Clutch in 2002 TD5 Defender

In article , Robert White writes

Mileage doesn't necessarily tell you about clutch wear. If it was long distance mileage it might be fine, but if it was town driving, it might go at any time, 75k miles is about right :( .

If I was planning a long-ish trip as you describe, I'd probably do it now, for peace of mind.

Regards,

Simonm.

Simple enough question. Will lives depend on it and can you do something to eliminate the risk?

Sooner or later it will need doing regardless, I'd guess you are closer to "sooner" than "later".

I would.

:-)

Of course once it's done it may be some tiny insignificant commonly available part that lets you down but thats half of the adventure!

Yeah like a fecking bolt! I'm off to Wales for 3 days of off-roading in the pinz, heard a hissing sound and investigated to find a nail in a tyre. Took tyre off to find the bolt securing the shock absorber and axle check strap has sheared, a 16mm high tensile steel bolt, snapped like a twig. Must have been when I took a bump so hard I hit my head on the roof ;-)

Mind you when I was out looking for the replacement I bumped into a top bloke on a farm who has a clutch of Tatras in his care, and does heaps of work on them.. Mind you that ate 3 hours of the day nattering and playing with the Tatra 813! (pics on my flickr page)

Never did get the bolt though! Tight thread and long length makes it hard to find, there's one in the post now though I think.

If it uses the same principle as the Disco TD5, it's not so much the clutch plate that fails, it's the friggin two-piece flywheel that falls apart. That's definitely not a job for the side of the road. Then again, Defenders may have been built more sensible. Steve W (in Aus)

Thanks to all that responded.

Over the weekend I pulled off the gear box. Clutch was fine but need a new fly wheel :-)

Will renew all to be safe.

Glad I did this at home not by touch light beside the road.

Thanks All Robert