Thread: Steering box 101

If a steering kit is sold it should be engineered in these days or the fitter, owner and seller could be in deep poo.
There is one component which needs to be sourced for AJs kit which on AJs prototype is a fabricated item made from two different parts and not possible to sell as a kit in any sort of numbers.
It needs researching to find a common available part to do the job.

I believe A J will sooner or later sell components to correct the 101s steering problems, may be as individual parts.

The bevel box is readily available from a few different vehicles - I've got one in the garage that will work. Add to that the Nissan Navara PS box and a couple of brackets and you're not far away. AJ said that he would look at supplying parts and/or doing the installs ages ago. Maybe he's be balking because of the engineering issues, I'm not sure, but I doubt he has anything 'nearly' ready to go. Don't get me wrong, I like the man a lot, and the conversion is bloody awesome as I've driven his 101, I just don't think this is one of his priorities at the moment, which is fine.

I have the bevel box here, along with a Navara steering box.. but I'm still slow to use it.. I prefer the idea of using a Defender box and bits...

AJs power steering parts problems are not with the bevel box, but another item which I cannot mention.
My steering box is refitted and working OK.
The pic below is the new plate TIG welded in and it did successfully tighten up the upper bearing cup housing hole.




Below is the assembled steering box with welded strengthening plate, raised oil level filler tube by use of brass extension.
The upper ball race to steering column and shims were well sealed.

Below is the steering box fitted.


Below is a picture of the bottom of the steering box fitted to the vehicle.
It shows a small brass drain plug added to the steering box.
This will allow anything which finds its way in to the steering box .....like water to be drained.

Another problem with the standard steering box is the small bearing in the top of the steering column just below the steering wheel.


The bearing is a ball type and is held together by a small flat or round C clip, depending on who made it.
If that bearing fails or looses a few very small bearing balls, it all drops down into the steering box and though that top unavailable worm shaft bearing and then will hang around near the bottom bearing too ready to destroy that too.
When I pulled my steering box apart I found two C clips , small bits of harden metal and very small bearing balls.
I now know two different top steering column bearings have failed and the hardened bits dropped though my steering box .
Because of its design the top steering column bearing will fall apart easily during fitting ,or with wear.
It was another reason why I fitted a drain plug to the bottom of the steering box.( to let out any busted bits out.)

Ensure the steering column bearing is in good condition, and any effort to replace it should be made with the steering box removed from the vehicle as it will fall apart and drop its C clip and bearing balls into the steering box.
Ron.

just for interest sake.
Spy pics of AJs power steering.

I personally looking at things from a different way.
Being in the forklift game I see Japanese forklifts using similar steering boxes in earlier models with steering column about the correct height or models with adjustable steering columns with out a steering shaft tube.
the steering boxes are square in shape and designed to bolt up easily from different directions.
Forklift boxes are heavy duty and recirculating ball with valving for power steering cylinder which is fitted else where on the steering.
Pit man arm splines advailable in different sizes too.
I have to find time to research it more.