Thread: Defender steering issue

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

After a fun lunch break I can confirm its not the ball joint. A complete new one is installed and the issue is still there......

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Whats next? Steering box?

The problem is far worse with the engine off that with it running.

Pete jump under the vehicle with the drag link removed and move the drop arm left to right by hand see if you get any binding this way.

Pete,
It's not a damaged steering damper is it?

Tony

Hi Tony,

Unfortunately not. The issue is still there with it disconnected.

The problem occours about 1/3rd of the way to the right from straight ahead.

I am pretty sure its the box now.

Rgds
Pete

Any ball-joint wear in the rod ends can be detected by observation while the steering wheel is being dragged left and right.

Alas, anything else would probably be the steering box.

Last wild flyer: what about the UJs on the steering column.....

Originally Posted by jakeslouw

Any ball-joint wear in the rod ends can be detected by observation while the steering wheel is being dragged left and right.

Alas, anything else would probably be the steering box.

Last wild flyer: what about the UJs on the steering column.....

Checked those too cheers. now certain its in the steering box. Priced up a new 4bolt Adwest one at $770 earlier. Will order it tommorow.

I haven't read all the replies but...

The ball joint you've just replaced, was that the drop arm joint??

Next step, have you tightened up the steering box?

It's also worth checking the condition of the linkages to the steering box.

Finally, have you checked the panhard rod bushes?

M

before you spring for the box, lift the vehicle up off of the ground and with the drag link off check the freedom of movement on the swivels.

Have you had the steering box replaced previously?

About 2 years ago now there was a Rodum on all military 110's and 6x6's that had had a reco powersteering box put in as some had been repaired on the shonk and had a badly remanufactured sector shaft installed. They worked fine for a while untill they copped some abuse, most just leaked oil (yes yes I know its a landrover its ment to leak oil) some cracked the sector shaft and gave a lump spot in the steering and one box that I've been made aware of locked the box.

While Its possible that only boxes sent out for reco by the ADF were affected I can easily see the same thing being done to Joe Public.

On the edit, Ive re-read the post and watched the videos (after sorting my forever loading issues now Im having trouble with browser based media)

Its entirely probable that youve done some damage to the sector shaft support bearings/bush or deformed a tooth on the shaft. the jump in the ball joint tends to come from a good hammering killing the cup that supports the ball, neglect or a combination of both.

My Father an i had the misfortune of smacking into a large rock while off road and bending the track rod on his Classic. I replaced the track rod and after test driving we found the we too had also had the "jump". I did the pitman arm including ball joint, steering damper, checked everything steering and hub related until it was very clear and as we had suspected all along, that the steering box was buggered. New one(second hand) fitted and good as gold.