Tighten your rig
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
WE’VE all been there: our dependable and reliable Land Rover gets us everywhere and back safely and reliably, but deep down we know the old wagon is a tad tired. The taut handling has gone, the steering’s lazy on twisty roads, sudden throttle movements reveal a few clonks from below, and when going over potholes we wonder if the old girl’s going to shake and rattle herself to death.
These problems develop gradually over the years and miles, and we adapt to them, so we’re often not really aware, or at best we dismiss them as the character of the machine. But the sum total of these niggles impacts on safety and reliability, and certainly spoils the driving experience.
The cumulative effects of even slightly defective bushes, bearings, joints and suspension dampers can have a dangerous impact in emergency situations when we need to brake hard or take avoiding action, resulting in instability and potentially loss of control.
We’re not just talking classic trucks here. A well used Range Rover Sport, for example, can be worn out underneath. Lack of feedback to the driver on later models coupled with improved soundproofing makes problems more difficult to detect, but they’re there, making the vehicle feel cumbersome when cornering, and the rattles aren’t heard until they become destructive bangs.
With the right checks to identify which parts are due for renewal, any truck can be made tight, smooth and safe. It’ll be better to drive, and it’s always far cheaper to replace worn parts before they damage the next components in line. And, all the parts
