Thread: Catastrophic Steering box failure!

Well at least you are all right. Cars can always be fixed. Have not had a steering failure with the land rover and hopefully never. But did once with my last 4wd. Hooting along a track. Swerved to miss some thing on the right and clipped a fallen log hiding in long grass on the left. Did not break the steering box, broke the mounting bolts. Steering was always vague but realised real quick that it had got a lot more vague.
Cheers Hall

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I would not have thought you would get much rusting in the interior of a steering box - it is submerged in oil.

John

Not rust but corrosion,if the fluid cavitates and it does in the steering system you get corrosion where the bubbles collapse.It is a very common thing in marine mechanics or in humid area's.The LR steering box is prone to corrosion between the bottom wiper seal and oil seal,I used to cut the wiper seal off so moisture couldn't get trapped in there. Pat

For those interested, here are some photos of the remains.

New genuine steering box now in and all OK.

I have decided to take the heavy duty drag link off and go back to standard.... As suggested, may act as a fuse and prevent this ever happening again.

Anyway, no leaks and drives dot on. The box costed me $650 (bit dearer than the evilbay jobs.)

I may as well get a new selector shaft for the old box and keep it in my spares as will fit the rangies.

Originally Posted by Rangier Rover

New genuine steering box now in and all OK.

I have decided to take the heavy duty drag link off and go back to standard.... As suggested, may act as a fuse and prevent this ever happening again.

Anyway, no leaks and drives dot on. The box costed me $650 (bit dearer than the evilbay jobs.)

I may as well get a new selector shaft for the old box and keep it in my spares as will fit the rangies.

That's all well and good but have you fixed the fence yet ?

The fence is a sore point In short, yes

Near ended up in court over this. Had D's here and all.

I didn't want to claim on my insurance and the 3rd party thought he'd make a quid out of it. Well.... he was wrong.:

Cant say any more here sorry.

Originally Posted by PAT303

Not rust but corrosion,if the fluid cavitates and it does in the steering system you get corrosion where the bubbles collapse.Pat

Technically that would be erosion, it's a mechanical process not a chemical one.

Martyn

Originally Posted by Rangier Rover

The fence is a sore point In short, yes

Near ended up in court over this. Had D's here and all.

I didn't want to claim on my insurance and the 3rd party thought he'd make a quid out of it. Well.... he was wrong.:

Cant say any more here sorry.

F@rk