D1 Steering Leak (was Lydd)

[Lydd Grant]

Hey all you in Landrover world. I have a 98 discovery S1 that has a major power steering leak from around the steering box area. I have degreased and searched but cant find exactly where it is coming from. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers

[eddy]

Lydd
I am in the same boat 98 Disco leaking fluid from the steering box,mine is from the input shaft seals.There is a kit available,which I have not yet fitted,some say replace with a new box, as the shafts are often worn/pitted.One day will take it out and see.I did use some Moreys power steering additive which worked for a couple of years.A new box is about>$800 OZ or 500 plus freight from UK so worth trying Moreys then a kit then wreckers?

[PhilipA]

If it is the input shaft is is probably realtively easy to fix in situ. AFAIK , pitting of teh shaft is much less likely on the input shaft than the output shaft. All that happens on teh input is teh seal gets old and hard, partly from the heat of the exhaust.
When mine went a couple of years ago , I was able to replace the seal in situ, by making a special tool to tap the circlip home , as it is almost impossible without.
All the tool consisted of was a piece of tube with an ID bigger than the shaft but OD smaller than the housing which was easier said than done but AFAIR was made from a plug tube spanner , ground down on the outside.
Regards Philip A

[eddy]

Philip,
Thanks for the tip,using the tube to refit circlip.Damn! looks like the excuse of a big job has gone.Will have to get to it, as the leaking oil runs along the chassis
and across the cross member,a real mess.

[ramblingboy42]

thats what the cross member is there for.....so that all the leaks run along it and drip in the same spot instead of multiple spots.....

[PhilipA]

I am in the same boat 98 Disco leaking fluid from the steering box,mine is from the input shaft seals


I was just pondering between wakefulness and sleep last night and I seem to recall that it is also difficult to remove the old seal.

I recall that the seal has a metal washer on the outside and to remove it I had to drill a hole in the washer and fit a self tapper then pull on the self tapper. My recollection is pretty vague on this .

Regards Philip A

[eddy]

Philip
Yes I can see on looking at an old steering box,I have on the bench,that the metal outer should just lever out,but the inners are about 10mm down the shaft,requiring a self tapper for sure.Knew there was a reason I had delayed the job!Found a 20mm pvc pipe fitting with a piece of the pipe glued into it was the exact size to drive in the seals.I will eventually get around to it,latest leak looks like the governor assembly cover on the injection pump,so that will take priority!Any tips?

[BigJon]

I recall that the seal has a metal washer on the outside and to remove it I had to drill a hole in the washer and fit a self tapper then pull on the self tapper. My recollection is pretty vague on this .



That is my standard way of removing cam and crank seals when replacing them on mortal vehicles (non LRs).

[PhilipA]

Yes I can see on looking at an old steering box,I have on the bench,that the metal outer should just lever out,but the inners are about 10mm down the shaft

I have a couple of old dental picks that a friend gave to me a long time ago, and I think I used them to pull the inner seals.

Regards Philip A