| Pajero
Rear Axle Housing Mods.
Pajero rear axle housing failure is a
problem that pops up occasionally, where the weld around the rear axle tube directly below
the spring seat fails, causing extensive and expensive damage. This failure only occurs on
coil sprung axles (1988 on) and almost always is a result of heavy loads combined with
rough roads. Mitsubishi, to their credit, have generally been very supportive to claims
relating to these failures, but they can’t guarantee them forever. It is also
practically impossible to visually pick the weak axle housing from the good ones.
So if you intend doing a long trip with a loaded vehicle, my advice is
to fix the problem before it occurs. The modification is not costly, and involves welding
supports under the axle housing. My last 3 Pajeros have all had this modification, and it
certainly gives you peace-of-mind knowing that you will not be stranded somewhere for a
week or two with a broken axle housing.
New on the Internet
My Wheels Motoring Magazine is a humorous one-stop guide to the
motoring world. It includes what’s hot, a humour page, technical stuff and much more.
Currently has a good article on airbags. Edited by well known aussie journo Bill Tuckey,
it’s worth a look - http://www.mywheels.com
Another one is the Montero Sport Garage at http://www.montero-sport dedicated
obviously to the Mitsubishi Montero Sport (which is yankee for Challenger).
And if you come across an interesting automotive website, let us know.
PAJERO TAILGATES THAT DON’T FIT
Does your NH or later Pajero have a misaligned tailgate
door that sits out from the body along the top edge, and leaks dust, and no amount of
adjustment seems to fix it? Well it was caused by throwing the door open too hard (or the
wind catching it) and when the door’s bottom check strap reached the end of its
travel, it bent the internal frame of the tailgate, putting the door out of alignment at
the top.
This is how you fix it. Open the door, lock the bottom check strap into
the locked position so the door won’t close, then try and close the door. This bends
the bent frame back to where it should be. Unlock the check strap and close the door, and
it should fit perfectly. Repeat if necessary.
AUSTRALIAN OFFROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
After the final round held at Springfield, Fabio Zarfati in the
Pajero took out the Australian Offroad Championships, the first time a 4WD has beaten the
specialist build 2WD buggies for the title.
GRANADA-DAKAR RALLY
The Schlesser buggy (4x2) of Jean-Louis Schlesser/Philippe
Monnet had a substantial overall lead in the Granada-Dakar Rally (car section) after the
17th and final stage into Dakar to wind the 1999 event. The Mitsubishi (4x4) of
Miguel Prieto/Dominique Serieys was second, 34 minutes behind.
John Parkinson |
