Honest mechanic in Perth please?

[Jonathan Hanson]

Hello,

We've just driven our 1993 Troopy from Coober Pedy to Perth via the Anne Beadell Highway, the Connie Sue, and several other tracks. We have developed a clunk in the front end I've not been able to diagnose, and I need a good mechanic is Perth to help, before we put the vehicle in a container to be shipped to South Africa. Can anyone offer advice?

Thanks!

Jonathan

 

[SimonD]

A mate recommends https://www.facebook.com/lockedingarage/ or https://www.facebook.com/ReaperPerformanceDiesel/

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Thanks very much for that, Simon.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Unfortunately neither of those will work. Locked In Garage sounded like the perfect place but they are booked for three weeks. Any other suggestions?

 

[StarCruiser]

Do you have a vehicle safety test in Oz? If so a testing station MAY be able to spot something loose that you need to be concerned about. Just a thought.

Other than that, what’s been done to track it down so far and what does it sound like? Might be worth you putting up another post titled ‘troopy front end knock’ or something similar then trying to explain it. A YouTube vid is often useful if you can record it. @Ben knows the 70 series almost as much as Toyota themselves, maybe he can shed some light on it but it’s going to be tricky. Have you had a look under where you think it’s coming from? Checked exhaust mountings, that sort of thing?

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Thanks for the reply. We have the vehicle registered in Oz, but we wouldn't be able to have a government testing site look at it in time. I'll post a thread about the knock and see what we hear. I found a 4x4 shop in Perth and I've emailed them to see if we can get in there on Monday.

 

[StarCruiser]

Sounds promising. Good luck with it.

 

[Paddler Ed]

Realistically most Australian mechanics should be familiar with a Land Cruiser 70 series... at least enough to work out where the noise is coming from.

I'd be inclined to look at the car park and work out what the mechanic's cars are - one of the places I use, they all run GU Patrols or 105 series Land Cruisers, but aren't a specialist 4x4 shop.... but all the guys I know who go bush use them over the local "4x4" workshop if they don't their own work.


Two thoughts I have:
-I wonder if there's a bush gone in the shocks or the leafs and that's the knocking you're getting on braking/acceleration as it loads up and unloads. Doesn't explain the steering though
-Something's got bashed and bent on the corrugations/dirt... a fantastically vague answer...

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Fantastically vague answers are all I have right now . . .

I'll pass on anything I find, but in the meantime if anyone comes up with other suggestions for mechanics I'd be happy to have them.

 

[Charlie]

Give Midland Auto Plus a call, they seem to have a pretty good name.
https://map-midland-autoplus.business.site/

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Thanks for that, Charlie.

 

[SeaJay]

Hello Jonathan, I live in Perth, try https://tlcautocentre.com.au

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Thanks Stuart . . . added to our list of possibilities. We'll be doing some calling this morning.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

After more searching, we showed up at Robson Brothers 4x4 in Welshpool first thing Monday. They were busy but took us in after hearing our dilemma. On the lift they quickly identified worn front leaf springs as the culprit. They replaced the springs, added a leaf to our rear springs, which were sagging a bit after we added a Long Ranger 180-liter fuel tank, and also did a complete swivel housing/kingpin bearing service. Really excellent place and a large, spotless workshop.

 

[grantw]

After more searching, we showed up at Robson Brothers 4x4 in Welshpool first thing Monday. They were busy but took us in after hearing our dilemma. On the lift they quickly identified worn front leaf springs as the culprit. They replaced the springs, added a leaf to our rear springs, which were sagging a bit after we added a Long Ranger 180-liter fuel tank, and also did a complete swivel housing/kingpin bearing service. Really excellent place and a large, spotless workshop.

If only we could reliably get service like that here in the UK!