Thread: Steering box 101

It's an alloy housing, and I think it would just happen again if welded and re tapped. This brace should hold the top bearing in position for ever I would think. I wonder if any other parts of the box could be strengthened like this...?

I can now attest to how weak the 101 steering box is. First weekend hard 4wding in the 101 (or first time not 4wding on sand) at the W4 challenge and I broke a mounting point on the box (Aluminium has cracked and the whole mount came away from the box). I've stolen one of Ron's pics to circle the mount that broke.

Looking at the box with a mate he believes he can machine a new housing out of steel for me. At the same time we can possible address some of the design flaws Ron has mentioned and see where we can use more easily attainable parts.

While I can still move the car at the moment, once I've given it a good clean I will park it up and pull the box to investigate my options further. Not really looking at a power steering conversion at this point as nothing easily available and I don't fancy too much cut and shut of the chassis.

Bugger, no good mate. If your mate can do a steel case, let him know he can build 2 and I'll buy one (subject to a rough idea on price). That may bring the cost per unit down and it may help me be able to do my electric conversion.

I have a complete, good condition case and parts sitting on my bench at the moment that I'd be happy to ship over for measurements, etc if that helps - and I'm happy for you to stick them in your 101 to get you back on the road for the time being too if you want.

The Burman steering box is just too lightly built in every respect including the worm and recirculating ball nut.
Even with a steel case it will not handle electric power steering and survive for a long time.
For Stuee the best option is to get the old box TIG welded and strengthen just to get the vehicle back on the road ASAP.
The only long term options for the 101 Landrover for them to go another 40 years is another heavier construction steering box.
Not much in the way of parts around for the old steering boxes.
If the steering box is changed for another you would be crazy not to look at the power steering option.
The UK 101 club site has a thread on the Burman steering boxes and its not good.
This link is to a company that recently made some 101 steering box worms and nuts from stratch.

sales@ics-spares.co.uk

ICS Steering - Land Rover 101 Forward Control



If anyone chases this I would be interested too.

Ron

Yeah, I'm starting to see your point Ron. What about a box from a small cab over truck? I might go googling a bit. The reason I'm still looking at something like this is that the electric conversion appeals to me for a couple of reasons. First, I don't really want to weld stuff to the chassis so I can easily covert back to a standard box if required (I know the conversion you're talking about still allows going back, but I'd prefer not to modify the chassis), and secondly, I have bugger all to no room to mount a PS pump. Fixing that would take a lot of effort, then you have all the hassles of pipes, etc. not the most appealing solution to me. Maybe a stronger box that van be mounted with minimum fuss (maybe such a beast does not exist) then grafting the electric system in. There are similar looking boxes in old vans - like combi's etc, but I would imagine these would be as weak as the original.

Would be nice to scan the wrecking yards and look for something - just with a quick search, this came up - an 81 to 85 transit van manual box - available new in both LH and RH configurations. Not saying this would fit, but maybe worth a look.

Here is a useful catalogue, I had a need to download a while back, there are some interesting configurations page 24 onwards

[ame]http://www.pss.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pss-catalogue.pdf[/ame]