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Mossberg



Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 553

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
Recommended tools
I want to start doing my own maintenance on my 90 300tdi. Can you folks give me tips on what things to get . I am thinking of kit that you are unlikely to have in a standard tool kit.

I have looked at things and consider the 52mm socket to be a priority. I did look at the box spanner but a socket is £12.50 on eBay.

What other items would you recommend. I would estimate needing the socket so not buying for the sake of it.

I am not looking at anything too expensive or unlikely to be used. Just things that will make my life easier on my LR journey!

Many thanks.

Mick
Post #825065 13th Apr 2020 8:39pm
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Daisy90



Member Since: 01 Feb 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 845

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Alveston Red
A prop shaft socket/ tool, will save loads of ball ache and knuckles, also a grease gun Thumbs Up
Post #825068 13th Apr 2020 8:43pm
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htb2



Member Since: 02 Nov 2018
Location: Carmarthenshire
Posts: 531

Wales 
Propshaft nut socket 9/16" is handy but not essential, I've never bought one yet, been doing L/Rovers for 30+ yrs
Post #825069 13th Apr 2020 8:45pm
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Daisy90



Member Since: 01 Feb 2015
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 845

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 90 Td5 SW Alveston Red
There ya go then Rolling Eyes
Post #825073 13th Apr 2020 9:01pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8050

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Halfords socket set on offer, propshaft tool kits, viscous spanner, 52mm socket, circlip pliers and hammer, pry bar. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #825076 13th Apr 2020 9:16pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20440

United Kingdom 
Daisy90 wrote:
A prop shaft socket/ tool, will save loads of ball ache and knuckles, also a grease gun Thumbs Up

This tool IS worth getting, saves a lot of messing around.
Torque wrenches maybe of use too. Thumbs Up $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
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Post #825081 13th Apr 2020 9:42pm
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8619simon



Member Since: 04 Nov 2016
Location: North Wales
Posts: 247

Wales 1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Epsom Green
Disc cutter, patience and a sense of humour all help Rolling with laughter
Post #825082 13th Apr 2020 9:42pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5724

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
14mm ratchet spanner for removal of swivel. Also note that some bolts are multipoint headed, so not all sockets will fit. Brake callipers for instance.
Grease gun is essential.

If are going to play with electrics a power probe is a nice toy to have in the garage.
Post #825083 13th Apr 2020 9:50pm
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Procta



Member Since: 03 Dec 2016
Location: Sunderland
Posts: 5183

United Kingdom 
jst wrote:
Halfords socket set on offer, propshaft tool kits, viscous spanner, 52mm socket, circlip pliers and hammer, pry bar.


you cannot go wrong with their spanners and ratchets, also long spanners, a buzz gun. That makes short work of stuff, My dad has one and it whips stuff off with in seconds. Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back

Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it!
Post #825091 13th Apr 2020 10:06pm
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BogMonster



Member Since: 05 Feb 2008
Location: Stanley
Posts: 400

Falkland Islands 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
Oooh shopping. No right and wrong answer but the below is probably the main stuff I have accumulated over 20 odd years of looking after some vehicles, a boat, trail bikes, lawnmowers etc.

Decent socket sets, primarily metric for a Defender age vehicle, but a few AF sizes helps as a handful of things are still in the old money. If you can manage two of all the sizes that's better. I've got three Draper Expert sets, one each in 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4 square drive, some will slag Draper off but I have broken very little and I've had them for about 20 years now although not used daily. Halfords pro sets appear good as well, just got one of those. Make sure there is a selection of deep sockets in the sets.

Couple of decent 1/2" breaker bars as the socket sets never have one, 18" and 2ft, get a 3ft one if you want some extra breakfast.

A good metric combination spanner set and a handful of AFs in the main sizes. As above, two of each is better.

Two 9/16 ringspanners for propshafts, a propshaft tool is nice but good for rounding nuts off too... carry the two 9/16 spanners and a 13mm in the car, then you can get the prop off if a UJ fails, or disconnect the battery if the smoke starts coming out of something, which deals with the two most likely roadside issues.

A selection of ratchet ringspanners will help in a few places

An air grease gun, decent make rattle gun (mine is a CP, forget the cheap ones as they are Censored ) and air ratchet. A 3hp compressor with a decent tank (plus the usual tyre inflator, blow gun etc). You can get battery equivalents of the tools which can be better still (if you get a good one) but way more expensive. Once you have a good compressor you may find excuses to buy other things like nibblers and air hacksaws that you don't really need but will use because you have it... Laughing

Decent 18V battery drill with 2 batteries.

