congo181

Well-Known Member

• Feb 14, 2008

• #1

Ive just found that the steering box is leaking from the bottom on my TD5.
No matter what I try, I cannot get the drop arm to come off the taper/spline to change the seals.

I've tried a puller - but it wont stay in place.
I've tried a ball join separator - nope.
I've tried hitting it with a girt big hammer - ouch!

Anyone got any tips for shifting the drop arm off the box???

Cheers, Jim.

 

S

Steely

New Member

• Feb 14, 2008

• #2

when i had to do the same job i ended up using a hydrolic three leg puller and even then it was a case of tighten to max then hit with large hammer then tighten and hit and tighten and hit etc for over a day (not a nice job) for ease and time it might be easier to get an engineering company to take it off. or you could buy another drop arm and carefully take an angle grinder to your own drop arm, the drop arms are quite cheap. i think its about 15 or 20 quid for one (300tdi) not sure if its the same one as td5! hope this helps.
Steely

 

Pikey

Dummy Ejection Facilitator..

• Feb 14, 2008

• #3

Slacken it off and drive around for a day or two and try to hit as many potholes & raised manhole covers as you can.

Some one else suggested hitting it with 2 lump hammers at 180 deg to each other so both strike at the same time.

 

Oddie

AntiSeptic Sandal Wearer

• Feb 14, 2008

• #4

I had this problem and had to get the local garage to do it (on a defender, but is probably the same assy) - my halfrauds cream cheese puller fell apart and the local mechanic had a really good £200 hydraulic puller which he reckoned he needed to apply to its max.

Here's my fred...
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/steering-issues-continued-49497.html?

 

iannotts

New Member

• Feb 14, 2008

• #5

I used the hammer and big breaker bar methord the first time I took mine off been easyier since the

 

congo181

Well-Known Member

• Feb 14, 2008

• #6

Thanks for the tips so far fellas - seems it needs some brute force applying huh?
Are the oil seals easy to do once its off?

 

iannotts

New Member

• Feb 14, 2008

• #7

Depends how easy you can get a reforced seal out

remember you will get wet and soon as you attempt to remove the seal.

 

J

jimmm65

New Member

• Feb 14, 2008

• #8

try applying some heat then use the hammer.

 

Oddie

AntiSeptic Sandal Wearer

• Feb 14, 2008

• #9

Careful, slightly dodgy place to be applying a lot of heat!

 

D

dooroy

Active Member

• Feb 15, 2008

• #10

2 years ago I changed the steering box in my 300 Tdi and had to remove the drop arm to fit to the recon box .
I was using a 10 ton hydraulic puller with the box on the bench and getting nowhere . Having soaked it with penetrating oil I tightened the puller to the max and left it on the bench for a few minutes while I was doing another job . Suddenly there was a bang and the puller flew into the air and the drop arm landed about 3 feet from the box . I was imagining what could have happened if I or someone else was near it . You live and learn .
I decided to change the box at the time as my local main dlr parts man advised me that changing seals in their experience was at best a short term solution . And if I am ever getting a recon box again I will get it with drop arm attached .

 

Mr Noisy

Coming in your ears.

• Aug 28, 2011

• #11

late reply i know but jut thought id post up for reference

i got mine off today by taking the ball joint off and slipping a piece of fairly hench stainless tube over the drop arm as far as possible and hammered it on.

then got an 'assistant' to wrestle the tube up and down as hard as possible, whilst i attacked the drop arm shaft area with an air chisel.

after a multiple heart attack it did eventually come off.

cheers boyos