Thread: 92 Classic Steering box

Usually it's the universal joints in the shaft from the steering column to box that fail, have you looked under the bonnet?

I did have a quick look under the bonnet and couldn't see anything untoward. Given I was already running 20minutes late I didn't spend a lot of time on it. It definitely "feels" like gears unmeshing and jamming sadly. I'll lift the front of it tonight and hunt around while someone turns the steering wheel. Obviously it doesn't leave the yard until it's fixed

Then it's onto rebuilding the boge that I found is definitely NOT upto the task of leveling the back.



seeya,
Shane L.

Originally Posted by DoubleChevron

I did have a quick look under the bonnet and couldn't see anything untoward. ...<snip>
Then it's onto rebuilding the boge that I found is definitely NOT upto the task of leveling the back.

<image deleted>

seeya,
Shane L.

Hi Shane

I'd forget about the Boge, firstly they only pump up the back body when the vehicle is in motion, but the worst part about them is that they put the pressure in the middle of the axle. IMHO this makes the RR into a tricycle with mass overhanging each side of the rear pivot and therefore unstable.

I much prefer Polyair springs inside the rear coils which you inflate to get the correct ride height and return the stability to the rear end. It's what I have had in both my 1980 2 door and my 1985 4 door (the MY85 is still in my collection and still has the PolyAirs, and no it no longer has the Boge)

Diana

From your description it is almost certainly the UJs in the steering column.

You can soldier on by sitting them in a can of oil overnight and moving them back and forward , but a new column is the answer.
Regards Philip A

Thanks Guys,

I'll check the steering column tonight. I'll definitely replace or repair. I certainly don't want it jamming up at speed

The Boge ?? It really does interest me. In theory it appears to be a tri-cycle, I can't believe Rover engineers will have got it that wrong. If polyairs were superior, they would have used them rather than the boge. They would certainly be cheaper for the factory to use. The boge appears to be a dampened hydraulic strut. So could also be used as a shock absorber.



As long as there is no deteriorated rubber diaphragms around the nitrogen space (pressure chambers), we should be able to just freshen up the seals through it and it'll work again. I've been trying to find details on them. It appears to be charged to 25bar, so if we can release that, I can see what I need to do to reseal the pump. I manage to get 75bar of nitrogen into Citroen Spheres, so I imagine I can figure out a way of getting 25bar back into the pressure chamber.

seeya,
Shane L.
PS: Wouldn't there be lots of slop in the steeing if the column had flogged out universal joints? This one has absolutely no slop in the steering at all

Hi Shane

The Boge was an original fitting in the very first Range Rover in 1970 so it was ancient technology when your Rangie was built. The Boge was discontinued when the EAS Range Rover was introduced.

Doesn't that answer your question?

It is also worth noting that while 110 County 5 doors had the Boge, load carrying 110 like cab chassis and perentie don't have them. What the PolyAirs do is effectively change the spring rate without changing the springs every time.

However there is no problem of having both the Boge and PolyAir, as I have LPG tank in the rear, a 120 litre fuel tank, rear spare wheel carrier and frequently tow car trailers, I chose to fit higher rated springs and PolyAirs. The Boge was only removed by Coopers when I had the ball joint mount on the diff tear off the housing, mostly because it was neither working or of use with the PolyAirs.

Diana

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Hi Shane

The Boge was an original fitting in the very first Range Rover in 1970 so it was ancient technology when your Rangie was built. The Boge was discontinued when the EAS Range Rover was introduced.

Doesn't that answer your question?

It is also worth noting that while 110 County 5 doors had the Boge, load carrying 110 like cab chassis and perentie don't have them. What the PolyAirs do is effectively change the spring rate without changing the springs every time.

However there is no problem of having both the Boge and PolyAir, as I have LPG tank in the rear, a 120 litre fuel tank, rear spare wheel carrier and frequently tow car trailers, I chose to fit higher rated springs and PolyAirs. The Boge was only removed by Coopers when I had the ball joint mount on the diff tear off the housing, mostly because it was neither working or of use with the PolyAirs.

Diana

We'll see how it works I guess. The boge seems to be used into the late 90's on a wide range of vehicles named "nivomat" and used as a self levelling shocker.

I agree polyairs are good. My brother has them in the arse end of his Pajero. I'll get everything sorted as it left them factory first .... Then see how it works before adding aftermarket aids there. Though polyairs are certainly the simplest approach. If I can't repair it after pulling it apart, I guess the issue will be irrelevant either way

I don't think the fact it is 1970's technology means it's inferior. Just like with Citroens they could well be vastly supperior in every possible way ........................ But more expensive to manufacture ............... so avoided at all costs by the manufactures. After all, look how ****house modern Citroens are compared to the cars from the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. they are fitted with garbage springs rather than hydraulics, trying to compete with the koreans to see who is the quickest to the bottom of the heap.

I can't understand why Range Rover didn't go full hydraulic under patent from Citroen like rolls/merc/etc.... Hydraulics are far, far, far more reliable and long lived than air.

seeya,
shane L.

Hi Shane

IMHO the Boge hydramat were a compromise between self levelling function and articulation.

Certainly a pair of hydramat outboard would have provided superior stability, but would have reduced articulation where the central mounted hydramat was both cheaper on build and didn't inhibit articulation, but came at a stability cost.