Ninety steering pipes - fix or replace

Hi guys,

The wheels are falling off my Godly chariot already
I will be more careful when I buy my next one! Anyway...

I have hydraulic fluid squirting out of the high pressure pipe roughly where it is connected to the pump. The pipe has a bit of a kink so maybe that has ruptured, or maybe the banjo? I have taken the pipe off and cannot see anything by eye.

Because my Landy's days are now seriously numbered (rotten chassis) I am looking for a cheap fix. So please can you tell me:

1) Can I disconnect the pump and drive it without power steering? Or does that put too much strain on it? Would I have to drain the box (which might already have happened) or disconnect the pipes?

2) Is it possible to effect a temporary repair on the high pressure feed pipe? Is there some magical sticky stuff that will last a few months, or even just a few miles?

3) If I can't find a hole then does that mean there isn't one? If I just clean it and put it back on then is there any chance it'll be better? (everything seemed tight when I took the pipe off so I don't think it was just loose connections).

4) People talk about 3, 4 and 6 bolt boxes. Mine has a triangular top with 3 bolts on the pointy bits and a slightly different one in the middle (got a slot in the top) and also another smaller bolt head off to one side. Is mine a 3 or a 4?

5) If I replace the pipe do I need to use the same type with a banjo end, or can I get a simpler one which just screws directly into the pump? I don't know what pump I've got.

6) It was suggested that a hydraulic company could fix my pipe for me. Can the modders recommend a company please? I'm in Hampshire.


Sorry about all the questions but I dunno whether to repair this properly (for the practice), do a temporary job, or what?

Any advice/links gratefully received. Cheers,
R

Pirtek will sort you out if you take in the old pipe

Daz

Seems like its power steering night!!

Cheers Daz. Have sent email to Pirtek in Guildford. Hopefully they can sort out my existing pipe at an agreeable price.

Mick, it gives me no pleasure to know that fellow Landy folk are having similar problems. Hope it doesn't turn into a race to the breakers yards...

Raith said:

Cheers Daz. Have sent email to Pirtek in Guildford. Hopefully they can sort out my existing pipe at an agreeable price.

Mick, it gives me no pleasure to know that fellow Landy folk are having similar problems. Hope it doesn't turn into a race to the breakers yards...

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Hope you get yours sorted. Mine wont be going to breakers just yet, its still cheaper to fix it than get a new one.

Raith said:

Cheers Daz. Have sent email to Pirtek in Guildford. Hopefully they can sort out my existing pipe at an agreeable price.

Mick, it gives me no pleasure to know that fellow Landy folk are having similar problems. Hope it doesn't turn into a race to the breakers yards...

Click to expand...

Pirtek Guildford are really helpful. I've used them loads of times for various bits and bobs. If you take the old pipe along they can normally make you a new one. Not too expensive either.

Shifty1962 said:

Pirtek Guildford are really helpful. I've used them loads of times for various bits and bobs. If you take the old pipe along they can normally make you a new one. Not too expensive either.

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You can often repair these yourself, if theres a split in the steel pipe you can cut it and put a 8mm steel compression union in. Banjos are cheap to buy try googling ssl diesel, get a new one and and join it to your old pipe with a compression union , do it up tight job done for about a tenner. worked for me

Repairing sounds like fun. But...

Is a compression joint suitable for the high pressure pipe? I read somewhere not to use for brakes. Ok for pas?

Banjos from ssl are either solder or got barb fitting. Dunno which you were talking about but assume the barbs are for low pressure flexible hosing.

Not done much plumbing, and never for high pressure systems. Not sure what I can get away with. Will see what Pirtek can offer before butchering it myself.

Nobody got any opinion on running without PAS?? Is it maybe such a stoopid question that it doesn't even warrant a reply? :crazy:

Pas is about 1k psi max, some cars can be a couple k. A new landy pipe will be about 20quid, hydraulic place with a flexipipe and the ends crimped will be about 20-30 quid. Compression fittings rated for over 1k should be alright.

Cheapest option would be to take the belt off and run without the pump spinning or see if there's a scrapper knocking about. If it does damage to the pump then who cares if you are scrapping it.

But since a tank of fuel will cost you an arm and a leg nowadays, then a 20quid pipe for some steering isn't much, is it?

I have a pump, and the pipes off a 2.5 tdi with all the pipes if you want them, need to be collected from north yorkshire.

Thx trax. Keith Gott quoted £60 for a new pipe which should be exactly what I need. Have seen cheaper online but look different (not as bendy and no banjo on the pump end) so not sure if suitable.

Not gonna scrap this baby. Days are numbered but then I'm gonna strip her down for the experience, and maybe a future rebuild. Not worried about damaging the pump. Was worried about damaging the steering column if driving without power assist.

Cheers pussa. Plenty of options to explore at the moment but if I need more pipes I'll know who to ask. You breaking one, or just leftovers from a previous project?

Get the part number and have a search on lrdirect, lrseries, etc, ebay or get pussas

Raith said:

Repairing sounds like fun. But...

Is a compression joint suitable for the high pressure pipe? I read somewhere not to use for brakes. Ok for pas?

Banjos from ssl are either solder or got barb fitting. Dunno which you were talking about but assume the barbs are for low pressure flexible hosing.

Not done much plumbing, and never for high pressure systems. Not sure what I can get away with. Will see what Pirtek can offer before butchering it myself.

Nobody got any opinion on running without PAS?? Is it maybe such a stoopid question that it doesn't even warrant a reply? :crazy:

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Compressions are fine for PAS, i have two on my system and been fine for last 3 years - they are steel ones from Pirtek, but you could probably get cheaper on line. Have a search for banjos on ebay - some of them have a long straight tail with a bulbed bit on the end, long as its 8mm and steel you could cut the bulb off and use compression on it. Its basically just plumbing, but in steel cos of the pressures.

Thanks Landy-ads. Might try and fix my old pipe, just for the practice.

I bought a new pipe through Keith Gott for £60, a genuine LR part # NRC 8290. Went to fit it today and couldn't get the bugger to screw onto the steering box. Must be doing it wrong. Shall enlist a couple of mates who are better at this hands-on stuff than me.

Hopefully get it back on the road, just in time for it to fail the MOT

Am back in the market for a set of wheels without too many mods, and a sturdy chassis. Will be checking the for sale section regularly, although most of the ads there get dissed pretty quick by senior members!

Thanks for all the advice about m' pipes!