Chassis Swap - Wheel Bearing

After discovering the grinding noise (rear, drivers side) I asked some questions on the forums and came to the conclusion it likely to be the wheel bearing. So a pair of new wheel bearing kits were ordered from Brookwells. These include Timken wheel bearings (STC4382) and a choice of oil seals, gaskets and locking washers. I also ordered a new set of Terrafirma shocks (not big bore this time) and a 52mm deep socket for the hub nuts.

I unbolted the drive flange and pulled out the half-shaft (flange and half-shaft are a single item on my 90). I removed the outer hub nut, locking washer and inner locking nut then removed the hub.

I laid the parts out in the order I removed them for reference. I (carefully) used a screwdriver to drift out the old tracks.  I used a grinder with metal cutting disk to cut a slot out of one of the tracks so it could be used as a drift to fit the new tracks.

I then greased the new bearings, cleaned up the stub axle and put it back together again.

Notice the cats cradle of paracord holding the brake calliper out of the way. After putting the hub back together I swapped out the rear shocks and took her for a drive - the grinding noises have now gone.

Chassis Swap - Shock Absorbers - Part2

So after a test drive I'm getting slight grating noise from the front end.  A little investigation reveals that the Terrafirma Big Bores are grinding against the Terrafirma shock towers.

Chassis Swap - ROW Exhaust - Part5

Just got a call from the Fedex guy saying the Bosal tailpipe will come at lunchtime.

The new tailpipe arrived and I fitted it.  It is better quality than the one it replaced but still fouled the rear tank bracket.

Now I'm not sure why the exhaust bracket should fowl the chassis - the exhaust is designed for a rear tank.  Maybe the front pipe is slightly longer than it should be causing the back section to be an inch or so further back than it should be, or maybe the tank bracket is different on the 300 Tdi than the Td5, or maybe the chassis is out.

Whatever the problem there are only a couple of things I can do.  Either get a custom made exhaust pipe or cut a bit off the chassis.

Well since I cannot afford another new exhaust, and since I will not be needing a rear tanks for a long while, I cut a section of the tank bracket away.  Not ideal but it can always be welded back in place at some point in the future.

Conclusion:  After all the research and hunting for parts the ROW spec exhaust is still not right,,,so my advice is, if you want to fit a rear tank into a 300Tdi 90, get a good quality custom pipe made to fit!

And finally, I took her for a drive -  only to find that the noise of the exhaust rubbing on the chassis had been masking grinding noises from the front and from the rear drivers side.  I think the noise from the back is a wheel bearing going - oh joy!

Rock-sliders - Part1

My old rock-sliders were getting a bit rusty so I decided to replace them with some Terrafirma Galvanised items.

Now I'm not keen on the look of galvanised parts so I will them a couple of coats of Hammerite special metals primer and a couple of coats of Hammerite satin black metal paint.  Don't know how well this will stick but I have nothing to lose.















The Terrafirma sliders seem good quality and weigh in at 33Kg (according to the box) so are not lightweight.

Chassis Swap - ROW Exhaust - Part4

So the new tail pipe was ordered and I got a call this morning from the Fedex guy...the exhaust will be there around lunchtime...Around lunchtime I get a call...the exhaust has been recalled!

I got onto the supplier who said they had dispatched the wrong part...or more precisely the right part to someone else and their pipe to me.

Mine should be here in a few days.

Chassis Swap - She's Back

Collected Sally today!  After a couple of hours on the train, Paul picked me up at the station and we drove over to his unit to settle up and collect any of the remaining bits that I wanted to take home with me.  So after the deal was I done I started the drive home from south Yorkshire back to civilisation (Lancashire that is).  On the motorway she happily cruised st 70 - the new bushes and shocks made her more stable and she now feels much happier when driving at speed.  The new clutch is an improvement and the brakes don't squeak any more.

Near home there is a twisty section of road so I decided to give her some beans to see how she performed.

...And then there was an almighty noise.  I pulled over find the problem.  The exhaust had gone twang and repositioned itself rubbing against the new rear tank brackets.

I jammed some cardboard between the chassis and the exhaust and limped back home at at about 20mph.

Now Richards are famed for their accurate chassis, but now matter how I tried to reposition the exhaust I could not get a satisfactory fit.

My conclusion is that the cheap tailpipe is likely be the problem so I ordered a Bosal replacement part and crossed my fingers.

Also saw the old chassis being chopped up!