Fossicker
Range Rover 3 bolt steering box ball bearing conversion.
G'day all,my newly aquired '83 rangie steering box has been leaking since I bought it,and finally blew about a litre of ps fluid all over the front diff last week.
After researching and pricing out new and reco units 'down south',I thought I might give a local mob a try.
The guy on the phone knew the 3 bolt steering box well,and quoted me $440 for the reco on my unit.
He also explained what they do in exact detail,including replacing the bush bearings with ball bearings.The old bush bearings slowly wear out,allowing sideways movement of the shaft.Eventually the seals can know longer handle the amount of movement and she blows.
Their solution is to machine out the housing 55thou to accept commonly available ball bearings.
He said they used to do this conversion all the time for the old defence landy's.
If anyone would like the details of this Darwin based company,let me know.Sometimes it's worth a little freight to get someone who knows what they're doing.
By the way,removing the box is a relatively straighforward operation,taking only 1/2 hour for a first timer.Just be sure to completely remove the steering column uni bolts,or the uni's will not slide off the shaft,and I also had to remove the oil filter as well.I did not have to remove the chassis brace bar on my model.
Cheers,Andrew.
ForumSage
Why not just replace the bushings?
The top ones can be replaced with off-the-shelf DU bushings for about $10, I don't know if the bottom ones can but it'd be worth finding out.
IMO ball bearings aren't suited to a box that spends it's time mostly pointing in one direction and never makes a complete rotation. If you want to go better than bushings then you need to jump to roller bearings.
Wizard
SupporterI would guess that he is putting in needle rollers as 55 thou would not be that much bigger than the bush
disco seriesII mods so far:-bullbar,hyd winch,
detriot locker,lsd front,C.D.L kit,chipped and bigger intercooler,2" lift,rock sliders, lsd in transfer case, modified auto trans.
In the event of nuclear war,Disregard this message
Fossicker
Yes sorry,they are not ball bearings but needle roller.
ForumSage
That makes a lot more sense.Originally Posted by Top End Rangie
How does the cost compare to fitting a 4 bolt box which already has roller bearings inside?
Swaggie
SubscriberThe bottom bush is actually a babit bearing on a brass or similar backing that has to be reamed to size with a parallel ream.
I replaced one in Saudi . I recall it well as nobody had a parallel ream and I had to use a brake cylinder hone. Six hours later I had the most beautifully fitting bottom bush imaginable.
So I reckon the needle roller idea is a great one. My 93 steering box is one of the first with the roller bearings and is still oiltight at 165KK.
TOUCH WOOD.
REgards Philip A
ForumSage
I was told the same thing about the top bushing. But a standard size bush fits and works great.
Is the shaft oversize to require reaming/honing down of the bush?
Swaggie
SubscriberAFAIK the bushes are made oversize and designed to be reamed to get a good fit on a worn shaft.
Regards Philip A
Fossicker
I actually rang TR Spares before choosing to get mine rebuilt,looking for a good used unit.He also said a 4 bolt would fit,however if mine had the rebuildable type steering arm/tie rod joint,to consider rebuilding mine instead.He was most helpful,sorry I've forgotten his name.By the way,he wanted $500 plus for a used 4 bolt box.
So I checked,and mine has the circlip and is rebuildable,so that's when I called Craig at WeFix Powersteer in Darwin.
ChatterBox
I'm in the middle of swapping mine over on the 120.
Given the weight on the front end of the 120 with a PTO winch, I decided to get a 4 bolt box, even though I had a spare 3 bolt in GC. (Keeping that in case I need it on my 90,)
From memory, the S/H 4 bolt set me ~$350 on fleabay, including shipping to Perth.
cheers
Bojan
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