new disco owner-love but have problems

[carnutvic]

hello everyone.i just bought a really nice 95 disco and i love it.i am having a few problems and i would love some advice.
1.my reverse lights are not working.the bulbs are good.where is the reverse light switch?
2.i need to replace the front and rear rotors and pads.do i need any special tools?
3. front shock replacement-any tips?

thanks for the help!

[VArova87]

congrats on the new purchase! how many miles are on it? any modifications on it right now, and what are your plans for it in the future?

by the reverse lights do you mean the ones that come on when you shift to reverse or the rear fog lights? the rear fog switch is on the switch panel to the left of the steering wheel.

as for shocks and brakes, the other guys will chime in soon...

ps - use that search function up top, it will help a lot!

[Ares]

Front shock replacement is a breeze. Unbolt it at the spring perch, then unbolt the shock tower. Remove shock and shock tower.

The rotors are a bit more involved. Depending on your mechanical experience, it shouldnt take much more than a few hours. When doing the rotors, its a good time to inspect the wheel bearings and repack them or replace them. There is a good article on replacing wheel bearings on 4x4wire.com. I recommend getting the RAVE CD or Haynes manual. You will need to get a hub nut socket.

FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
3 REPAIR
FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY
Service repair no - 60.25.01.
Remove
1. Loosen front wheel nuts, jack up vehicle and
lower onto axle stands and remove road wheel.
2. Release brake hose clips and remove brake
caliper. Secure to one side.
3. Lever off dust cap.
4. Remove circlip and drive shaft shim from
driveshaft.
5. Remove five bolts and withdraw driving member
and joint washer.
6. Bend back lock washer tabs.
7. Remove locknut and lock washer.
8. Remove hub adjusting nut.
9. Remove spacing washer.
10. Remove hub and brake disc assembly complete
with bearings.

Now you need to break the rotor from the hub. This is often a RPITA and if you have access to a air ratchet it will make your life easier. Fit on the new rotor to the hub and reinstall according to below.
54 FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
4 REPAIR
Refit
11. Clean stub axle and drive shaft and fit hub
assembly to axle.
12. Fit spacing washer.
13. Fit hub adjusting nut. Tighten to 61 Nm.
14. Back off adjusting nut 90°. Tighten to 4 Nm.
15. Fit a new lock washer.
16. Fit locknut. Tighten to 61 Nm.
17. Tab over lock washer to secure adjusting nut
and locknut.
18. Fit a new joint washer to driving member and fit
member to hub and secure with five bolts.
Tighten to 65 Nm.
19. Fit original drive shaft shim and secure with a
circlip.
20. Remove bolt from drive shaft, fit circlip and dust
cap.
21. Fit brake caliper. Tighten to 82 Nm.
22. Fit road wheel, remove axle stands and tighten
road wheel nuts to 126 Nm.
23. Operate footbrake to locate brake pads before
taking vehicle on road.

At first glance it looks quite involved and it can be for your first time. But, I recommend doing it yourself to become familiar with this part of your truck. Especially if you plan on working on the truck yourself and if you go 4wheeling alot.

[carnutvic]

thanks guys!that was fast!it is a 95 with 92k.no mods planned-i am using it to tow my mx bike and quad.

i thought the stuck shifter would be an easy fix......wrong!what a real PITA!!every piece of linkage was frozen along with the shift tower.i dissasembled the tower and rebuilt it,i will put it back in tomorrow.that ranks up there with one of the worst jobs ever.i have owned a bunch of british and exotic cars (www.racervic.com) and do all the repairs/restorations on them but i wish i would have paid to have that done.whew.
my eyes are going loopy.its 4 am and i gotta be at work in 4 hours.more details later

[Adam in NYC USA]

Originally Posted by carnutvic

hello everyone.i just bought a really nice 95 disco and i love it.i am having a few problems and i would love some advice.
1.my reverse lights are not working.the bulbs are good.where is the reverse light switch?
2.i need to replace the front and rear rotors and pads.do i need any special tools?
3. front shock replacement-any tips?

thanks for the help!

Before you check anything else (in the reverse light catagory), open the light section and reseat the bulbs as well as the wiring harness. A bit of contact cleaner should help as well.

Electrical problems are acute in these creatures.

Just changed my bulbs and now one of my reverse lights is out and it is a LED, so no burnout either.

Adam in NYC

[carnutvic]

well,i got the mod bug.i ordered the entire brake kit,front skid plate,+2 springs and gas shocks. new guibo

also got the big roof rack and rear ladder

front bumper and lights are next
any other suggested mods?