Multimeter

Battery charger

Crimping tool for insulated connectors and a handful of assorted crimp connections, ring and spade terminals, butt connectors etc.

Hacksaw

Angle grinder and some cutting and grinding discs AND SOME GOGGLES

Small set of cold chisels and centre punches

Pop-riveter and a selection of 3.2, 4.0 and 4.8mm pop rivets

Rivnut tool (though you can make one for occasional use)

A decent vice if you want to do things like change UJs

Consider a 10T press, but don't necessarily buy one at the outset. A vice and more swearing can often make up most of the gap but when it comes to things like pressing in trailer bearings or pushing on diff bearings it makes life so much easier. Suspension bushes can be done with a vice but it's hard work....

Consider a pillar drill if you have a workshop space. I'm still considering it 20 odd years on, so it's probably not essential!

A couple of decent 3T workshop trolley jacks and at least 1 pair of axle stands. I've just bought a Clarke 3T garage jack from Machine Mart which seems pretty solid. They do a few. Miles better than the standard cheapo 2T jacks or a bottle jack - and much more stable.

Torque wrench(es) are worth having and essential for bigger jobs like a head gasket.

Think about 'special tools'. Your 52mm socket is one. A fan spanner for the viscous fan pulley is another I would not be without. You can get cheapies that are 32mm one end 36mm the other which will do most engines in the Defender - a 300 fan is 32mm. Don't worry about the other spanner that goes with it (the pulley holding tool) - borrow one if needed (or improvise) to get the fan off the first time, and then don't tighten it too much when it goes back on - the fan can't fall off as the engine rotation winds it on.

I've got lots of other garbage but to be honest I could live without most of it and probably wouldn't buy a lot of it again! ---
2006 Defender 110 SW 300Tdi • 2011 Ford Ranger XLT crewcab • 2015 Defender 110 Station Wagon Utility TDCi
Post #825095 13th Apr 2020 10:48pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20440

United Kingdom 
I use Draper and occasionally Sealy. They do the job, any issues just replace.

Only thing I think that has broken on me was a Sealy wheel nut socket with plastic outer case. (To protect alloys on Defenders)
The socket hasn’t broken, I still use it but the plastic sleeve has a crack all down it.
It’s possible it got broken before I was sent it though and only showed signs after use.

For the prices these things are it’s no worries to replace occasionally anyway.

Brands are pretty similar, and last well. It’s only when you spend more that I would expect extra lifetime. $W33T $0U7H3RN $UG4R
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Post #825097 13th Apr 2020 10:59pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8050

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
I use halfords or bacho sets in he vehicle when out on a trip, and kamasa sockets, spanners in the wksp with snap on ratchets. kamasa stuff is 30 years old now. broke a 15mm and 22mm socket in that time.

Clarke 3t trolley Jack and axle stands, 17 years old

Bosch blue electrical. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #825112 14th Apr 2020 7:28am
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
One thing I use much more then I expected is my electric impact wrench.
I have done everything without it before. Lying outside in de rain with 2 feet on an extension bar to get suspension bolts loose. Now they com of in seconds.

The fan tool I made myself from a steel plate. First for the 300 tdi and then later modified it for my Disco 3 V8 what happens to have the same size as a td5.

For stanard tools as I bought my first car when I was a student I bought a cheap but complete set. And I buy quality replacements off the things that break or wear-out. You will notice that some will hardly be used and some very much 10.13,14,15,17 and 19 mm.

I didn't buy any special tools, most are easy but not necessary or you can easily make them yourself. Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #825117 14th Apr 2020 7:48am
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ZeDefender



Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: Munich
Posts: 4731

Germany 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Baltic Blue
I'm one who never knows how much to tighten bolts and it always worries me - get two good torque wrenches - big and small (the small one can help with general use) and plenty of threadlock for peace of mind Thumbs Up

Also, and very important for our mixed alu/steel/stainless landies, use something like Duralac on fasteners to prevent hideous bi/trimetallic corrosion Thumbs Up Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...
Post #825123 14th Apr 2020 8:14am
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Harry.O



Member Since: 25 Jul 2014
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 716

United Kingdom 1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Nato Green
An oil filter strap is a useful addition, along with a syringe type oil pump for filling the gear and transfer boxes. 2005 Td5 110 Hardtop
1989 300Tdi 90 Soft top
1992 200Tdi 90 Truck cab with Land Cruiser axles
Post #825133 14th Apr 2020 8:38am
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