Rabat Matt said:

The leak in the old steering box has recently turned from a drip to a pour, so it's time to either rebuild it or buy one out of a breaker's yard here. (I'd love just to get an Adwest rebuild from Paddock, but the thought of shipping to Morocco makes me break out in a cold sweat).

So I'm looking for some advice on assessing a PAS box without disassembly (1) so I can tell if I should even attempt to rebuild the current box and (2) so I can buy something better out of a breaker's yard if I can't rebuild this one.

I have the old box out. Turning the input shaft on it feels stiff and very rough - feels like it's full of gravel, so I guess the beatings are finito. Does this mean that rebuilding is no longer an option?

And any tips on assessing a used box in a breaker's yard appreciated. I (obviously) want to avoid buying something that turns out - once it's installed - to be as completely f***** as the one I have now.

Cheers and thanks in advance.

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MrIFan said:

Have you thought of putting a post on http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/
I would be happy to oblige but won't be back out until October ... I enjoy a night out in the seedier bars in Rabat )

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jamesmartin said:

set box central and feel play they shouldnt be any,the turn lock to lock ,mole grips on input is ok for such,check bottom shaft for signs of leaks as the whole box in general,knotchyness isnt allways brgs they can feel a little like that

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Rabat Matt said:

Thanks - problem there is that car parts carry duty and while I could ask someone to slip a p-gasket in their pocket, 20 kilos of steering box... not so much. Drop us a line if you're coming through town though. Seedy bars are always fun.

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Rabat Matt said:

Thanks. I'll go ahead an pull the old one apart then and see what the bearings look like.

When turning lock to lock is it possible to make leaky seals do some leaking w/out pressure from the pump? Or am I just feeling for general wear inside?

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Rabat Matt said:

Thanks - problem there is that car parts carry duty and while I could ask someone to slip a p-gasket in their pocket, 20 kilos of steering box... not so much. Drop us a line if you're coming through town though. Seedy bars are always fun.

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jamesmartin said:

youve miss understood me you can only see it leaking when fitted and pressurised but you can look for signs when box is on the bench, box should have no play when in center position but does have increasingly so as you go to either lock,dont pull box apart unlesss you know how to reset it, i was saying boxes when turned by hand dont feel smooth, bearing wear will be shown by play

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MrIFan said:

These are guys who will be driving down in overland prepped 4x4s and carrying their own spares so an extra steering box shouldn't be a problem. ... will definitely be there next year so will drop you a PM and catch you for a beer if you're about. Is the upmarket bar with the "interesting" upstairs disco still open, opposite the Post Office just down from the Railway Station?

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Rabat Matt said:

Gotcha now. Thank you. There is barely detectable play at centre. Do you mean reset to centre? There was nowhere to set the pin through the drop arm, so I made a mark on the shaft and housing but really I'm relying on counting turns lock to lock and going for the middle of that.

Thanks again.

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jamesmartin said:

yes that is buggered,google rtc4405 i shouldnt think they sell many

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Rabat Matt said:

That's the part, but I only see it at £1,100+vat. Get a whole box (QAF500120) for £345 at Paddock. What am I missing something? Seems like it might be time to buy the whole box and part it out!

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