DAN82SED Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 alright guys, my steering has been feeling very vague and loose recently, and this morning wilst reversing round a corner on full lock i hear a very strange noise coming from around the pas box. any ideas of what to check before replacing it, cheers dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 My first port of call would be checking the nut on the steering drop arm. Mine had worked loose and was giving a vague feeling to the steering (well more vague than a normal land rover ). The noise, are you sure its not the normal PAS noise you get when you're at full lock and try to turn more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 cheers, will check the drop arm. the noise definatly isnt normal, i changed the pas pump 6 months ago but the noise i heard this morning is new, sounded like it was really straining even though i wasnt trying to steer excessively. any other ideas??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 33mm Deep socket IIRC Not got any more ideas about the noise. Can you get it to repeat the noise? if so what causes it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 alright, sorry for late reply. cheeked the drop arm, seems fine, but the ball joint has a lot of movement forwards and backwards. how much play is normal? ive moved it forward and backwards to show the play in photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 the joint will move around in all directions. If you grab it and swing around on it, can you feel any looseness in it? that would indicate that its worn and nackered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 it doesn't move much left and right but forwards and backwards it is very easy to move. is it a big job to change them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 it wont move much in one axis without moving the rest its attached too.... if that makes sense? Do they feel loose when you yank around on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 dunno, only checked forwards and back, didn't try pulling it. will have another look tomorrow, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 the movement you describe seems normal. at its a ball joint . only reason it doesnt move in the other direction is because its attached to things . Should feel smooth when moving and not have any/too much slack in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwcooper Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 The rubber seal looks split too me so its proberly worth changing/rebuilding anyway. Or you could change to a disco drop arm which doesnt have a ball joint. Just my 2p worth Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 cheers dave, the rubber is split so im going to change it. how difficult is it to remove from the drop arm? or would a disco one be less hassle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwcooper Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Drop arm can be a pain to get off but it will come off with a hammer, there is a thread in the tech archive somewhere about where to hit it. A disco one would be easier in the long run as there is no ball joint but....... You will need to replace the front steering arm with a disco one to match the disco drop arm as its longer, You will also need a steering damper relocation bracket thing as this attaches to the front steering arm on the defender where as it doesnt on the disco. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbs Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 This is a conversion that has been talked about a few times on here and I did this about 7 maybe 8 years ago now, instead of the usual 3-4 hours trying to sort the drop arm ball joint situation out and possibly cutting the damn thing off with an angle grinder to replace it, It takes me around about 10 minutes max now especially seeing as I copper slip the track rod end before I put it into the end of the track rod and I use a QT strengthened bar and the bracket that allows you to attach the steering damper to the bar too HTH John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disty Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Why the different design between the disco and defender? Seems so bizarre that you can swap them! How come the defender ever needed a ball joint? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantd5 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Drop arm can be a pain to get off but it will come off with a hammer, there is a thread in the tech archive somewhere about where to hit it. ........ Dave. Hammering the drop arm could screech on the threads (That is if you will be using it again) I think a ball joint seperator could do that job but keep your forehead far away cause there will be a baaaaang!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 cheers for all the info guys, the disco option sounds like a good idea but funds are short and the guy who sold me the landy gave me a box of spares which includes a new ball joint. would i need to remove the drop arm to change the ball joint or could i do it in situ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwcooper Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Im pritty sure it can be done in situ.......give it a go you will soon find out I may be wrong I dout you will get it off with a ball joint splitter, as they are well on there normally. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwcooper Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 It seems it is possible Tech archive thread Also about 3/4 down How to remove drop arm Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted August 31, 2010 Author Share Posted August 31, 2010 thanks dave, i did have a look thu the tech achieve but didnt see anything , guess its in the hands of the rust worm now! will tackle it on saturday (hopefully without picking any more brains ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon119 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 I had to do this a month or so back. The ball joint was so rusty i couldn't even get the bottom plate out when it was in-situ. Spent the next 4 hours trying to remove the drop arm, utilising all techniques mentioned on here, even borrowed the hydraulic puller from fork lift people next door but it wouldn't budge. Ended up having to cut it off and replace the whole thing. New drop arm complete with ball was only about £30. If you need you landy on monday for work i'd seriously consider buying a drop arm just in case. Hopefully you'll be able to replace the ball joint and return the drop arm. If i was to do it again i'd get a spare just in case. HTH Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN82SED Posted September 1, 2010 Author Share Posted September 1, 2010 cheers simon, got a work van so wont be needing it monday, goona attemt in situ. if no joy then wil have to buy a drop arm. the ball joint is cakeo in grease so hopefully wont have the same grief u had. famous last words Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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