General 2wd or 4x4

[pandamaniac]

Mick.
The grease nipple is all there is for maintenance, and unless your Hardy Spicer or CV joints are klonking the only thing that can go are the boots.
They are likely to be split letting grease out.
If you take the propshaft off check the central rubber mounts as welll.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Sorry, but I can't understand why you lot poo poo the 4wd as being hard to maintain and more expensive to run.

Yes I agree 70mph is about top speed (without thrashing it) 60mph is adequate, fuel economy is only about 35mpg and some parts are harder to find, but in the main if you buy a good one and I have run mine for 4 years and 30,000 miles without any major troubles other than those you find with all 20 year old cars where is the problem.

There are less variants of the 4x4, so less queries as to what will fit. Electronic distributor as standard and carb make life simple.

Moral.
Don't buy a scrapper because if the body looks like its had a hard life so will the rest of the moving parts.
Pandamaniac.

Ah, can of worms opened up eh!

I am afraid I am going to shoot myself in the foot, because in all fairness the only problem I have had sourcing parts for is the propshaft.
The rubber boots are available at £22 a pop but new or reconditioned CV joints are no longer available.

I had to strip my CV joints to the bear bones from 2 propshafts, select the best outer cases, inner cages and bearings and generally fettle up 2 good sets.
However having totally stripped and rebuilt them, greased and put on new boots I don't forsee any problems for many years.

The failing if any was on my part for not checking for split propshaft boots when I bought it, so grit and crap had probably already got in.

Moral if you drive a 4x4 between two walls and hear a rattling sound it will be your CV joints. Tend to them immediately.

I feel that if your gearbox and 4x4 system works all the rest is solveable off ebay.

I did end up buying an spare donor vehicle as spares which obviously helps long term. So spare engine, panels, radiator, glass, alternators, dizzies and petrol tank are all available.

You had to get a quote for front legs yet?

 

[pandamaniac]

Jon.

Only wish I had hip joints instead of Panda spares.
I have got a spare pair of struts and springs which may be serviceable.

Go on and frighten me, How much are they?
Dave

 

[lightweightmick]

Mine's had new fitted