Steering Rack

Stevebexhill · Mar 16, 2020

I have a 2006 Freelander Td4 with 62k on the clock. The 2 bolts on the offside holding the rack to a hollow chassis member have sheared and cannot be easily extracted.My local landrover specialist garage has guessed at £1k to attempt a repair but says it could be twice that. The car is only worth c£2k. Should I assume that it can’t be repaired economically and scrap it for spares?

andyfreelandy · Mar 16, 2020

A few questions !
Who sheared them off, with the correct removal technique this should be virtually impossible.
If it was the LR dealer I would be discussing whether their approach was correct !
However, I have a spare shell in my barn without a rack, so i can have a look at what is involved in accessing the rear (via the footwell) if that helps.
It may be possible to drill and use extractors from inside the car. Failing that a small opening in the cross member and get new captive nuts welded in.
Wouldn't be looking to scrap it if it were mine.

Alibro · Mar 17, 2020

Stevebexhill said:
I have a 2006 Freelander Td4 with 62k on the clock. The 2 bolts on the offside holding the rack to a hollow chassis member have sheared and cannot be easily extracted.My local landrover specialist garage has guessed at £1k to attempt a repair but says it could be twice that. The car is only worth c£2k. Should I assume that it can’t be repaired economically and scrap it for spares?

Was the car in an accident? I've never heard of this happening before so something strange is going on.
Maybe an accident repair shop could repair it for more sensible money.

andyfreelandy · Mar 17, 2020

We await the causation with much interest!!!

Jayridium · Mar 17, 2020

Curveball idea... Could you cut off the bolts, drill out the old captive nuts, and put rivnuts in?

Stevebexhill · Mar 17, 2020

andyfreelandy said:
We await the causation with much interest!!!

There was no event or warning (although I drove into the back of another vehicle in August 2018 with no apparent damage to the Freelander) I drove it as normal into a parking space at my local club last week. On return 3 hours later it was floppy as soon as I set off. I assume the bolts sheared at some stage previously (perhaps a pothole?) or in August 2018 as part of my rear ending my brother! and the sheared portion eventually fell out making the rack insecure. Help!

andyfreelandy · Mar 17, 2020

OK, so that is good news in a way! They probs aren't rusted, just sheared and so removal should be possible. Space is an issue going in from the rack end, will check out spares car if it helps.

andyfreelandy · Mar 17, 2020

Steve, the holes in the bulkhead are blind and can't be accessed from the drivers footwell I am afraid.

If any stud sticks out then you may be able to unscrew with mole grips, otherwise it will be drilling and using an easy out stud remover. Space is tight though on the TD4.

Stevebexhill · Mar 17, 2020

andyfreelandy said:
Steve, the holes in the bulkhead are blind and can't be accessed from the drivers footwell I am afraid.

If any stud sticks out then you may be able to unscrew with mole grips, otherwise it will be drilling and using an easy out stud remover. Space is tight though on the TD4.

Thanks Andy, that’s encouraging- any further advice or assistance would be appreciated. Regards. Steve

Nodge68 · Mar 18, 2020

Stevebexhill said:
Thanks Andy, that’s encouraging- any further advice or assistance would be appreciated. Regards. Steve

I'm sure the rack mounting bolts are visible under the dash, as they come through the bulkhead. I'm positive that I've removed a broken rack bolt from under the dash with Mole grips. It was many years ago on a 98 Pre-update FL1, but I don't think the bulkhead has changed.

The bolts can shear off if they've been loose for a while, and unfortunately some weren't correctly torqued at the factory. This lead to some coming loose are few miles have been done.

Steering Rack

Stevebexhill

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andyfreelandy

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Alibro

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andyfreelandy

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Jayridium

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Stevebexhill

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andyfreelandy

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andyfreelandy

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Stevebexhill

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Nodge68

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