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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7686  
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bubbly fluid too?
sounds like pump is going/gone, probably injested some of the failed parts from the box. i have use recon units from Replace a Part, branch of D44. Speak to Jon at RAP. Cheers James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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21st Apr 2017 9:55am |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4401 
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Hi Will. I have literally just been through this with my 2003 defender. I opted for a brand new Adwest box (including drop arm) from Island4x4 and I have no complaints at all. I also replaced the pump at the same time as it had a leak as well.
Previously i have gone down the reconditioned route three or four times and all bar one have leaked within a year. These were exchange items with large and established reputable online shops. The worst was on the older 200tdi (same. Is as a TD5) which took three replacement reconditioned boxes before I got one that did not leak once fitted. The amount of time wasted on replacing one with another with another with another taught me a very valuable lesson... Buy new PAS box next time you need it.... Whilst you are under there it is a good time to check your track rod ends for play, replace as necessary they are not expensive. Also check your steering damper, if it is original it is probably a gas-less oil-less tube with no bushes by now. I advise replacing with an Old Man Emu item, dear-ish but definitely worth the cost. Do not go for the britpart cellular orange things, utterly dreadful feel. You may also require a steering UJ kit if yours are worn or seized. Whilst your wheels are up in the air but before the nuts are loosened check the bearings for play by rotating (listening for rumbling or screeching dry bearings) and rocking back and forth across the tyre (listening feeling for play thud thud sounds). Check tyre pressures are correct - for a TD5 110 28 front and 45 rear works well although if hard on the rear then drop to 40. After all is back as it should be take it down to your local for a four way wheel alignment. |
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21st Apr 2017 10:03am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7686
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i have run recon units from D44 for 10-15 years now and not had problems with them on 5 vehicles that have had them fitted. on 6th vehicle they were a service item, a Trayback which used to destroy any box (recon or new) - usually at King Of Wales but then there were lots of rocks and speed. (fitting hydro assist took the punch out of the impacts and not changed a box since on that vehicle).
i guess it depends who reconditions it. if your going to the trouble or arms et al, then consider replacing with disco drop arm that takes a std TRE and using disco track rod. much better setup than std def fitment. Cheers James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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21st Apr 2017 10:09am |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4401
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Hi James. I have absolutely no doubt that it is down to the person/company who reconditioned the PAS box, incidentally the company I bought from was not D44, much like reconditioned gear boxes. I guess the reason for the reluctance to fit reconditioned boxes is more down to my time being utterly precious and the notion of repeating the same task three or four times hoping for a different outcome, ludicrous... What's the saying.... The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome... Anyway I am pretty sure that is an Einstein quote. |
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21st Apr 2017 10:34am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7686
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agree. would you fit an Ashcroft recon gearbox? Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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21st Apr 2017 3:36pm |
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| geobloke Member Since: 06 Nov 2012 Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 4401
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I have done and fingers crossed no issues yet. Front diff is on 7 years, Transfer box is on four years and r380 is on 1 year. I know that Syncro gearboxes are apparently pretty good but I have no first hand experience of them. Ashcroft have always been good to me, great service, advice, if a little expensive. I know some folks have had unfortunate experiences with them, but not I.
Why do you ask? |
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21st Apr 2017 8:48pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16879 
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I had a succession of replacement steering boxes fitted by a main dealer to my Disco 2 as its warranty was coming to an end, which out me off recon boxes for life. At that time (and may be now) if you bought a "new" steering box from LR it was a reconditioned box, you were given no indication of this and no option for a brand new one. It also appeared that LR had given the reconditioning contract to the lowest bidder and had no QA in place. One had blasting sand stuck on the outside painted over, all leaked, one had the lower oil seal fitted on the skew. If I recall correctly I got through 3 in a year, and every one had visible defects that meant it shouldn't have been fitted. All were changed under warranty, the first under the vehicle's 3 year warranty, the subsequent ones under the one year warranty for the first repair. When the last one started squirting fluid 3 days or so after the 1 year warranty expired, I fitted a genuine Adwest box which has now been fine for 12 years and 150k miles.
The final LR supplied leaky box I overhauled myself and is now in the spares mountain awaiting the day it is needed. I would sooner buy a box off a breaker which I know has never been reconditioned than one which has been overhauled by anyone other than Adwest. Incidentally I thought Adwest had been taken over and had a name change, and no longer sold to the general public. As far as I know they still manufacture and recondition these boxes. I may be wrong though, anyone know? |
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21st Apr 2017 11:11pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7686
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i asked to make the point some reconditioned kit is superb, they are an example as you have seen Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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22nd Apr 2017 12:22pm |
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| Williamraff Member Since: 19 Mar 2017 Location: Leeds Posts: 40 
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Thanks for all the responses, I am thinking an eBay £150.00 special is probably going to be a false economy on a vehicle that I want to keep.
I spoke to Adwest - Magal Engineering direct and they advise that " All lines have been taken down" but I am still able to purchase through Land Rover Caterpillar, Britpart, Allmakes ?? I can replace a steering box but I have neither the time nor the inclination to do it more than once so I will try and source an Adwest box. I have searched and the prices seem to vary quite significantly for the same box for my application? If anyone knows of a good (cheapest) price for a new - not remanufactured steering box for a 2006 Td5 I would be very interested to hear it 
Many thanks, Will  |
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22nd Apr 2017 4:44pm |
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| Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2078 
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I bought my new box from paddocks, an Adwest steering box, complete with Adwest plate and serial number, in a Britpart cardboard box.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. |
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22nd Apr 2017 5:13pm |
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