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blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

roel wrote:
... I don't see a point on a defender. They won't protect your track-rod and that is the one what bends mostly.

I have nothing fitted. ...

If I am honest, I spent years poo-pooing them on Defenders since I have (sofar) never bent any steering components on any of my Landrovers, and that is in many years of use both on- and off-road. They can also cause problems if you are trying to reverse out of a stuck situation since they do tend to act like a scraper blade and fill the radiator and engine compartment with mud.

The main reason I fitted mine was because I wanted a front receiver hitch compatible with my winch bumper, and it was the easiest way to achieve this result.

I would still contend that a good and professional approach to driving will prevent damage to the steering gear in 90% of the situations when it may occur, and that in 5 of the remaining percent the damage will happen whether or not you have a guard. I'm not saying they can't help, but I don't think they help much and feel that they are largely cosmetic, unless of course you need a front receiver.

7th Jun 2021 8:47am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

Surely the point of all of this sort of stuff is just an insurance policy? Whilst you could go many years without needing it, there might come a day when something unexpected happens when you do and you'll be grateful for it. It's a bit like those people who say they don't bother carrying a spare tyre because they've never had a puncture in 30 years, when the length of time is irrelevant as to whether there's a nail on the next bit of road they drive on.

In my experience, they come into their own when driving particularly rocky terrain, which obviously isn't so common in the UK. Having said that though, only yesterday I was watching a bit of video of a Land Rover somewhere in the Lake District struggling to get off a lane with its' front wheels pointing in different directions. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

7th Jun 2021 9:17am

lakelander

Member Since: 07 Jan 2017
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 100

2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Orkney Grey

Ramsay wrote:
lakelander wrote:
Great - thanks for the shots. Could I ask a favour - please can you tell me the width of those fiitted.

Now just a decision of fitting those or going for a steering guard with built in recovery points.Steel or alloy ?
Are alloy ones capable of sustaining a knock? Won't they just dent? Like the idea of a strengthening bar inside the hollow NRC7009.

I have measured them. Seem to be 88mm on the insides. Difficult to tell exactly without removing them.

Thanks!

7th Jun 2021 9:19am

lakelander

Member Since: 07 Jan 2017
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 100

LandRoverAnorak wrote:
I've never been convinced by aluminium steering guards. To be effective they need to be a lot thicker (typically 10mm v 6mm for steel) and as the brackets are still steel anyway, the weight saving is negligible. You can buy lighter ones - I've seen some with 6mm steel brackets and 6mm ali guards but they seem far too flimsy to me.

I do like guards with built in recovery points though - effectively two birds with one stone. Mines a steel galvanised one and is very sturdy:

Click image to enlarge[img][/img]

Looks good and sturdy what brand is it ?

7th Jun 2021 9:22am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

It's a First Four Off Road one although unfortunately they've recently closed due to retirement. However, there's a very similar one available from Paddocks:

https://www.paddockspares.com/pm1143-heavy...-eyes.html Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

7th Jun 2021 10:02am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

The Paddock one appears to be the Safari Equip (non-receiver) guard, essentially what I have on mine (except I have the receiver version) and if so I can highly recommend it, it is very substantial.

LandRoverAnorak wrote:
Surely the point of all of this sort of stuff is just an insurance policy? Whilst you could go many years without needing it, there might come a day when something unexpected happens when you do and you'll be grateful for it. It's a bit like those people who say they don't bother carrying a spare tyre because they've never had a puncture in 30 years, when the length of time is irrelevant as to whether there's a nail on the next bit of road they drive on.

In my experience, they come into their own when driving particularly rocky terrain, which obviously isn't so common in the UK. Having said that though, only yesterday I was watching a bit of video of a Land Rover somewhere in the Lake District struggling to get off a lane with its' front wheels pointing in different directions.

I completely agree, it is, like so much of what we do, a very personal choice. You could fit one and never need it (a bit like a fire extinguisher), or fit one and the next day it saves you from an expensive repair, or even results in an expensive repair.

As far as the OP's question is concerned, I don't think that the genuine Landrover "twiglet" is likely to achieve much in any situation however.

7th Jun 2021 10:37am

Dinnu

Member Since: 24 Dec 2019
Location: Lija
Posts: 3414

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 CSW Santorini Black

I got the aluminium one from Paddocks. Quite pleased with it, although I modified it to make it look better:

1. Replaced the bolts that mount the plate to the brackets with countersunks. Of course plate needed countersinking.
2. I chopped off a bit from the ends to make it more rectangular. The original shape is too trapezoidal (wider at the front). I cut enough to be in line with the chassis rails.
3. I added spacers between the brackets and the chassis. They do not come with the kit.
4. I painted the galvanized brackets black. Just to reduce the different shades of grey.

