Steering box questions.

Hi

I have a couple of questions about the steering box on my defender (its a non PAS type).

Firstly, its leaking fluid from around the drop arm, can it be rebuilt with new seals (i know you can get seal kits for the PAS boxes but haven't seen anything for manual ones).

Secondly, can i top up the fluid in the box? If so what oil should i use and where do i put it in?

Many Thanks

Josie

yes you can get a repair kit.
but its a bastard job to do. (not for the fainthearted).
better getting a rebuilt exchange one.

or look on ebay for a non-leaking one. ive looked at the overhaul procedure and it looks like a nightmare!

click here: http://www.landrover.ee/est/files/manuals/cars/defender/Def_90_110_WSM_book4.pdf

you can top-up using EP90. its the bolt ontop of the box, not the one dead centre, the one to the left. ive just topped mine up and i think it takes around 700ml. will keep topping up until a cheap non leak one turns up on ebay

ps. they go for next to nothing on there as people are always upgrading to PAS. happy hunting.

G

Thats fantastic, i'll keep toping it up with EP90 and keep my eyes open on ebay for a 2nd hand one.

Thanks for the advice.

Josie

i found a great manual last night on the tinternet and it says in there, only fill the steering box up to 25mm from the top... so dont overfill it! **** like that aint in the haynes manuals!

G

Might be worth a try with this stuff Lucas Oil Products (UK) - Heavy Duty & High Performance Lubricants power steering stop leak. I put some in my leaky power steering box two years ago and no leaks since. I appreciate yours is not powered but these guys also do other sealing products which may work. Hub oil is something else I have used to fix a leak with using EP90 oil. Give them a bell and find a local stockist, it's not particularly cheap but they do guarentee it works or your money back.

Thats great, thanks for all the advice guys, i've topped it up with EP90

Josie

Griffdowg said:

i found a great manual last night on the tinternet and it says in there, only fill the steering box up to 25mm from the top... so dont overfill it! **** like that aint in the haynes manuals!

G

Click to expand...

S'funny that... I was just reading the Haynes section about steering boxes and it says eggsacktly that - top up to below 25mm of the filler hole and use a dipstick made from wire to check the level, taking care not to use anything that you might drop into the steering box.

opps... where you see that? i couldnt even find the diagram for locating the filler hole. i guess i didnt look hard enough.

G

Ah, now you're talking - you won't find a diagram for locating the filler hole because there int one... the bit above is in the servicing schedule at the front