At what point to do you give up on a D1? Can they be made reliable?

[AndrewClarke]

Guess I'm spoiled- seen too many thirds and axles explode. The lockers fix that, and the axles/CVs get upgraded simultaneously on mine- both front and rear.

Good point. I didn't even mention the Discovery front and rear diffs breaking on the same weekend for me since I could chalk that one up at least 50% to poor driving skill. I put a Detroit in the back with HD half shafts and an ARB in the front at that point.

 

[EricTyrrell]

When do you give up on a D1? When you puss out.

The following will not work: Part breaks, you fix it. Another part breaks, you fix it. Repeat 10 more times. You now think: "I've replaced a lot of parts so now it should be reliable". This does not work.

Why does that not work? You're being reactive. You must be proactive. The consumable (and some non) parts of an old vehicle are at the end of their life. Only by rebuilding or replacing those parts can it continue to be reliable. Carefully inspect each part. Most parts will warn you they are at the end of their life. Pay attention.

Also:
Given two worn out parts: Part A, and part B.
If you replace part A, don't be surprised if part B breaks. Part B is still worn out and will fail regardless of how nice you were to part A.

If part A repeatedly fails, it's either flawed or you're not fixing it right. If it's flawed, find a better solution. There are solutions to all D1 issues. If you're fixing it wrong, learn how to do it better.

 

[EricTyrrell]

Another example: If my transmission (4HP22) suddenly fails I will not be surprised at all. Some would get angry and blame the vehicle, but not me. The 4HP22 is a good German trans. I take care of it. So why would I not be surprised? Because it has damn near 200k miles. Because I have no idea how the previous owner maintained it. Because I have no idea if they liked to do neutral drops at 5k RPM..

 

[Viggen]

Join DWEB. Their amount of knowledge regarding discos is outstanding.

Yeah, as long as you can stand the typical DWeb garbage that comes along with it.

 

[Desert Dan]

Get a 3rd one for more spares or sell both and get a newer vehicle?? It depends on how much time you want to spend tinkering vs out exploring. Greater reliability=less worry and more fun to me.

It is a tuff call on when to give up on vehicles because you get committed and in deeper with expenses and memories (been there done that).

 

[94Discovery]

When do you give up on a D1? When you puss out.

The following will not work: Part breaks, you fix it. Another part breaks, you fix it. Repeat 10 more times. You now think: "I've replaced a lot of parts so now it should be reliable". This does not work.

Why does that not work? You're being reactive. You must be proactive. The consumable (and some non) parts of an old vehicle are at the end of their life. Only by rebuilding or replacing those parts can it continue to be reliable. Carefully inspect each part. Most parts will warn you they are at the end of their life. Pay attention.

Also:
Given two worn out parts: Part A, and part B.
If you replace part A, don't be surprised if part B breaks. Part B is still worn out and will fail regardless of how nice you were to part A.

If part A repeatedly fails, it's either flawed or you're not fixing it right. If it's flawed, find a better solution. There are solutions to all D1 issues. If you're fixing it wrong, learn how to do it better.

Another example: If my transmission (4HP22) suddenly fails I will not be surprised at all. Some would get angry and blame the vehicle, but not me. The 4HP22 is a good German trans. I take care of it. So why would I not be surprised? Because it has damn near 200k miles. Because I have no idea how the previous owner maintained it. Because I have no idea if they liked to do neutral drops at 5k RPM..

I agree 100% with the above
Will not trad my 94 D1 for anything else it is has the same electrical as yours very reliable and as all the above yes you need to do preventive mantanance but if from the begining you had a **** truck to begin with do not blam it on the truck it is the previous owner who neglected it .
And for all toyota owners what is it with you guys everytime a land rover owner is pissed at his truck you bring Toyota and there reliability,TOYOTA DO NOT HAVE A SOUL CHARACTER NOR THE THING ......

 

[454]

It amuses me that the Toyota guys feel the need to cruise the Rover section.

I guess they have free time since their trucks are perfectly reliable.

 

[David Harris]

It amuses me that the Toyota guys feel the need to cruise the Rover section.

I guess they have free time since their trucks are perfectly reliable.

Maybe they're just bored over there and secretly want a Rover. . .

 

[xCSx]

I want both a rover and a toyota... i have a mazda 3 sedan, HELP! :0

 

[94Discovery]

I want both a rover and a toyota... i have a mazda 3 sedan, HELP! :0

Mazda i am really sorry for you:Wow1:

 

[94Discovery]

It amuses me that the Toyota guys feel the need to cruise the Rover section.

I guess they have free time since their trucks are perfectly reliable.

Maybe they're just bored over there and secretly want a Rover. . .

owning a Toyota is like being brain dead.......................

 

[Green96D1]

I've Had two Discoveries and I haven't experience all the unreliability that these trucks a so called known for. As for my 96 D1 it ran fine and took me places I never thought a 4x4 would go and the only time it left me stranded was when the fuel pump went out but it was old and faulty and due for replacement.

my current D1 a 1997 has been extremely reliable and has never left me stranded. and its pushing 200K soon with some hard driving off road miles. I agree with being proactive replace part A with part B and fix it right and it will stay on top.

and P.S a toyota while they make great 4x4's is not the solution to every problem with a rover.

 

[ChuckB]

Maybe they're just bored over there and secretly want a Rover. . .

maybe...

 

[David Harris]

maybe...

Hey, one of each might be the perfect solution. After all, it took both Kirk and Spock to keep the Enterprise on top. . .

 

[ChuckB]

Hey, one of each might be the perfect solution. After all, it took both Kirk and Spock to keep the Enterprise on top. . .

I wouldn't mind having a D1 with a 5spd which is what prompted me to read this thread.