Fitting new Defender drop arm

Please Help! Just tryin to refit arm after a week trying to get it off. But new arm doesn't go nearly far enough up the steering box splines have checked it's the right part. Someone told me use a press but if you haven't got one jack vehicle up off the ground under arm and it will press on? is that right has anyone done this or has anyone got any tips. This is really the hardest LR job I ever did.

they should fit easily ,how far ,can you get nut on ,have you aligned master spline ,there are more than one shaft size which box 6 ,3 or 4 bolt ,what arm number ?

Have a look on busters photo guide

It's 4 bolt box on 91 200 tdi took box to craddock today and got new are can get full nut engagement but arm probably about 6mm short of position old one went to. It just doesn't look right.

Do not jack up vehicle below it unless you want to potentially knacker/reduce life of your steering box bearings - read up axial force, radial force...

jon123 said:

It's 4 bolt box on 91 200 tdi took box to craddock today and got new are can get full nut engagement but arm probably about 6mm short of position old one went to. It just doesn't look right.

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you havent got a disco drop arm have you, cos there different to fender ones

got it i think. actually i have a 6 bolt Gemma box not adwest. 3 different arms i tried 2 so far both wrong, just hope i didnt f*&k the box. Cradocks are ****, on Thursday i took the box in and they still gave me the wrong arm. hope when i get right arm that it fits!

discomania said:

Do not jack up vehicle below it unless you want to potentially knacker/reduce life of your steering box bearings - read up axial force, radial force...

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force wouldnt be on the bearings as they are needle rollers that act radially ,force would be taken on adjuster screw

johnlad said:

you havent got a disco drop arm have you, cos there different to fender ones

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not in splined shaft size if its def 4 bolt

jon123 said:

got it i think. actually i have a 6 bolt Gemma box not adwest. 3 different arms i tried 2 so far both wrong, just hope i didnt f*&k the box. Cradocks are ****, on Thursday i took the box in and they still gave me the wrong arm. hope when i get right arm that it fits!

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youd have to be really rough to hurt the box ,damaging thread is the thing to watch for ,clean with a thread file if looks damaged

Ok so from what I can tell there are 3 different drop arms for pre td5 defenders - does anyone know if the spline fit differs between them?

guys still really stuck with this. got right drop arm but that doesn't go anywhere near on the splines - this is deffo the right one for the Gemma 6 bolt box - now considering replacing the whole PAS bos c/w new drop arm but 250 quid !!! Help Plus Paddocks sent me drop arm without the ball joint in the end !!! whats the point of that surely the only reason to change a drop arm is cos its got a knackered ball joint. this is far and away the most difficult job i ever did on a Landie

obviously wrong arm

no actually it isnt - RTC6398 to fit a Gemmer 6 bolt box NRC8588

Cant you change the joint in your old arm?

3.4,6 bolt does only refer to power boxes not manual boxes ,how do you know its gemmer and not adwest manual box stc1044 would be arm for that

Cant fit old arm as I have to cut it off took me a week. Tried fitting new ball joint but no matter how hard I tried couldn't fit the circlip , I guess there is a special tool? Then decided to change full arm
I am sure based on parts lists and diagram that I have gemmer power box the adwest one has a piece of tubing around outside casings this latest drop arm is the right part number but splines just don't seem even near likely to fit

Just a thought but photos might help the experts on here to identify the box and arm etc. There also write ups on fitting the new ball joint circlips on this forum. I believe once the arm is fitted, the gentle use of a bottle jack can help.

have attached pics of the PAS box which i believe to be a Gemma 6 bolt and have the right arm that doesnt fit. also does any one have a good link to a site showing how to fit the ball joint in the drop arm

it is but number youy put up nrc8588 is a manual box not 6 bolt pas box