Land Rover Defender Steering Box Reconditioning vs Replacement – A Guide.
What Reconditioning Involves
The Steering Box is completely stripped and all worn parts are replaced with new ones including new seals. All bearings are re-lubricated. The worm gear is re-cut to original specifications. The complete housing is then thoroughly inspected for any signs of cracking or corrosion. If the Steering Box has worn gradually but the housing is not cracked and the worm shaft is not badly scored then a reconditioning of this unit would be recommended.
When Replacement Makes More Sense
Work that cannot be reliably completed by reconditioning needs to be replaced by a reconditioned exchange unit or a brand new unit.
Cost and Lead Times
When a Steering Box is Reconditioned compared to being fully Replaced then the main cost saving is around £100-£200.
More on Land Rover Defender Steering Box can be found at https://westernpowersteering.co.uk/vehicles/land-rover/land-rover-defender-steering-box/.
Checks After Fitting
Within the first 50 miles of use, check for any signs of weeping from the output shaft seal. Also, refer to the Steering box component check list after initial use and check that the steering adjuster locknut is secure. The drop arm nut torque value will also settle down after the initial run and should be rechecked.
Either the reconditioning or the replacement of a Defender’s steering box will serve it well, provided that it has been correctly done and that the appropriate post-fit checks are made.
