1998 Land Rover Discovery
This isn't my truck but it is of
similar vintage and demonstrates
what the type of technical
situations Land Rover's are
capable of navigating.
similar vintage and demonstrates
what the type of technical
situations Land Rover's are
capable of navigating.
If you should happen to buy a
Land Rover be sure to get the
Workshop Manual and keep it in
the truck with all your tools
because you are going to need it.
Land Rover be sure to get the
Workshop Manual and keep it in
the truck with all your tools
because you are going to need it.
Land Rovers are legendary for their rugged off-road ability. But, they are also notorious for their lack of mechanical reliability.
This was exactly my own personal experience with a 1998 Land Rover Discovery Series I. It came to me from a housewife
who had never taken it off-road. Given that the Discovery arrived from the factory with all wheel drive, high-low gearing, solid
front axle and a locking differential that fact was pretty sad. But the truck was exceptionally clean and desperately needed a
new suspension, tires and brakes – perfect for me!
I worked with Jon at Expedition Exchange in Torrance, CA, to iron out the ideal suspension, tire and brake upgrades. Jon is a
wonderfully knowledgeable resource and comes with the highest of recommendation. We opted for setting up the Discovery
with Old Man Emu heavy-duty shocks and springs all the way around. This allowed me to clear very high and tight expedition
style BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain tires with minimal fender cutting. I opted to beef up the brakes with DBA vented brake rotors,
Land Rover factory pads, and extended stainless steel brake lines (required due to the increased height). And I had diff
guards welded on to protect the soft diff pumpkins. And I pulled off the front air dam which greatly improved the forward
approach angle. The result was a very capable off-road vehicle that carried with it a certain amount of flair and panache. In
low gearing with the diff locked I found that it would climb pretty much any trail I pointed it at. At times in very technical
situations I found myself getting uncomfortable but the truck always got me through.
Then the mechanicals started coming. First it was the never-ending Mass Air Flow Sensor warning. These things are not
cheap and I replaced two. The computer was still saying it needed a new sensor when I finally sold the truck.
And then there was the transmission. Which I tore out one day when the truck got cross-axled. Okay, technically it was my
fault. Unknown to me one wheel was in the air and spinning when I tried to engage the diff lock. Bad move on my part. I was
alone and three hours drive away from home in a remote stretch of National Forest. It took some fiddling but I finally figured
out how to make the truck move and nursed it all the way home without stopping. The dealership in North Scottsdale
nonchalantly informed that it needed a full replacement for the small sum of $7,000. I nursed it a little further down the road to
a transmission repair shot that was able to rebuild it for 1/3 that. And it seemed to work fine until….
I started noticing a slight hesitation when under acceleration. After awhile I observed that there was also a slight shimmy.
Checking in with my mechanic, who I now knew personally, we theorized that it might be a problem with one of the heads.
Digging into the vehicle history I learned that there had been an issue with the engine overheating when it was new. And that
one head had been replaced shortly thereafter. Then later the heads needed to be rebuilt a second time. Further internal
exploratory efforts confirmed that it was indeed an issue with one or more of the heads and a major engine overhaul was due.
By this time the shimmy had grown into a tooth jarring shake and the engine backfires were very distracting to others and
myself. And I will always remember the smell of antifreeze burning off and passing out the exhaust. Not one to keep throwing
good money after bad I decided to cut my losses and get out.
You should have seen the salesmen at the dealership jump up and smile when I pulled in with the title in one hand and my
checkbook in the other!
This was exactly my own personal experience with a 1998 Land Rover Discovery Series I. It came to me from a housewife
who had never taken it off-road. Given that the Discovery arrived from the factory with all wheel drive, high-low gearing, solid
front axle and a locking differential that fact was pretty sad. But the truck was exceptionally clean and desperately needed a
new suspension, tires and brakes – perfect for me!
I worked with Jon at Expedition Exchange in Torrance, CA, to iron out the ideal suspension, tire and brake upgrades. Jon is a
wonderfully knowledgeable resource and comes with the highest of recommendation. We opted for setting up the Discovery
with Old Man Emu heavy-duty shocks and springs all the way around. This allowed me to clear very high and tight expedition
style BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain tires with minimal fender cutting. I opted to beef up the brakes with DBA vented brake rotors,
Land Rover factory pads, and extended stainless steel brake lines (required due to the increased height). And I had diff
guards welded on to protect the soft diff pumpkins. And I pulled off the front air dam which greatly improved the forward
approach angle. The result was a very capable off-road vehicle that carried with it a certain amount of flair and panache. In
low gearing with the diff locked I found that it would climb pretty much any trail I pointed it at. At times in very technical
situations I found myself getting uncomfortable but the truck always got me through.
Then the mechanicals started coming. First it was the never-ending Mass Air Flow Sensor warning. These things are not
cheap and I replaced two. The computer was still saying it needed a new sensor when I finally sold the truck.
And then there was the transmission. Which I tore out one day when the truck got cross-axled. Okay, technically it was my
fault. Unknown to me one wheel was in the air and spinning when I tried to engage the diff lock. Bad move on my part. I was
alone and three hours drive away from home in a remote stretch of National Forest. It took some fiddling but I finally figured
out how to make the truck move and nursed it all the way home without stopping. The dealership in North Scottsdale
nonchalantly informed that it needed a full replacement for the small sum of $7,000. I nursed it a little further down the road to
a transmission repair shot that was able to rebuild it for 1/3 that. And it seemed to work fine until….
I started noticing a slight hesitation when under acceleration. After awhile I observed that there was also a slight shimmy.
Checking in with my mechanic, who I now knew personally, we theorized that it might be a problem with one of the heads.
Digging into the vehicle history I learned that there had been an issue with the engine overheating when it was new. And that
one head had been replaced shortly thereafter. Then later the heads needed to be rebuilt a second time. Further internal
exploratory efforts confirmed that it was indeed an issue with one or more of the heads and a major engine overhaul was due.
By this time the shimmy had grown into a tooth jarring shake and the engine backfires were very distracting to others and
myself. And I will always remember the smell of antifreeze burning off and passing out the exhaust. Not one to keep throwing
good money after bad I decided to cut my losses and get out.
You should have seen the salesmen at the dealership jump up and smile when I pulled in with the title in one hand and my
checkbook in the other!
BEFORE: This is how the Rover
came to me. Sagging a bit and in
need of a little work.
came to me. Sagging a bit and in
need of a little work.
AFTER: Olm Man Emu heavy duty
shocks and springs all the way
around, BFG Mud-Terrains and a
serious brake upgrade.
shocks and springs all the way
around, BFG Mud-Terrains and a
serious brake upgrade.
Expedition Exchange: The best
resource for information and
materials on the web. And they are
GREAT people too! Wonderful
information even if you don't have a
Land Rover.
resource for information and
materials on the web. And they are
GREAT people too! Wonderful
information even if you don't have a
Land Rover.
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