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Figments and Phragmites

Upgrading the disco

Halting forward progress

21/11/2017

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As the Disco is used an expeditionary vehicle, a tow pig, and as my daily driver, being safe on the road and off is often a case of being able to stop quickly, controllably, and often. The stock brakes on the LandRover are a decent size, but at almost 100,000 miles, getting old and worn out. Replacement was a no brainer, only the best.
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Rotors take all the heat in stopping. That is one of their primary jobs, to be a heat sink so that the pads do not get too hot to do their job. Yes, the pads do squeeze them, so they are also a friction surface, but nothing like the pads.

Slotted Rotors dissipate heat better and keep the pads clear of built up brake dust and heated gases

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The Pads are the part that squeeze against the rotor and cause all that heat. They are a high friction medium that must work in rain, sleet, snow, underwater, and even in the dry. The higher the friction, the faster you stop, the faster they wear away, and the faster the rotor is reduced so worn out scrap.  It's a real balancing act.
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Not easily seen, the flexible lines that transport the brake fluid to the brakes have a terrible life. Not only do they have to survive with a caustic liquid inside (never drip some brake fluid on paint) but they have to deal with the movement of the suspension and all the dirt from being beneath the truck. You should replace these every 2 years due to internal rot.

The braided lines swell less, expand less under pressure, and put up with flying debris better than the stock rubber lines.
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And of course nothing goes according to plan. One rotor was completely rusted to the hub. No amount of heat, banging, or pressure would remove it. I quite literally had to cut it free with an angle grinder. That's an hour of my life I will never get back.

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    I brought home my Disco over 4 years ago when I bought my SeaSprite 23. I needed a vehicle that was not a pickup for both towing and daily driving duties. The fact that I did not want an American SUV led me to either a BMW X5 or a Land Rover. I could not afford the 5er, so this lovely red Disco it was.
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  • Home
  • By Sea
  • By Land
  • Contact
  • Building and Outfitting
  • The Boats
  • The Bicycle
  • The Truck
  • Expedition Wherry
  • Rowing Boats
  • Building the Wherry
  • Truck Upgrades
  • People & Places
  • New Jersey
  • Bicycle Upgrades
  • Building Spark
  • GP-14
  • Tools and outfitting
  • Tools
  • Travels through Delaware
  • New Jersey
  • Tea
  • Tea