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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
Removal of Step
Hi All,

I appear to have an "extended" adjustable drop plate tow bar, which I intend to remove as it wont be doing my ground clearance/departure angle any favours. That seems fairly simple, just 4 bolts (2 through chassis, 2 through rear crossmember)

What I am interested in though is the rear step. Is this step bolted into captives, or do I need to drop the tank to access the nuts in order to remove it and make way for a NAS rear step? Assuming the latter, but thought I would ask to be sure.



Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
Post #996003 12th Jun 2023 3:24pm
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steveww



Member Since: 05 Jan 2022
Location: Uppingham
Posts: 537

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Bronze Green
Can't really see in your pictures.

Usually they are all captive nuts in the cross member.
Post #996012 12th Jun 2023 4:32pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
Will try and remember to get a better picture when I have finished work. Its the same chunky bolts that the tow bar uses, and that uses nut and bolt which is why I wasn't sure.

EDIT:
Additional pics attached.

Post #996016 12th Jun 2023 4:36pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
Yes, they’re captive nuts. 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
Post #996018 12th Jun 2023 5:41pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16879

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Your tow bar is also not properly fitted, there should be two M16 setscrews into the crossmember as well as the two M16 bolts through the angle piece (which is not part of the crossmember, it is bolted to the lower surface of the crossmember). Looking at the quality of workmanship in the fitting you are probably wise to remove it

The two holes in the crossmember which currently are in use for the step are fitted with M12 threaded ferrules, the four lower and larger are M16. I seem to remember that the ones in the bottom surface are M10 (but they may be M12).

It is not unusual to have problems with the threaded ferrules or inserts and if they are fubar all you can do, sadly, is replace the crossmember or cut it open and weld in new fittings.
Post #996019 12th Jun 2023 5:50pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
Thanks for the heads up everyone. Luckily I have no need to tow, so that’s a relief at least. Though rather concerningly the previous owner occasionally towed a horse box (I seem to remember them saying)
Post #996026 12th Jun 2023 7:18pm
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NickMc



Member Since: 01 Oct 2014
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 1570

Northern Ireland 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Bonatti Grey
With the bolts missing that shouldn’t be to hard to remove luckily for you Thumbs Up
Post #996033 12th Jun 2023 8:01pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
You'd think.

Jut the one bolt giving me issues.. lower nearside bolt. Slowly coming, but its a struggle as I am not very strong Embarassed



I am also having difficulty getting the towing eye bolt back on the offside after removing the support struts, but I think that may be as I don't have a 16mm spanner so am using an adjustable on the inner side (near tank - as a socket wont fit) and a socket on the outer side (near wheel)
Post #996108 13th Jun 2023 11:59am
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steveww



Member Since: 05 Jan 2022
Location: Uppingham
Posts: 537

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Bronze Green
Using the right tool for the job always makes it easier. Whistle
Just saying...
Post #996122 13th Jun 2023 2:24pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
I have a 24mm socket on a torque wrench which is about half a meter, then have what will fit in behind the plate on the nut (which seems to be a 24mm socket and ratchet wrench). all were doused in Penetrating Fluid for the last few days too.

But yeah, on the 16mm for the towing eye, granted. or some reason none of my tool sets have 16mm spanners, only sockets, and they wont fit in the gap next to the tank. Interestingly it isnt the adjustable spanner thats causing the issues, its the 16mm socket...
Post #996124 13th Jun 2023 2:34pm
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NickMc



Member Since: 01 Oct 2014
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 1570

Northern Ireland 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Bonatti Grey
Is it a rusty 15mm? they normally are m10 with a 15mm hex. Hammer the socket on.
Post #996129 13th Jun 2023 2:49pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
Thanks @NickMc - I will give it a try after work (was trying to do it in my lunch break like a smart allic).

Hopefully it is as simple as being a mm of rust and not that the socket caused the head to round. Bizarrely on the nearside it wasnt an issue, but maybe that one just rotated less in the socket and so a thicker layer of rust was retained.
Post #996132 13th Jun 2023 2:52pm
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TexasRover



Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 794

France 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White
If you are referring to the eye that bolted to the lower end of the frame. I believe this is not really for towing but rather for lashing, as in for transport. You can probably do some casual street vehicle towing, but not really for offroad/recovery use.
Post #996133 13th Jun 2023 2:55pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
@TexasRover , its the original version of these:

https://yrmit.co.uk/product/towing-eyes-fi...alvanised/
(Aware those are for RRC, but its just for an example image)

Probably not that useful as you say, but i'd rather have them "just in case" than not have them at all.
Post #996134 13th Jun 2023 2:57pm
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the_lincs_landies



Member Since: 29 May 2023
Location: Boston, Lincs
Posts: 230

United Kingdom 
All sorted now, thanks to my neighbour and his Milwaukee impact wrench.

Many other things that won’t fox, but at least it’s one thing off of the list!
Post #996183 13th Jun 2023 6:45pm
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