks,once pressed it illuminates,but without taking the trim out i dont know what it operates,there are no mods/accs yet.
i had a old 'x' reg range rover with exactly the same switch which operated the difflock(or someting to do with 4x4lock).could it be this....many thanks

[thermidorthelobster]

Or, put it in diff lock, put it out of gear, jack one wheel up on each axle (ie one side of the car).  If the diff lock is working, then as you try to turn one of the wheels in the air by hand, the other will turn too.  If it isn't, the wheel will turn on its own.

Sanity check - can somebody reason this through and see if I've got it right?

[ChrisW]

To operate the diff-lock on Discovery's you push the transfer box stick over to the passenger side of the vehicle, nothing as simple as a push button  
Mind you.... I'm sure Mark could find a switch to do it with, eh Mark!  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[muddymart]

i understand this does the diff lock operate in high and low too? as it has like a H gate and can select 4 positions and ive got an unmarked knob so dont know which is which,looking on ebay fora genuine one !!  :shock:

[ChrisW]

Yes, top left - low box & diff-lock, top right - low box & unlocked centre diff, bottom left high box & diff-lock, bottom right high box & unlocked (normal road driving)
Diff lock can be engaged at any time, you only need to stop the vehicle when going from high to low box (unless it's an auto)

[muddymart]

well many thanks for that,shall be looking for the landrover transfer knob

[Homer]

Forgot all about this yesterday - could have had a look  :roll:  :lol:
Is there anywhere round your way that has a gravel surface? You can put it in diff-lock then drive round in circles (slowly) and you should get the wheels on the outer circle spinning/crunching to release any build up - you know it's working then.
(You can probably do it on tarmac too but I wouldn't go more than a couple of times round in a circle before unlocking and making sure it's off).

Yes I forgot too. I'll Try that.


Cheers

Mark

[discodaz]

Shove the transfer ler over to the left, then jack one wheel up, if difflock is engaged you will only be able to move the lifted wheel a very small amount before it stops moving,release the diflock & the lifted wheel should spin freely.
The switch for difflock is on top of the transfer box & is on the drivers side,don't wind it in too much if its out of adjustment cos it will stop the difflock mechanism from engaging fully,L-R know about this and there is a collar available that ensures you can't wind the switch in too far.