Daan Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 I just saw this on the SP site: https://www.sp-4x4.com/QAF500110_POWER_STEERING_BOX_FOR_DEFENDER_p/qaf500110.htm That does not look like a Landrover box, but rather a re-engineered box made to fit a land rover: After a bit of digging I found this: Looks like a Mitsubishi Shogun steering box that has been re-engineered. Looks like a good idea, The landrover box is not the greatest bits of engineering by any standard. Competitive on the pennys as well, anyone knows more? Daan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Intriguing, although you'd think they could afford to get the brackets lasered or something rather than hacked out with a chisel as those appear to be Wonder how the strength & reliability compares? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted November 6, 2023 Share Posted November 6, 2023 Up close some of the casting looks pre enjoyed and painted over. I wonder if the welding would affect the dimensions or accuracy (bent) I would prefer to see an intermediate adaptor bracket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 12 hours ago, smallfry said: Up close some of the casting looks pre enjoyed and painted over. I wonder if the welding would affect the dimensions or accuracy (bent) Indeed, I'm curious about the process here - are they brand new castings taken & modified or refurb units given a quick wipe with a rag & rattle-canned black? Same question with the internals I guess - you might hope they're just tweaking the specs of the Mitsubishi box during manufacture, taking blanks and just machining the correct splines on the end instead of the Mitsu ones. The finish on these gives off a very "made in a hut by a guy wearing sandals" vibe which is a shame if the units are genuinely stronger & more reliable with no mods needed to fit them. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 The quote from the SP site says its a brand new build. Quote This is not to be mistaken for a reconditioned unit, this is a complete brand new unit that is available as an outright purchase with no messing about with surcharges and sending your old steering box back etc. Also being brand new, there is no need to worry about the quality of a "Reconditioned" steering box. Over the years we have fitted many reconditioned steering boxes (as new ones have always been so expensive) and it has been pretty much pot luck whether you get one that works without leaking. So no need to worry if the re con company has properly re chromed the inner shaft or replaced all the wearing parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 45 minutes ago, landroversforever said: The quote from the SP site says its a brand new build. Yes I did read it - if it's brand new it sure looks like it's been painted using a dead rat on a stick without wiping the swarf off the box first... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted November 7, 2023 Author Share Posted November 7, 2023 They are sand castings, then painted over. The surface is a bit rough, I would like to see the internals. At the price, it is probably Chinese or Indian-made, I suppose someone needs to try one and report to all of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 I considered one in May this year but decided to get my Adwest rebuilt with a new chromed worm. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmmv Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 (edited) 1 minute ago, Peaklander said: I considered one in May this year but decided to get my Adwest rebuilt with a new chromed worm. May I ask who did it, and was it satisfactory? Edited November 7, 2023 by fmmv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 Of course. It was these people In Birmingham. I had saved the details following a recommendation on here. It was an exchange box and I paid extra for a new worm. Yes it’s been fine www.dasteeringltd.co.uk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted November 7, 2023 Share Posted November 7, 2023 3 hours ago, Daan said: They are sand castings, then painted over. The surface is a bit rough, I would like to see the internals. At the price, it is probably Chinese or Indian-made, I suppose someone needs to try one and report to all of us. You can see, if you look close up, that the flange is a steel cutout that has been welded on, probably after some of the casting has been cut away. There are also some grinder nicks, from the cleaning up. They may well be new castings, but to me look like they have been bought in and modified, presumably as a complete unit, and my concern would be distortion of the machined surfaces. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mossberg Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 15 hours ago, Peaklander said: Of course. It was these people In Birmingham. I had saved the details following a recommendation on here. It was an exchange box and I paid extra for a new worm. Yes it’s been fine www.dasteeringltd.co.uk Is it too cheeky to ask the price of your replacement unit? It would be interesting to see a comparison against othe refurb unit costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 16 hours ago, Peaklander said: Of course. It was these people In Birmingham. I had saved the details following a recommendation on here. It was an exchange box and I paid extra for a new worm. Yes it’s been fine www.dasteeringltd.co.uk Reading there site, they seem to specialise in worm gears too, not a bad thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 I paid a total of £348 incl VAT and delivery. £210 for the exchange £114 for the new shaft option £24 carriage The surcharge was (an additional) £120 and was repaid within a few days of me sending the old unit to them. I needed to keep my drop arm and paid Matt Savage some beer money to use his puller! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fmmv Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 If they've done a proper job, and it sounds like they have, it seems very reasonable. You have just given it a good test with your Greek trip @Peaklander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted November 8, 2023 Share Posted November 8, 2023 Yes and I fitted it a week or so before the trip to the French Alps in late May / June, so that's two big workouts. I feel that it might be a be tiny bit over sensitive but adjusting is a long way down my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneandtwo Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 I paid £30 per sector shaft to get rechromed, rebuilt two boxes myself, all new bearings and seals, and they have been absolutely perfect and leak free in at least two years of daily use. Only snag is the company in Cheshire that did the excellent rechroming and grinding on the sector shafts have now closed down to retirement, as I have another three I want rechroming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mik711 Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 Just fitted one of the truwsteer boxes to my 90 v8 conversion and it's not quite a straight swap. Where the steering wheel U/J attaches are 4 bolt heads not present on the original box so I had to "adjust" the chassis fillet around the shock with a big hammer. Other than that I can't report on how it feels as I've got to get the megasquirt finished hopefully this weekend and then MOT time. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 58 minutes ago, mik711 said: Just fitted one of the truwsteer boxes to my 90 v8 conversion and it's not quite a straight swap. Where the steering wheel U/J attaches are 4 bolt heads not present on the original box so I had to "adjust" the chassis fillet around the shock with a big hammer. Other than that I can't report on how it feels as I've got to get the megasquirt finished hopefully this weekend and then MOT time. Good to know we have one being tested in our midst, please let us know how you get on. Regards, Daan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 Yes indeed. One question I have is around the ratio, and if there are options, just thinking what will happen when my quick ratio adwest box gives up.... Will email and find out. Normal ratio is far too slow for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 4 minutes ago, Bowie69 said: Yes indeed. One question I have is around the ratio, and if there are options, just thinking what will happen when my quick ratio adwest box gives up.... Will email and find out. Normal ratio is far too slow for me. What's the ratio compared to a standard adwest box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 1 hour ago, landroversforever said: What's the ratio compared to a standard adwest box? I think it is one less turn lock to lock. But then I don't know what a standard box is to compare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 1 hour ago, Bowie69 said: Yes indeed. One question I have is around the ratio, and if there are options, just thinking what will happen when my quick ratio adwest box gives up.... Will email and find out. Normal ratio is far too slow for me. You could always lengthen the drop arm...... Regards Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 7 minutes ago, Stellaghost said: You could always lengthen the drop arm...... Regards Stephen You could Stephen, you could 😛 I'd not be confident in doing something so critical. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 You can buy a longer drop arm off the shelf. Alternatively, in Comp safari I have seen people drilling another hole in the drop arm which is part of the swivel housing, to make the arm shorter. Neither I fancy much, as the steering box is already prone to breaking in standard form. Would be good to know how the truw steer compares. Daan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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