Road trip to Uluru
LAST month’s column was all about my forthcoming trip to Uluru and the preparations involved. I remarked that whilst there may be value in bringing a spare differential I would not be taking one because of the space it takes up. And quelle surprise, what did I end up needing?
But what a trip it was. We were on the road for just over three weeks covering thousands of miles on some pretty demanding terrain. Whilst you can comfortably make the drive to Uluru on bitumen where is the challenge in that?
The most challenging sections were on the Strzelecki and Oodnadatta Tracks. Both were extremely dusty and if the wind direction was not in your favour, you found yourself completely engulfed with zero visibility. The tracks themselves had some of the most extreme corrugations I have ever experienced and Grandma’ short wheelbase is not the slightest bit forgiving (the others’ were all driving long wheelbases). Eyes had to be firmly fixed forward looking for surprise sandpits and craters that would send your axle crashing against your bump-stops. The Strzelecki Track had the added fun of steep rises and falls where often the track would veer off in a different direction to that you expected. It was on one of these that I found I had absolutely zero brakes. I radioed to the others and asked if we might pull in (on the level). The issue was quickly identified – one of the brake lines had fractured at the union on the rear axle. It is a bit of an unusual fail since the pipe was well secured and barely 12 months old but I guess not a major surprise given the intensity of the corrugations.
The solution, to crimp a section of brake line and hastily bleed the system. The Land Rover Gods must have been smiling down on me because the system was incredibly easy to bleed and in less than half an hour we were good to go (the brakes feeling better than when all four worked). Getting sandblasted whilst underneath was not fun, however.
There would be quite a few bush mechanic repairs made during our trip and I am truly amazed how lucky we were with finding parts as well as the ingenuity in finding a solution where parts were not available. In terms of Grandma, there was the brake line, a lost mudflap ( before we even went off-road), failed alternator (and I had a spare believe it or not), a tiny coolant leak (spotted during a refuelling stop – like every Land Rover owner, I always check for leaks when parked up), a failed differ
ential (caused by lack of oil thanks to a hole in the casing) and, the camshaft.
The camshaft is ten months old and I had it fitted by a reputable garage because I felt it was something I did not want to mess about with. On day two of the trip I could hear a faint tapping sound which got progressively louder over the next three weeks. Before my return trip home I called into Triumph Rover Spares just outside Adelaide where their V8 gurus were in no doubt it is a worn lobe on the camshaft. I am told it is not uncommon and is caused by poor quality parts. I will be chasing the UK supplier (a Rover V8 specialist) for a refund and wonder if they might also cover the cost of the installation (I suspect I am dreaming). Very annoying for something like that to fail having spent a good deal of money getting it sorted previously.
Now that I am back I have a lot of Land Rover maintenance to attend to. Both Grandma and Old Girl, my 109, are due their annual roadworthy inspections. Whilst here in Australia these are not as comprehensive as the MOT, the ability to brake is definitely assessed as are oil leaks. Believe it or not, Grandma does not leak oil (not now that I have fixed the axle casing). The same cannot be said for Old Girl and both need work on their brake systems. Old Girl’s have always been a struggle – I think the issue lies with the location of the bleed nipples. Last time I ended up pressurising the system and jacking the front end up (and when I say jacking it up, I mean really jacking it up). I am thinking perhaps Old Girl would benefit from a bit of a general overhaul. In all honesty she was has been neglected since Grandma came on the scene. Then there is Bruce, our Defender and during my trip he blew an intercooler hose ( good timing Bruce!). This is a fairly common problem with the Puma and will be the second one to have blown. Somewhat frustrating.
Clearly I am a glutton for punishment because there is also Max, my other Series IIA 109. I have made a start on the full strip down and the plan is to get his chassis sent away for repairs in the next few weeks. Yesterday I set to work removing the floor and seat box. What a delight that was! The majority of the floor screws either had to be cut out with the terrifying angle grinder or drilled (note to self, it is easier when the drill is not set in reverse). More tales from the driveway next month...
“The tracks had some of the most extreme corrugations I have ever experienced and Grandma’s short wheelbase is not the slightest bit forgiving”
When Brit Jack Dobson emigrated to Australia in 2010 he brought his passion for Land Rovers along with him.