I am posting this in the defender section as that is what I have but it would probably be appropriate to Disco and Series as well. Thought I would share this as it may be of use to others.
Rewind back to this time last year when I was prepping for the MOT and fitted a new Ball Joint Assembly to the Steering Drop Arm, all went well until I went to fit the rubber gaiter and realised that the flange on the casting that the gaiter locates on had worn away (not at all unusual by all accounts). anyway time was short so managed to get a small cable tie round it and passed the MOT.
Periodically since then however the gaiter has worked its way off the casting and has been pushed back on and held in place with a variety of ties / wires etc only to come back off again soon after.
Forward now to this years MOT prep and decided I needed to do something about the situation. Original thoughts were that the Steering Drop Arm would need to be replaced but several minuses to this plan. Cost, Pain in the Backside to get it off, time etc.
The solution? Replace the Location Flange
How? Made up the item shown on the pictures having measured the diameter that was left on the casting and allowed about 0.2mm to 0.3 mm interference to allow it to be pressed / tapped into position
The outcome? The rubber gaiter now locates securely over the new flange and is wires in place with locking wire
Thought I would share this with others because it changed fairly major issue into a simple quick fix.
