Hi Guys,
So I bought a 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 SW with 12J engine. The previous owner had restored the vehicle at LR motors. However there is a massive thud noise that comes from the drivetrain every time I change gears (LT77) or if I let go of the accelerator and press it again. From what I can gather from most forums, a thud noise is quite a normal thing for a defender. Also I've heard that the noise comes from worn out A frame bushes. I had my usual mechanic look at the car and he states that there is a significant amount of play on both the propeller shafts. He states that I would need to disassemble both axles to identify the problem.
I've also read that Land Rover axles are quite weak. The car is currently running 235 X 85R16 tires and I would ideally like to fir 33" tires at some point soon. The car is not a daily runner, it's only used when I have free time or if I'm running into the jungle somewhere.
If the my axles etc are worn out, should I replace them with Land rover axles or is there a stronger aftermarket option available? I want to keep this car as original as possible.
Also, is there any bolt on direct replacement alternator I can use with 12J engine? The current alternator (30 or 35 Amp) is massively insufficient.
Any advice you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.