[Discodude19]

Well damn looks like your well on your way!!! Ya know if your interested there is an off road and camping event being held here in Colorado in August. It's called my rover mayham. Just ask for more details.

[carnutvic]

going out west and 4 wheeling has always been a dream of mine,i have been getting dirty with quads and bikes my whole life.this disco is the first really good offroad capable tow vehicle i have owned.i took my family to cali a couple of years ago and i was astounded at the offroad access you have.we went to yosemite and tahoe.too bad we had a rental minivan.i REALLY want to ride in the dunes.my son is 11 so a few more years before he is ready for dune riding.my inlaws have a sportsmobile(f350 4wd van/motorhome) and have been all over the western states and mexico.

just how good is a properly set-up disco offroad?are they really better than a jeep?

[Adam in NYC USA]

Originally Posted by carnutvic

going out west and 4 wheeling ...this disco is the first really good offroad capable tow vehicle i have owned.i took my family to cali a couple of years ago and i was astounded at the offroad access you have.we went to yosemite and tahoe......i REALLY want to ride in the dunes.my son is 11 so a few more years before he is ready for dune riding.....

just how good is a properly set-up disco offroad?are they really better than a jeep?

I leave that up to you.

Personally, I am an Emergency Medical Technician. I used to drive a top-heavy conversion of a pickup truck loaded with a partner and a patient. I now drive a desk and a 1996 Discovery 1.

I find driving my D1 to be a interesting and safe drive from torrential rains to sunny dry conditions to a heavy blizzard last winter. Never lost any confidence behind the wheel. Just remember the devil is in the details. If you take care of the Land Rover, it will take care of you, period.

Just remember when you go to the Jeep after driving the Land Rover, it aint the same thing. So the stuff you try on the Land Rover and can get away with, you might not be able to do the same.

Adam in NYC D1

[300bhp/ton]

I think the reversing light switch is on the gearbox, need to sort this out on my Discovery actually. But make sure it's not just a dodgy connection in the light cluster.

[Discodude19]

Originally Posted by carnutvic

just how good is a properly set-up disco offroad?are they really better than a jeep?

A properly set-up disco is amazing off road. Mine isn't completely set-up and it does great now. I have to say yes they are better than jeeps but that is just a rover thing!! But seriously rovers have a longer wheel base which does a lot also the disco's have a central locking diff lock which helps.

[carnutvic]

what a great web site!
keep the replies coming.

i am now an official member of the no mudflaps/cut front bumper club.YEA.it looks much better.can't wait to bolt on the lift springs and shocks.

[300bhp/ton]

Originally Posted by carnutvic

just how good is a properly set-up disco offroad?are they really better than a jeep?

Now that’s a loaded question.

In stock trim Jeeps (Wrangler/Cherokee) aren’t bad but lack axle articulation and ground clearance. Also the 4wd setup on them isn’t as good.

Any stock Land Rover will go very far off road. Ever heard of the Camel Trophy? I think it’s called something else now, but essentially they used to take fairly stock Land Rover vehicles and drive in some of the most inhospitable terrain possible. Jungles, desserts, mountains you name it.

A longer wheel base has many advantages off road and many years ago Land Rover, after much testing decided a 101” wheel base was the best for off roading. It was very popular at a time to take a Range Rover (classic) replace the rear cross member with a 90 one and make essentially a 100 or 101” 90 Defender. Off road these things go anywhere, in fact they will go places a regular Defender 90 won’t.

The Discovery is very very capable, the biggest down side is it has fairly large overhangs front and rear, its pretty tall and can weigh quite a bit.

On a tight trail or for off road trialing a short wheel base is far more nimble although often less stable. In the UK many people cut down a Range Rover/Discovery to a 80” wheelbase and fit Series 1 cross D90 body work.

The Wrangler is very capable and with a few mods can be extremely good off road. They have very good approach and departure angles. The issues with the 4wd system can be over come, usually by fitting lockers and a few other items. The earlier YJ (square headlight ones) have leaf springs and will never have the same ability on/off road as a coil sprung vehicle. The latter TJ’s have coils.

At the end of the day with mods and money both vehicles are ultimate. In stock or near stock trim I’d give the win to a Land Rover. A stock D90 on suitable tyres will go almost anywhere, my uncle has an early 80’s 2.5 TD truck cab 90. Hardly any power it only does about 65mph top speed yet it will go anywhere the small V8 80” specials will.

[carnutvic]

300bhp--now that was an extremely well articulated reply.thank you.you jogged my memory about the leaf spring jeep.they ruined it for a while didn't they.
now i really understand the range rover mystique.