Disco weak spots

[chimpboy]

Hi all,

I have to keep a low profile here because I've already asked the Nissan guys what to look for in a used GQ.

However, weighing up the "bang for bucks" I find I can't rule out an early-to-mid 90s Disco... and it sort of seems to fit since I only just sold the V12 Jag that I rebuilt every square inch of. English junk is a bit of an addiction.

There's a 3.9i 1994 5-door in the trading post that I thought I might take a look at tomorrow. Just wondering if there are any classic things to look for on these things, any particular weak spots that might prompt someone to try to offload a dodgy disco on an unsuspecting buyer... or anything else I ought to know.

Anyone got any tips?

I did do a search on this but all I've really picked up is that the axles tend to break if you put big tyres on. Well, I'll be wanting to put big tyres on (or at least rims that sit wider) so I guess I'll need to upgrade the axles

Any suggestions would be appreciated... and please don't say anything to the Nissan guys.

Cheers,

Jason

[RaginRover]

heater core ususally goes around 130K its a big job dash out etc PITA, look for one with log books and a fairly good service history, the auto gear box (ZF) is strong and quite it should not be noisy or clunky (the clunks could be a fair few other things (radius arm bushes are the biggest culprit - pry them apart a bit with a big screw driver and see if they are de-laminated = stuffed cheap fix is to buy slotted ones off strange rover), the engines are strong and fairly economical for a V8.

Basically with the EFI rovers, if they have misc problems in the electrics
just find all the earth points around the car, un-do them, clean them up with sand paper, and then clean their contact point and put them all back together, that is a pretty good cure technique (Thanks for this tip Chuck and Little Shane).

Shocks and the tyres should be about had it, it may still have the original michellens on it which will nearly be gone depending on how many ks other wise it will most likely have pirelle scorpians on it, accoring to some of my mates these have a habbit of not staying round making the discos handle strangely. (try and put michellens back on it when you replace them they are the best tyre for the disco by far but the are a high on the $$ atm)

Look for water damage/rust in the foot wells of the front, rust under the battery tray (always a bit there).

That is about all I can think of, these discos should be smooth and really nice to drive, should handle pretty well for a 4x4 (if not it the radius arm bushes will need replacing), after you have a look at this one go and drive a few others even if they are yards somewhere just so you have a few to compare you will know when they have been looked after and when they are ordinary.

Good luck with it all

Tom

EDIT Spelling damn it

[Strange Rover]

The biggest issues is with the manual gearboxes. Some tend to flog out the main shaft where the transfer drive gear locates. So if your chasing a manual make sure you check this out before you buy because it will cost 3 to 4 grand (I think) to put a new mainshaft in the gearbox.

Diesels can be in need of new injectors or a pump rebuild if they are early to late 90s models. If your chasing a diesel make sure you test drive enough of them so you can tell which ones are lacking in power and may have something wrong.

The safest ones to buy are the V8 petrols with the auto gearbox. Nothing to expensive can go wrong with these and generally doesent.

If you are getting a manual make sure that reverse gear is below 5th which means it has a R380 gearbox as opposed to having reverse beside first which is the problematic LT77 gearbox.

Sam

[chimpboy]

Thanks guys, just the sort of info I was after.

Jason

[Beastmavster]

Pushed him away from the Pstrols but still can't quite make him buy a LWB V6 Vitara.... cmon guys help me out....