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HossBog



Member Since: 22 Jul 2015
Location: Glos
Posts: 131

United Kingdom 
TD5 crossmember - tabs outside bodywork or not?
My rear crossmember (a replacement one) has vertical tabs which to join the bodywork (as per the pic), with electrolytic corrosion between the two surfaces. All the other Defenders I've seen don't have the tabs visible on the outside of the bodywork, just the bolt heads.

Is mine fitted wrongly, or is this normal. I'm getting the tabs removed (if they can be) to sort the bodywork corrosion, so want to prevent future corrosion if the cross member is incorrectly fitted...any thoughts appreciated.




 2002MY Defender 90 H/T
Post #461858 9th Oct 2015 2:59pm
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davew



Member Since: 02 Jan 2012
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 888

England 1990 Defender 90 V8 Petrol PU Auto Rioja Red
It may be an age thing but most TD5s I've seen have the tabs on the inside. Unlike the earlier Defenders/110s/90s the tabs were not welded on but they use a long bracket (like a strip of angle iron) that is fixed (bolted I think) to the top of the rear cross member. I don't know when they changed over to this arrangement though, could well have been 2003 onwards.

If you've had a replacement cross member then when it was fitted they may have used the tabs to set it's front/back position but there's no reason why you can't move them to the other side. How simple that will be will depend on if the tabs are welded onto the crossmember or they've used the bolt on style bracket.

Moving them to the inside doesn't help with the corrosion but does make it easier to hide sacrificial spacers. There should be an aluminium spacer between the tabs and the body as per the earlier models. This gets eaten away by the galvanic corrosion rather than the bodywork, in theory ! http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/
Post #461862 9th Oct 2015 3:19pm
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TD5_dan



Member Since: 24 Feb 2012
Location: Essex
Posts: 449

2001 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
2002MY on should start having tabs on inside mine is a very late y plate with some 2002MY parts but still has tabs on outside like you Thumbs Up 2001 TD5 110 County Station Wagon - sold
1970 Series 2A Station Wagon
1970 Series 2A hard top
1960 Series 2
1972 Series 3
Post #462015 10th Oct 2015 8:57am
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HossBog



Member Since: 22 Jul 2015
Location: Glos
Posts: 131

United Kingdom 
Thx both - mine's a 51 plate but first of the 2002MY.

It's got a metal strip across the top of the x-member which has the tabs fixed to it. The strip isn't bolted to the member that I can see, so must be welded. No welds visible either....

Anyway, looks like the tabs should be outside and I need some allly washers (as there don't seem to be any) fitted when I get the bodywork sorted. 2002MY Defender 90 H/T
Post #462023 10th Oct 2015 9:58am
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
I would consider grinding them off as they don't appear to have any functionality apart from rotting the bodywork. Thumbs Up If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #462024 10th Oct 2015 10:01am
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excossack



Member Since: 22 Feb 2012
Location: North West
Posts: 5843

United Kingdom 1999 Defender 110 Td5 SW Caledonian Blue
Mine is a 1999 td5 and tabs on the outside 1999 Defender TD5 110

Regards
John M0VAZ
Econet Station 48 no clock
Post #462029 10th Oct 2015 10:27am
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Fatboy Slim



Member Since: 04 Feb 2008
Location: Bridgend
Posts: 1006

Wales 
K9F wrote:
I would consider grinding them off as they don't appear to have any functionality apart from rotting the bodywork. Thumbs Up


I wouldn't lol. They hold the tub onto the chassis Rolling with laughter
Post #462131 10th Oct 2015 6:44pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
Laughing I wouldn't know because mine are obviously on the inside. Whistle


Click image to enlarge
 If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #462158 10th Oct 2015 8:21pm
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HossBog



Member Since: 22 Jul 2015
Location: Glos
Posts: 131

United Kingdom 
....where mine should be. Had a good poke around with a torch this pm - there are 3 bolts holding the 'strip' with the tabs to the x-member so hopefully should be able to get it out and see it will reverse fit with the tabs on the inside. 2002MY Defender 90 H/T
Post #462182 10th Oct 2015 9:55pm
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couplands



Member Since: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Peak District & Cornwall
Posts: 1826

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 HT Oslo Blue
My 2001 TD5 has the tabs on the outside...


Click image to enlarge
Post #462191 10th Oct 2015 10:09pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2642

Scotland 
Your tabs are where they should be. The rivets adjacent to the inner ones hold the plate on the back side with the nuts on. The bolts go through the tabs, then the tub, then into the nut plate.

Later ones that are meant to have the tabs inside the bodywork don't have the riveted plates as the bolts go straight through the tub into the tabs - nuts are welded to the back of the tabs themselves.
Post #462192 10th Oct 2015 10:25pm
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MaxRPM



Member Since: 15 Jan 2013
Location: South Staffs
Posts: 1114

England 
My 1999 TD5 has the tabs on the outside. No corrosion on mine.
Post #462209 11th Oct 2015 7:14am
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VeeTee



Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 1512

Netherlands 
Retroanaconda wrote:
Your tabs are where they should be. The rivets adjacent to the inner ones hold the plate on the back side with the nuts on. The bolts go through the tabs, then the tub, then into the nut plate.

Later ones that are meant to have the tabs inside the bodywork don't have the riveted plates as the bolts go straight through the tub into the tabs - nuts are welded to the back of the tabs themselves.


That makes sense, good analysis Thumbs Up Cheers, Vincent
1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold)
1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold)
1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold)
1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold)
2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold)
2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold)

MySite
Post #462215 11th Oct 2015 7:53am
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