'69 Series 2A.

Should the steering box drop arm be vertically straight down when the steering wheel is in its halfway position?

Ignore where the wheels are for the purposes of this question. I'm talking about the drop arm position in relation to the steering box gearing.

Mine is pointing slightly forward (was when I got it, I've never removed it). There is no mark on the steering box rocker shaft housing to align with any mark on the drop arm as the Haynes manual suggests there might be.

I think I have everything else right, but I don't get as many turns of the steering wheel left (2) as right (just over 1.5) when everything is connected. I have fit all new steering rods and set them to the lengths given in the Haynes manual, plus steering lock stop adjusters also set to the same length on both wheels.

If I disconnect the balljoint at the drop arm end, I can find the steering box's midpoint by going all the way left and counting turns of the wheel to get all the way right. So only the drop arm is moving and nothing is connected. Then, when at the mid-point, my drop arm is not straight down.. I could remove it and put it back on pointing straight down at this mid-point (could I? Or will it only fit onto the rocker shaft at one position? I've never removed one..), and then reconnect the steering linkage and I think that would give me the same turns to lock left as right. But it all hinges on.. "Should the steering box drop arm be vertically straight down when the steering wheel (i.e. steering box) is in its halfway position"

Just looked at mine and it does come pretty much straight down, it sounds like you need to loosen/remove drop arm from steering box shaft (its on splines with a pinch bolt ) centralise your steering and reconnect it
pic attached shows bottom end of drop arm about midway infront of the bracket plate gubbins

Cheers Steve thanks for looking. Your drop arm looks far more vertical than mine, and I assume that's your mid-point. My relay levers are also set to about 90 degrees. Your page there is the first time I've seen anything about 81 degrees.. Is that a Series 3 Repair Manual?

Yes tyres straight ahead , have a look on http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/

The repair and op manual (green bible ) is on there amongst other useful stuff

The drop arm should be 90deg to the rod to the steering relay. I'm pretty sure that's horizontal so the arm will be straight down. The 90 deg is crucial as it means same angle forwards or backwards gives the same motion at the relay. If it starts at an angle steering one way will move the wheels more than the other.

rob1miles said:

The drop arm should be 90deg to the rod to the steering relay. I'm pretty sure that's horizontal so the arm will be straight down. The 90 deg is crucial as it means same angle forwards or backwards gives the same motion at the relay. If it starts at an angle steering one way will move the wheels more than the other.

Click to expand...

That's it right there. Well put.

Check with steering turned fully in each direction drop arm can foul the bulkhead if not in right position and top relay arm can foul the radiator panel if not set up correctly.

Blackburn said:

Check with steering turned fully in each direction drop arm can foul the bulkhead if not in right position and top relay arm can foul the radiator panel if not set up correctly.

Click to expand...

Checked both extremes, no fouling or blocks at all. Got to be the position at mid-point I think. I will report back once I can get the drop arm off..

Scot take a close look at this pic of the steering box shaft.
Note there is a line across the centre point of the shaft in relation to the fork , the line also lines up with a gap in the splies below it on the fork side.
If you cannot see the line on your shaft try taking the nut off and see if you can see the position of the gap in the splines.
The line should be at 90 degrees to the steering box when in mid position.

I'd never looked at it from the N/S. And yes, I can see a line. When I get a drop arm puller I'll tackle this again and hopefully get things set up right.

Thanks once again for all the help.