Defender Steering Drop Arm - Removal

I have admitted defeat in the past. Its a new box with arm im afraid.

I must get round to checking mine at some point as I've recently noticed a little play in the steering!

My Little Jig



The lump in the jig



Centre jack and tighten up everything then pump up jack leave for some time then give it some more pumps. Should go with a loud crack.

Must admit it had lots of wd40 and thumped with the hammers before hand.

Cothy said:

My Little Jig



The lump in the jig



Centre jack and tighten up everything then pump up jack leave for some time then give it some more pumps. Should go with a loud crack.

Must admit it had lots of wd40 and thumped with the hammers before hand.

Click to expand...

WOW!! Thats some impressive bit of kit you have made there!!
I bet you can't fail with that!!
I just use a two legged puller with a ratchet strap around to keep legs together. Then tighten up an hit then leave. then long drift through engine bay and an hit. Done 3 that way and touch wood has always worked!!

James

Cothy said:

My Little Jig



The lump in the jig



Centre jack and tighten up everything then pump up jack leave for some time then give it some more pumps. Should go with a loud crack.

Must admit it had lots of wd40 and thumped with the hammers before hand.

Click to expand...

Nice looking rig that, could you use it with the box in situ? or is there too much other "stuff" in the way.

Landy would have to be pretty high off the ground

Could make a shorter version and use a trolley jack possibly to do 'in situ'

fit the disco arm, then its just a trackrod end to change nice and simple

plus steering damper mod

It does seem that many drop arms have gone recently theres a few threads up and a few of me mates have done em. Must be the winter air

Pretty sure im guna do the Disco conversion, full kits round £140 then its done. Saves all the time and effort doing it again, heard som folk having to replace after 12 - 18 months!

I'm putting the box back on the Maggie this weekend and when I've finished I'll put the rig on and see if it will clear everything.
This rig is only mark 1 and I'm sure that improvements can be make like a bigger rated jack or rotating it around and trimming the angle iron to fit or extending the angle so it can be put together in-situ and miss everything.
It was made with scrap bits lying about so there can be variations on the theme so go run with it.


Cothy

bankz5152 said:

It does seem that many drop arms have gone recently theres a few threads up and a few of me mates have done em. Must be the winter air

Pretty sure im guna do the Disco conversion, full kits round £140 then its done. Saves all the time and effort doing it again, heard som folk having to replace after 12 - 18 months!

Click to expand...

As GV posted, the ball joints will last better if they are greased, years ago all landy ball joints had nipples, but tis was abandoned, presumably in the interest of selling more joints

I don't believe the standard joint will wear out that quick, I fitted mine four years ago, and I am always off road round the farm, and towing at least 2000 miles a year. The joint is still fine.
I think folk who are wearing em that quick are abusing their vehicle with very oversize tyres and/or reckless driving.Either that or they didn't align the joints on the bar properly when fitting, this will wear the joints quite quickly.

its not too difficult to fit a grease nipple in the retaining plate before fitting

jamesmartin said:

its not too difficult to fit a grease nipple in the retaining plate before fitting

Click to expand...

I will do it next time!