Steering Relay shaft - any good ?

[JohnboyLandy]

Hi All, I have cleaned up steering relay shaft, but it's quite pitted from rust, so I am looking for the option of the Landrover brains trust to tell me if it's usable, or whether I should bin it and buy a new one, pics are here :

128064128065

Thanks
John

[JDNSW]

The surfaces that bear on the fibre bushes are probably not an issue - they will probably wear the bushes a little faster, but this should not be an issue. The surfaces the seals bear on is another issue - you won't get them to seal without fitting sleeves on it. I would be inclined to seek a replacement shaft, or perhaps look for another relay, even a second hand one that may have the shaft in better shape. Someone on the forum may be able to help - perhaps a "wanted" ad might get something.

[gromit]

I machined the sealing surface and it worked out OK. By reducing the diameter slightly the seal isn't quite as tight so it depends on the depth of pitting. Might be able to speedi-sleeve it.
Get seals from a bearing supplier rather than a LR parts supplier. Tend to be better quality.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/08/487.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Xbx3Y3)DSCN2397 (https://flic.kr/p/Xbx3Y3) by Colin Radley (https://www.flickr.com/photos/152321353@N07/), on Flickr

Beware of pattern/aftermarket relays or shafts. There have been stories of the shafts twisting & breaking.


Colin

[67hardtop]

I'd get another shaft and go from there...it's not like there aren't any around or that they are rare, just a pain to remove from a chassis mostly.

Cheers Rod

[JDNSW]

I'd get another shaft and go from there...it's not like there aren't any around or that they are rare, just a pain to remove from a chassis mostly.

Cheers Rod

There are probably people who have a chassis or part thereof with an immovably fixed relay, who could be persuaded to part with the shaft - which is a lot easier to remove than the whole relay.

[JohnboyLandy]

Thanks for the input guys, I guess I can try milling it down a bit where the seals would mate, but I suspect I will be looking for a replacement shaft.

I haven't seen anyone selling genuine Landrover shafts, only the third party ones.

Are the third party ones really that bad ? i.e. roverparts sell the shaft for $50.

Thanks
John

[gromit]

Thanks for the input guys, I guess I can try milling it down a bit where the seals would mate, but I suspect I will be looking for a replacement shaft.

I haven't seen anyone selling genuine Landrover shafts, only the third party ones.

Are the third party ones really that bad ? i.e. roverparts sell the shaft for $50.

Thanks
John

The problem is....with a steering component do you want to be 'testing' it or buying something fit-for-purpose.
In another thread a member commented that they had a pattern shaft shear off and a LR supplier in the UK wouldn't sell them at one point (but I notice they now sell the Bearmach unit complete).

As suggested, there must be some kicking around in someone's spare parts pile, hopefully not full of water.

I parted out a vehicle a while back and scored a good one as a spare, just needed new seals & gaskets.


Coli

[whitehillbilly64]

Cant see why a good degrease, JB weld or suitable epoxy sand back. Double lip seal. would be ok.
Works for swivel ball.
Ready to be shot down in flames with my comments [thumbsupbig]

whitehillbilly

[JohnboyLandy]

Does anyone know the part number for a double lip seal from Repco or Kelpro etc for the steering relay seals ?

Thanks
John

[Colin Pedersen]

which part of the country are you in?.....my relay was cactus on the outside and I got a unit from the Ho Hars I reconditioned but, have the internals of the old one in a box...the shaft was all OK from memory. Probably still got the special brackets I made to put that damb spring back in also:-) I'm in the ACT.

col.

[JohnboyLandy]

Hi Colin, I'm in the Gold Coast hinterland (Mudgeeraba area).

Cheers,
John

[gromit]

Does anyone know the part number for a double lip seal from Repco or Kelpro etc for the steering relay seals ?

Thanks
John

Take an original into a bearing shop and they will sort one out, I can check the measurements if you like.
Not sure if you can get a double lip seal in that size, outer lip is normally only to keep dirt out anyway only the inner lip has a garter spring.


Colin

[whitehillbilly64]

TC12043
1.250 X 1.500 X 0.250
This is the seal fitted to my Relay.
my local bearing shop, I have used for over 25yrs, gave me a double lipped seal, so they said. Don't know brand.

whitehillbilly

[JohnboyLandy]

Thanks, and I presume those measurements are inches ?

Cheers,
John

[gromit]

Thanks, and I presume those measurements are inches ?

Cheers,
John

Yes..... 1 1/2" X 1 1/8" X 1/4"


Colin

[gromit]

Just checked a seal and corrected the dimensions. ID is 1 1/8"
The seal I have does have a second lip but just to keep dirt out.

Personally I'm not sure that filling the pits with epoxy will last. In a swivel hub it's normally the odd pit in the chrome that's filled and the seal wipes over it as you turn. On the relay shaft the seal would be constantly turning on pockets of epoxy. Might work but not sure for how long.

If you have access to someone with a lathe you could try turning the seal area down. Worked for a couple of mine but pitting wasn't that bad.
As mentioned before, machining it down means that the seal doesn't have such a tight fit so sealing will be compromised.

Colin

[PhilipA]

Is it still possible to get plasma spray rebuild on components like this?
I recall many many years ago I had a camshaft built up with plasma spray then machined.
I would have thought it could be done now and machined to the original dimensions.

Regards Philip A

[gromit]

Is it still possible to get plasma spray rebuild on components like this?
I recall many many years ago I had a camshaft built up with plasma spray then machined.
I would have thought it could be done now and machined to the original dimensions.

Regards Philip A

Probably cheaper to buy a parts car[smilebigeye]

Yes it could be machined down & metal sprayed but I wonder if it's worth it financially.

Colin

[NQSeriesRover]

can metal spray both seal journals for a carton of 150 lashes:) and the lip seals are: 1.062 x 1.500 x 0.250, paid $5 ea for a pair today



Hi All, I have cleaned up steering relay shaft, but it's quite pitted from rust, so I am looking for the option of the Landrover brains trust to tell me if it's usable, or whether I should bin it and buy a new one, pics are here :

128064128065

Thanks
John

[JohnboyLandy]

I now have a new genuine shaft coming from Blanchards, cost me 50 GBP including shipping, so a little over $AU80, I am pretty happy with that as I've seen some of the after market ones cost almost that amount when you include shipping.

Will try the local bearing shop for the seals.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Cheers,
John

[whitehillbilly64]

Interesting the different seal sizes.
I got one from rover spares. Took seal, shaft and bearing housing to local bearing shop, I have used for many years,
and sizes came up with measurements in above post. Good quality seals bought.
Why the differences ????
Mine is rebuilt and filled with EP90, and fitted. No leaks.
My steering relay was from a S2A chassis, with filled hole on the top.
Do S2A and S3 differ with seal size ????
Thanks

whitehillbilly

[gromit]

It'll depend on the shaft to some extent plus 1 1/8" and 1 1/16" are so close it wouldn't matter that much. One would seal tighter than the other if the seal section is 1 1/16"

Maybe the shaft on an original is different to an aftermarket ? Maybe they did change over the years. Measure the section the seal works on to confirm the size before rebuilding.

If the one from Blanchards is an original then that's a good result for $80 landed.


Colin

[JDNSW]

Seal part number is the same (213340) for all models Series 2a and all models Series 3. I don't have parts books for Series 1 and 2, but I am pretty sure that there was no change that would affect this since the change to the relay in 1948.