Steering Box Overhaul/Replacement

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Bustrucket

Bustrucket

Active Member
Posts
383
Location
Shropshire
The Disco is ****ing PAS fluid out of the steering box - can it be overhauled with a seal kit or do I have to replace it? Either way, whats involved?

Done a search and no results..... :confused:
 
Paddock list a recon box at 94 quid (exchange) - can't afford that at the moment. But as it's going though half a litre of ATF a day I need to do something about it. Bollocks.
 
I would change it for a recon unit . I fitted one from Paddocks about 3 yrs ago and it was well worth the money . As you mentioned I was shocked at the price of fluid and the speed with which it went from a small leak to pouring out - and impossible to steer when fluid ran out .
I enquired from the local main dlr at the time about a repair kit but the partsman advised me it would be a waste of time - he reckoned 6 mths would be the absolute max until leak returned .
Not too bad a job - worst part is probably getting drop arm off ; you could get the recon box with arm attached and while it would be a bit dearer might be worth it . I had a 10 ton hydraulic puller and just about managed it .
 
I'm now exceptionally confused.

After it leaked all it's PAS fluid out, I topped it up to keep it mobile - it spat all of the refill out within 3 hours. I parked it up, went away for the weekend and emptied the bottle of Dexron II in to it Monday. Looked in the reservoir today to top-up to the top and found the level hadn't moved since it was filled Monday.

Now i'm not daft enough to think the Land Rover pixies have magically repaired my PAS (or POS as some might call it :D ) , but why has a leak that was chucking fluid out at a considerable rate of flow suddenly stopped?

Confused
scratchchin.gif
 
I have a problem where the steering makes a terrible whine and is very, very clunky. Does this sound like a failed steering box or a failed pump?
 
Snow said:
I have a problem where the steering makes a terrible whine and is very, very clunky. Does this sound like a failed steering box or a failed pump?
Click to expand...

That sounds like the pump, classic sound when it is on the way out. The pump will be drawing in air.
You can even get loud bangs when the steering is on full lock.
 
Hi
I had the same problem with my steering box, it would drip then dump then drip some more. Having moved to NZ,I was told the only place that could rebuild it was in Auckland at the other end of the country. So I bit the bullet and ordered a seal kit from land rover parts .com (all makes £12.50 ?). took the box out (bit fiddely move air con pump out of the way). Drop arm needs a good gear puller,Took the seals out buy drilling a small hole for a screw for something to pull on. Found the sector shaft bearings had broken up (Torrington B2020 X2).So turn steering full left lock to remove sector shaft after unbolting top plate, Drift out old bearings carefully tap in new bearings with same size socket(thin wall on bearings!).Refit seals in the same order,check shaft for sharp edges and reassemble. Refil resevoir and bleed steering box via bleed screw on top of box don't forget to cross your fingers.Did my Disco 7 months ago no leaks Good luck give it a go.
 
I just put new seals in the bottom of my Disco steering box, bit of a job getting the drop arm off though, does anybody know where that hard blue plastic seal goes? There wasn't one anywhere to be seen on the box, is it something new L/R have thrown in to confuse us?
blueskip
 
the blue plastic lip seal is the main seal and goes in first, when you say there wasnt one to be seen in the box have you got the metal washer out? can be a bitch to do.
 
Hi all, long time since I've been on these forums.

Ok, here goes.

My tRUSTY Discovery has gone into the garage again for the 4TH TIME in 5 years to have yet ANOTHER steering box fitted!

1st box leaked, kept topping it up, got fed up with the oil slick everywhere I parked the car.
Booked it into a local garage for a new (exchange) box. Just over two weeks the box is leaking again....badly!!
Took it back to the garage, he phoned me within half an hour and told me car was ready. Went to collect it and the mechanic told me there was - a ring? - which had come loose on the box. He'd tightened it up. Problem solved.
Just over 12 months later, box ****ing oil all over again!! Grrrrrrr
Took it back to garage, he was spitting feathers and told me the seals had gone again! He contacted the company who supplied the box, even though it was just out of the 12 month warranty period (and due to him screaming at them that steering boxes SHOULD last for many YEARS!!) and they honoured the warranty because they agreed it should've lasted more than 12 months!
He fitted new box and only charged me for the ATF.....but he vowed NEVER to have anything to do with Land Rover steering boxes again!

Less than 18 months later the box is leaking again!!

Took it to Land Rover Specialist in Leeds and they fitted another exchange steering box. This was September 2007. In the past few weeks the box has started leaking again!!!
Took car into the garage AGAIN today and they've confirmed that the box is indeed KNACKERED!!!! Told me I need another box!

Bloody Land Rovers (lawn rovers).....crap on steering boxes!!!
 
I was speaking to one of the rebuilders in the week and they said that a possibility in the case of regular malfunctions is the power steering pump sticking and then over pressurising the steering box, causing the seals to fail. Not sure how realistic a reason this is - be interesting to hear from others on the forum. BTW my refurbished one has just failed after 6 weeks in the vehicle. Not happy...
 
I fitted a brand new box from Adwest last year...hopefully it'll last another 300,000kms like the original did...well,that was my thinking anyway.... Just have to wait and see..

:)
 
Yep, tbh I agree with onlins.

I don't see the point of a recon box. Spend £100 on something that will last a year, spend 300 on something that will last ten.

Obviously I generalise, but you get the idea.

My box was leaking bad, I went to a breakers and got a nice looking one for 35 quid, it dribbles a little bit occasionally - and I sold my leaking one on eBay for 20!

I need a new pump really, and then I might consider a high ratio box from bearmach, but tbh I'll probably end up leaving it as my cheap fix is working nicely :)

Cheers
 
if you are just fitting lower seal ,remove drop arm then circlip then start engine move steering wheel and washer and seal will be pushed out ,and as said above blue seal main seal goes in first then steel washer the circlip then black dirt seal, they can leak a little when turning with vehicle stood in some conditions as sector shaft will flex
 
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