Steering box rebuild suggestions

[Konradical]

Does anyone in Adelaide know of or recommend a place to refresh the power steering box in my rangie?

Just spoke to a fella local who quoted $650 and I believe that's at least $300 too much. Please feel free to bring me back to earth on that, but I think that is way too high.

[Rick1970]

If it’s just a quick external leak fix, not to bad to do yourself. Full pro rebuild, 650 prob not that bad.

[Konradical]

If it’s just a quick external leak fix, not to bad to do yourself. Full pro rebuild, 650 prob not that bad.Yeah it's a couple of seals which have dryed out from sitting around then cracked on the big drive.
Will end up doing it myself I think..

Was just surprised and probably more bemused that the person I spoke to said straight away that if they leak it's because the bearing on the sector shaft has failed and made the sector shaft unusable which cost over $800. Didn't even ask anything more specific about the vehicle.

[Grumbles]

......made the sector shaft unusable which cost over $800.

I reckon on $800 being a bargain price. Know a fellow whose independent Landy workshop charged him $2G for the shaft plus labour and that was a few years back.

[PhilipA]

I reckon on $800 being a bargain price. Know a fellow whose independent Landy workshop charged him $2G for the shaft plus labour and that was a few years back.

A new one costs about $1400 AFAIR recently.
About 6-7 years ago Adwest through LR Direct had a special on for $700 landed and I bought one then. Beats being in the hands of charlatans.

Range Rover Classic Steering Box | Rimmer Bros (https://rimmerbros.com/ItemList--Range-Rover-Classic-Steering-Box--m-15106)

Regards Philip A

[grey_ghost]

I spent about $600 recently. Pulled the box out, had a spare box and ran a seal kit through that. Put spare in - death wobbles. Bought another seal kit, sent both boxes to a specialist and made one good one out of the 2. Was $600 from memory...

[Konradical]

I reckon on $800 being a bargain price. Know a fellow whose independent Landy workshop charged him $2G for the shaft plus labour and that was a few years back.Rimmer Bros lists a genuine shaft for under $600 and I'm sure there are aftermarket options out there, but that's not the point.

I'm guessing the labour rates are starting to catch up and normalise across all areas now.

[Mercguy]

I've had my eye on this page Land Rover Parts - POWER STEERING BOX PARTS - RANGE ROVER CLASSIC (https://www.britishautoparts.com.au/power_steering_box_parts___range_rover_classic) for quite a while, They're down your way aren't they?
Have not needed a box yet. I am guessing it is worthwhile to rebuild with a seal kit when the 606 goes in, since I'll have the front end off, it 'makes sense'

don't forget the current GBP-AUD exchange rate is about 1.8 something - horrendous.

maybe look for a D1 / defender that isn't leaking at a wrecker.

[workingonit]

... it's a couple of seals which have dryed...

If the vehicle steers properly and the box otherwise seems good then I would just replace the dried seals. If it wanders a bit then there is some limited adjustment available via grub screw on the cap.

I've taken one box apart, fairly easily, the biggest problem was getting the large c-clip back in - used a piston ring compressor which could only just do the job.

[Konradical]

I've had my eye on this page Land Rover Parts - POWER STEERING BOX PARTS - RANGE ROVER CLASSIC (https://www.britishautoparts.com.au/power_steering_box_parts___range_rover_classic) for quite a while, They're down your way aren't they?
Have not needed a box yet. I am guessing it is worthwhile to rebuild with a seal kit when the 606 goes in, since I'll have the front end off, it 'makes sense'

don't forget the current GBP-AUD exchange rate is about 1.8 something - horrendous.

maybe look for a D1 / defender that isn't leaking at a wrecker.In Vic unfortunately.

I ordered a seal kit from Rimmer last night. Genuine kit was $44, but no longer available. $13.50 for the "OEM" one..

All prices on their site are in AUD. Also include GST.

Il just do as suggested and fit new seals.

[techron]

If it is a 4 bolt steering box, DLS in Derbyshire, UK just this month delivered a seal kit to me for around $18 AUD in just over a week. In speaking to Sovereign in Adelaide, they told me that they remove the Pitman Arm, replace the seals etc. All done in situ. Not hard to do yourself.
Give it a try. I did mine on my 1985 Classic.
Cheers, Ron

[strangy]

This is probably too late, however.
Dont bother with any of the kits from the UK you never know exactly what you will get.
I rebuilt the box on mine with advertised "Genuine" seals bearings etc. and was particularly irritable when both seals failed spectacularly within 100km .
I posted. the differences in seal quality some time back

Save time effort and annoyance. Contact Mario/Heather on here "Roverlord" and ask for the Corteco kit for your box. If it isnt Corteco, they will supply the correct"quality" items fast, courteous and priced right.

[PhilipA]

With the old bush type boxes, if the clearance of the bush was too great the seal would fail very quickly.
this would manifest itself by a line of oil on the road for about 100 metres on the first cold start.
In Riyadh, there were 5 Range Rovers in 5 houses next to each other. Every morning in winter at - 5 to- 10 there would be Aline of oil from every one.
That is until I fitted a new bearing and seal and mine stopped.
When the oil is cold and thick, the pressure is high and it pushes through the bush and then through the seal.
regards Philip A

[manic]

Dont mean to highjack... but seeeing as we are talking 4 bolt rebuilds... I have a box lying around that does not leak but has play between input and output shaft. Can it be stripped and fixed, or should I bin it?

[Konradical]

Dont mean to highjack... but seeeing as we are talking 4 bolt rebuilds... I have a box lying around that does not leak but has play between input and output shaft. Can it be stripped and fixed, or should I bin it?I would not throw it.

Rimmer Bros has most of the parts that I can see to rebuild them. The only thing I didn't see was the sector shaft bushes. Saying that though, the manual says do not remove/replace unless it has excessive movement.

Probably find that the play can be adjusted out.