neil110 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Does anybody know if it is possible to replace the earlier steering shaft with this, please? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STEERING-SHAFT-ASSEMBLY-LOWER-LAND-ROVER-DEFENDER-QME500031/262285989907?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35391%26meid%3D0877ab2def0142fca02df6151baa48e5%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D171851468349 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneandtwo Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 Yes, it is a straight swap but the UJs are not replaceable on the later shaft unlike the earlier shaft so if one develops play you have to replace the entire assembly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1607 Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 If you're buying a later style shaft I would get an oem one. I bought a pattern part (can't remember which make) and the UJs had a tiny bit of play but was very noticeable through the steering wheel, got an oem one and it was spot on Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 16, 2016 Share Posted June 16, 2016 I would stay with the original type that has replaceable UJ's, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted June 16, 2016 Author Share Posted June 16, 2016 My existing shaft has play on the joint in the middle and the replacement cost for an OEM unit is approx 3 times the cost of one of these units hence the question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 That joint sometimes goes loose after a uj or box swap, if you are not careful the joint partially collapses as it would in an accident and play is the result. LR say its a none serviceable item but if you get it on the bench and make sure its full length by gripping one half of the shaft in a vice and twatting hitting the other part of the joint (with a soft faced mallet) so its full length the play may well disappear. Its worth trying. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Rattler Posted June 17, 2016 Share Posted June 17, 2016 I bought a brand new original one off eBay for £15 last year, you still see them every now and then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 A used one on ebay now for 30 quid plus postage comes with UJ's too, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Defender-Steering-shaft-lower-RTC4738-Universal-Joints-Genuine-Land-Rover-/201603465045?hash=item2ef080bf55:g:RdgAAOSwNuxXXx8a more here http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=RTC4738&_sacat=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted June 18, 2016 Author Share Posted June 18, 2016 Thanks for the replies fellows. I have seen the item on Ebay for the price you mention. My thoughts being that it is going to be a minimum of 19 years old and for roughly double that amount there is a new OEM unit advertised in the same place. Which is still significantly less than the price of a genuine item or an OEM item from other vendors. http://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.php/91093/0/steering_shaft_collapsable_def I think having heard the wonderful news that the possibility of failure exists I am going to replace it with a new item. On the subject of the later type, and non changeable UJs it looks like there was an interim type which had at least 1 UJ which could be replaced. http://numcat.ru/landrover/p/31/53703/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 your original link is the same as item 10 in the parts link. item 6 is another variant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil110 Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 Nah, the original part is item No1 and in the few days since starting this thread it has deteriorated markedly. Now, when driving, it sounds and feels like it is about to fall apart any second. Though when moving it (the centre joint) by hand there is only a very small amount of play. Then again I don't imagine my hand is exerting anything like the level of force provided by the PS system I think given that the original item has lasted for 32 years (and 370,000 miles) and has had neither UJ fail during the 18 years (and 200,000 miles) I have owned it, I will stick with this variant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 By original link, I was meaning the webpage link in your question, not the part on the vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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