Thread: Rebuilding '87 steering box

A while ago you could get NEW ones from Paddock UK for about $700.

I have not checked recently but with the dollar up they should be cheaper , but offsetting this the freight has also gone up.
As much as it hurts I think that is the way I would go. How long will you keep the car?
I have rebuilt one myself and its not rocket science as long as the sector shaft is OK. I recently fitted a new top seal in situ. Bugger of a job but just fiddly.
Regards Philip A

That was quick - thanks Philip.

A new one will go the same way eventually, unless they've changed the design.
What I don't understand is why it can't be solved permanently by modification and the use of better bearings and seals. This is what I thought I was having done last time.

After becoming disillusioned by late model cars, I've decide to keep it "forever".

The P5B used a Hydrasteer box too, and these leak notoriously, almost from new. Mine has been replaced with a Volvo 164 ZF box which is almost a drop-in replacement. The Rover drop-arm even fits the spline. Never leaks and the road-feel and steering response is better as the standard P5B steering has no feel straight ahead.

Has nobody ever done a similar thing with a Rangie?

Warwick

I have a few seal/bush kits, I bought to do some box's I have here, but alas opted for the new steering box, a pineapple will see one yours

i have an 85 and i had my s/b fixed by way of removeing the bearings and the sharft machined and a bush replace the bearings , so far so good, that was in 06

Thanks Rovercare and Richard.

Richard, you must be in the lucky 90%.

I was hoping someone would say something like ... "Oh we've learnt a lot since 2006! Where have you been! All you have to do is fit the seals from a 1985 Vauxhall water pump using circlips from a Hoover frontloader and it will never leak again."

Dougal, the sheep fancier, had a cheap bush solution that solved the lower seal problem. Do a search and see what you turn up. Was about a year ago from memory.

cheers, DL

I think the roller bearing output shaft bearing boxes are a lot better . They came in in mid 92 and mine has one. It has now done 200KK with no lower shaft leaks.
The upper seal started to leak and I recently replaced it in situ.
Was the lower bearing in yours replaced with a roller when you had it rebuilt?
I think it also comes down to how much time was spent on matching the output shaft to the babbit bearing on assembly. I cannot imagine the rebuider spending much time to get the clearances tight, and they would probably just get the parallel hone near enough.

Regards Philip A

Hi Philip,

How do you pick these 92 on boxes? 3 or 4 bolt? Any serial numbers?

The one I'm using came with an 81 body and doesn't leak anywhere, no way it can be original, is a 3 bolt.

DL