Have not and not yet planning to get my return on investment

Only for looks.

https://www.paddockspares.com/pm716-heavy-...ender.html 1988 90 Hard Top, 19J Diesel Turbo, Shire Blue - Restoration ongoing
2012 90 CSW, 2.2TDCI, Santorini Black

7th Jun 2021 11:07am

Lodelaner

Member Since: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Lambourn
Posts: 632

1988 Defender 90 V8 Petrol ST Shire Blue

Having had LR OE bar types and both ali and steel guards over the years I have a preference for the bar type with Jates for laning.

Although as discussed they are sacrificial if hit hard, they still do the job and can be hammered back and welded. They don't act like plough in reverse - and having been suction-glued in a trench with the plough making matters worse I have no love for this design.

You can also have unrestricted service access from beneath with a bar - that you lose with a guard.

Having bashed an ali guard I'd avoid at all costs because it case-hardens on impact and bloody hard to bend back. A steel one would makes more sense in this respect.

LandRoverAnorak wrote:
In my experience, they come into their own when driving particularly rocky terrain, which obviously isn't so common in the UK. Having said that though, only yesterday I was watching a bit of video of a Land Rover somewhere in the Lake District struggling to get off a lane with its' front wheels pointing in different directions.

We had a tie road bend on Tilburthwaite many years ago - but it wasn't due to a rock strike. The car slipped down an icy slab and the driver applied some lock in fear of going over the edge. The tie rod bent because it was already weakened - having been bent before and straightened with heat. As it landed the shock load bent it again.

Moral of the story is to replace rather than straighten steering bars.

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge JB

@Lodelaner Instagram

Youtube greenlaning and other LR related content

7th Jun 2021 6:59pm

markb110

Member Since: 22 May 2010
Location: Guildford
Posts: 2638

If you ever do bend one. You can use the NATO hitch to straighten it out

It’s very effective and much better than the hitting it on a tree method…..

7th Jun 2021 7:21pm

Lodelaner

Member Since: 04 Feb 2010
Location: Lambourn
Posts: 632

Yup, accepted practice with rear x member handles used as braces!

Click image to enlarge

Relevant clip at 5:30 - 7:00 ish
https://youtu.be/d1WgFyHnEww JB

@Lodelaner Instagram

Youtube greenlaning and other LR related content

7th Jun 2021 10:09pm

roel

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

Click image to enlarge

The small U shaped support is a real track-rod saver, however I have to admit I used my winch a few times to get it straight enough to drive till the end off the day. 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)

10th Jun 2021 9:07pm

lakelander

Member Since: 07 Jan 2017
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 100

Ramsay wrote:
lakelander wrote:
Great - thanks for the shots. Could I ask a favour - please can you tell me the width of those fiitted.

Now just a decision of fitting those or going for a steering guard with built in recovery points.Steel or alloy ?
Are alloy ones capable of sustaining a knock? Won't they just dent? Like the idea of a strengthening bar inside the hollow NRC7009.

I have measured them. Seem to be 88mm on the insides. Difficult to tell exactly without removing them.

Got some forged Jates from Overlander 4 x 4. Jaws have inside width of 90mm but they are just 5mm too narrow to go on over the bar arm!

Are they available in different jaw widths?

13th Jun 2021 2:00pm

Ramsay

Member Since: 30 Sep 2015
Location: Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway
Posts: 627

1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Auto Keswick Green

I checked my history file.
The ones fitted are from Paddock spares. Part number PM786. The bar was fitted by a garage but the JATE rings do not seem to be modified. 1995 Defender 110 CSW
1971 SIIA Lightweight

13th Jun 2021 8:04pm

L90Andy

Member Since: 29 May 2014
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon
Posts: 717

I was thinking of fitting the oem steering protection bar with genuine jates too, but have a question; I have previously fitted jates and done the bolts up b*stard tight only to find under a robust recovery they still pulled round trapping the shackle between the chassis. After this my understanding was you leave the jates loose enough to easily rotate. However as that bolt would also be used to mount the steering bar, you'd probably want it fully torqued up. So, leave loose or tighten up? Instagram: l90andy

2006 Land Rover 90 TD5 CSW Silver Edition

My 1984 Ninety: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56071.html - SOLD!
My 2015 Defender: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39625.html - SOLD!

14th Jun 2021 7:51am

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

A better solution would be to fit different recovery points. Yeah, you can hang your LR from a helicopter but as practical recovery points go they're pretty rubbish. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

14th Jun 2021 7:56am

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