By cjones on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 05:00 pm: Edit

This is the first time I will be drilling into the body of my Disco. I have instructions, but I was more interested in advise from someone who has mounted rear guards before. Are there any problems or precautions that I need to look out for?

By Ron on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 05:34 pm: Edit

The lower ones with the riv nuts. My answer DON'T. One of ours fell off already. I would drill the hole and use a bolt and try to get to the other side with a nut and washer, I think it can be done. The top ones do not need to be drilled to install, you just take off the light and put the gaurd over it and reinstall with the new gasket. Are they top or bottom (bumper) ones?

Ron

By Mike on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 09:24 pm: Edit

I'll assume that you are talking about the tail lights on the rear of the Series 1 Discovery and not those on the bumper.

I hate to rain on your parade too, but I agree with the previous post. The tail light gards look way cool. However, they are pretty much useless. I know I have a set. The biggest downside is the way they mount. There is nothing but soft aluminum back there, so nothing substantial to mount it to. To mount, you drill holes though the aluminum and insert a soft metal rivnut into the hole. The rivnut anchors itself by expanding in the hole and holding everything in place using the side pressure on the hole (and a minimal amount of back pressure). The first time you hit anything, the rivnut will tear free leaving a gaping hole in your vehicle. So, if you hit anything, you will end off worse that when you started. Aluminum is expensive to repair compared to a plastic tail light lens.

So, if you are doing this on a mall crawler to make it look cool, have at it. If you are doing this to protect your lens caps when driving off-road, save your money. You can probably buy 5 sets of lens caps for the price you paid for the tail light protectors!

If I am wrong or off-base, please let me know!

Thanks,
Mike

By Moe on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 12:29 am: Edit

Mike, you are right. When you hit the side of the LR when going forward, these things will rip right off. They might have been 'designed' so that they only come apart at the rubber strip. And this tends to happen often, but not always. I have the large hole were the rivnut ripped out. My Disco came with these useless buggers--an option chosen by the previous owner, a NY real estate agent. I could see that they might be some help when aggresively backing up in traffic. Now they sit in a box, waiting for another real estate agent. Any takers?

Ian Moe

By Ron on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 09:54 am: Edit

Ian if they are the ones on the bumper you have a taker. This time I am bolting them on with all metal lock nuts.

Lemme know
Ron

ronald.brown(at)funb.com

By Ray on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 10:54 am: Edit

Ron, How did you get access to the rear of the bumper to put the nuts on? Thanks

By Ron on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 11:08 am: Edit

Have not figured that out yet. Looks like it is possible though with the right pliars to hold them. Otherwise I will have to take it off. Anything is better than the stupid holes.

Ron

By Moe on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 11:51 am: Edit

Ron, maybe we are talking about different guards. I thought the original post referred to the guards that go over the taillights mounted on the rear pillars not the bumper. If anyone is still interested, let me know.

Good luck mounting those other guards.

By Ron on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 12:09 pm: Edit

The ones on the top require NO drilling. ONly drill for the bottom ones.

Ron

By cjones on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 05:31 pm: Edit

Hey Ron, the instructions I have for the tail light guards(not bumper) say you must drill. How do you put them on without drilling?

CJones

By Ron on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 05:43 pm: Edit

The ones we had had little tab and you slid the light on, put the new gasket on and reattched the light the stock way. I am 90% sure there was no drilling, but maybe I am remembering wrong. I think ours were gennies so maybe aftermarket one are different? I dunno. I will look tonight and check

Ron

By CBrown on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 09:19 pm: Edit

I believe there is an after market no-drill version. From what I've read, the OEM's do require drilling. I was scared enough drilling into the body to put my rear ladder on......right now, it holds fine, but I wish I'd taken the door apart and put true fasteners on!

I do agree with the above posts though.....I've seen too many discos that have had those things ripped right off the back leaving those ugly holes. One thing about aluminum skin....it's softer than steel, but once you rip it outwards....it's a pain to try to push back in to fix up in any way...

Good luck!


CBrown
'94 Disco

By Ron on Friday, March 09, 2001 - 09:05 am: Edit

They were genuine and did not require drilling. Maybe the design has changed? I dunno.

Ron