 | Home > Technical > Very serious failure of steering box! |
 
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| pathfinder Member Since: 31 Mar 2011 Location: lancaster Posts: 40  
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Hi all
My steering went with no warning at all, fortunately I was on doing about 20mph. At first I thought I had a flat tyre because I was turning a corner and the steering did not respond properly and the vehicle drifted, on closer inspection I realised that the steering box had failed and it wasn't until I removed it that I discovered the real sobering potentially fatal failure! The actual main shaft that drives the drop arm had completely sheered! This is what I was greeted with when I looked underneath  Click image to enlarge and this is what I found when I removed the box and the remaining part of the shaft fell out Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  One wife Livid!Last edited by pathfinder on 26th Apr 2011 8:38pm. Edited 3 times in total |
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26th Apr 2011 8:27pm |
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| ickle Member Since: 22 Jul 2010 Location: South Vendee Posts: 1827  
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'kin 'ell!
No chance the trucks been bashed / hit / rolled in a past life? 
Keith |
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26th Apr 2011 8:30pm |
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| pathfinder Member Since: 31 Mar 2011 Location: lancaster Posts: 40
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The box was off a discovery 300 tdi that had never been been used off tarmac, as far as I know it hadn't been involved in any serious accidents either!
The only thing I can think of is that the shaft had a flaw from new and over time it has led to this. A good friend of mine is a Non destructive testing inspector for BAE systems and tests aircraft parts for fractures and flaws etc so I will ask him if he can shed any light on it  One wife Livid! |
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26th Apr 2011 8:35pm |
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| Anderzander Member Since: 08 Feb 2011 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1000 
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He'll tell you its knackered.
I wonder if the oversize tyres exacerbated it. |
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26th Apr 2011 8:54pm |
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| pathfinder Member Since: 31 Mar 2011 Location: lancaster Posts: 40
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I thought that but some people run 35's and put their vehicles through harder terrain than I have and they run standard boxes! although it did make me think that I would like to fit an 'hydro assist 'kit from gwyn lewis mainly for the fact it would act has a fail safe? and maybe a rtc steering damper, that would at least keep my wheels in a straight line and stop me swerving into the path of oncoming traffic! One wife Livid! |
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26th Apr 2011 9:03pm |
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| Grockle Member Since: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Peak District National Park Posts: 2266 
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thank god it cause an accident 2.4 90 XS
1968 1/32 scale Britains 109 Pick up. |
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27th Apr 2011 7:01am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17612 
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Do you know anything of the history of the box beyond the fact that it came from a 300TDI Disco, for example, had it been replaced on the Disco and if so where did it come from?
I had a succession of dud boxes from Genuine Parts for my Disco2 which forced me to the conclusion that the reconditioners that LR use are (or at least were) really not up to scratch, but the problems always concerned leakage and/or incorrect reassembly, never a component failure like this. If this is an original box or a Genuine Parts recon box (and remember that ALL Genuine Parts boxes now are apparently recon) you ought to bring it to LR's attention since if there is an underlying problem it is not impossible that some kind of recall action is necessary. |
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27th Apr 2011 7:24am |
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| pathfinder Member Since: 31 Mar 2011 Location: lancaster Posts: 40
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I know little of the history of the disco in terms of replacement components etc but as far as I know the box was the original genuine parts box as fitted from new!
If this failure had caused a road traffic incident and a fatality no doubt the failed component would have been investigated further. I once worked in the aircraft industry and I know that a failure of a component this crucial would have 'downed' an aircraft and the investigative authority would have traced back everyone that had any involvement in the manufacture! One wife Livid! |
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27th Apr 2011 8:07am |
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| mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5070 
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I dont think you can draw any comparisions here. Its not a modern part - its at best 11yrs old but more likely 12+!! Its not fitted in the vehicle for which it was designed The history is unknown (both the unit and the environment its been subjected to) It could be a recon part already, or inferior pattern The list goes on And for the record - Britpart are some of the shoddiest parts - acknoledged or not, i wouldnt trust a critical component that is none genuine. Im glad no one was injured Im also glad its not a puma discussion and not a later part. Mike |
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27th Apr 2011 8:32am |
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| Alive Tuning Member Since: 01 Mar 2010 Location: Louth Posts: 610
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I've fitted (and had to replace!) no end of poorly reconditioned steering boxes in the past.
These were sourced from one of the three main LR aftermarket parts suppliers.
For some time now, I have been using brand new steering boxes, from Adwest (the OE manufacturer), and have never had any problems since. It costs quite a bit more, but you know it's right, and you only have to do the job once.  |
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27th Apr 2011 9:03am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17612
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After my experiences with Genuine Parts replacement boxes I would only ever buy a box direct from Adwest now. What miffed me most is that I ordered a new box from LR, and to me "new" means brand new, not a rebuilt box. They don't tell you that all boxes supplied through the supply chain are recon and new unused ones are not available through LR. I was not a happy bunny, and can only hope that things have improved since then (2008). |
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27th Apr 2011 9:33am |
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| pathfinder Member Since: 31 Mar 2011 Location: lancaster Posts: 40
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the box I fitted yesterday is an Adwest one and looks like it has been reconditioned, however because of the case of 'once bitten twice shy' and the next time I might not be as fortunate, and as I dont fancy the thought of meeting a truck head on at 60mph on an A road somewhere a New Adwest box is on the wish list also a RTC steering damper so at least the wheels will stay straight on loss of steering! One wife Livid!
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27th Apr 2011 9:49am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17612
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If you buy a reconditioned box directly from Adwest in Reading it will have been rebuilt to OEM quality and standards, since they are the OEM. If you buy one anywhere else you have no way of knowing who actually rebuilt it. |
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27th Apr 2011 9:52am |
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