Complete Steering failure

[bmxmetallica9]

Well the other day i was goin to the mall with a couple of buddies and as i turned into the parkin lot the steering made a click then as i pulled into the spot i kept turning the wheel back and fourth a couple of times to try and hear where the click was coming from and then the wheel turned halfway without turning the tires then i could just spin the wheel completely around and nothing happend..........I located the problem it was where the steering column clamp clamps onto the spindle coming out of the steering box......it was just spinning on that it was pretty tight and the spindle just wore out all of the sudden just like that good thing i wasnt on the highway..


I have a 95 D1 86K hard OME springs with 32 mt possibly selling it this spring(rebuilt trans and trasfercase last feb bout 3k miles ago)

so my questions are :
has this happend to anyone before?

is it hard to replace that spindle from out of the steering box i havent looked at it but looks like i have to take the box off?

and now my horn doesnt work cus i spun the wheel around like an idiot and was told after that there is a little wire for the horn and airbag and is this fixable?

and would it be leagal/ safe to just drill a hole into the clamp and spindle and just put a roll pin in it....that looks like it would be strong and safe but steering is kinda important to a vehicle in motion ?

and do u think i can talk to LR dealer and say whats up with this i could have died and possibly negotiate fixing this instead of my gas tank recall cus i havent gotten this done yet?

 

[D Chapman]

Or, you could just tighten the bolt.

 

[mkronmal]

and do u think i can talk to LR dealer and say whats up with this i could have died and possibly negotiate fixing this instead of my gas tank recall cus i havent gotten this done yet?

You are in for some major life lessons.

 

[justinhaaga]

another failure in the fields of the mall. that's one tuff terrian. whew.

for real, tigthen up the bolt? if it's gone order a new one and do it right.

 

[DiscoS2]

Well the other day i was goin to the mall with a couple of buddies and as i turned into the parkin lot the steering made a click then as i pulled into the spot

Your truck basically killed itself while trying to prevent you from taking it where it didn't belong.

Mark

 

[D Chapman]

for real, tigthen up the bolt? if it's gone order a new one and do it right.

If that bolt loosens a half turn, it will slip on the shaft. Obviously, it was not rotating on the shaft over time and wearing out the splines, or he would have noticed the steering wheel not being straight before hand...Just straighten out the wheel, tighten the bolt, and worry about the horn later.

 

[bmxmetallica9]

hey thanks for ur in put guys but that splines on the output shaft are warn and i dont like replaceing the steering box when i can just drill a hole and put a harden steel bolt in and double nut it........if tightend it enough so i can steer into my driveway but i wouldnt trust it on the road


the wheel was off a quarter turn to the right while it tracked straight but it wasnt loose that was because of me going through some thick ice in a puddle i rammed through and it bent one of the steering rods or something it just stripped all the sudden i know it sounds weird but its my sort of luck...seems when i have no money things decide to break and when i do they stay together thats why i need to get domestic vehicle that is easier and cheaper to fix ....until I get older and get more money cus my Heart is still with Land rover and will be forever haha

 

[D Chapman]

I would just take a steel brush, and clean the splines. I don't see how thay are wore on the shaft, when that is steel, and the coupling is alumnium....

I dont think I'd drill a hole, even if you could. I'm not sure, but that may be hardened steel???? That may just weaken the shaft.... I would not trust it. Not with my life.

 

[bmxmetallica9]

yea ur right since it is aluminum that is prolly the part that is warn im just impatiant thats all im 100% sure if i do drill it it will be just as strong if not stronger than the orianal design but id get screwd if i ever crash and they see that .....plus the fact that i unplugged my ABS since it was surely more dangerous driveing with it on than with out it ...trust me that ABS system scared the hell outta me

 

[lgoldd1]

Hey BMX,
I have a complete steering shaft off my 95 D1 for sale ($125) if yours is somehow defective. Its in excellent shape. I had to switch to a RangeRover shaft when I fitted headers on her. I believe a new one is around $300. Anyways, hope it works out and for gods sake please be careful around those shopping malls

 

[bmxmetallica9]

thanks but i wont need it plus i dont have that kind of money right now im still paying my grandfather back 3000 he lent me to fix my tranny and t-case last febuary after i blew that up cost me 4500 to fix it and i bought the rover for 4300 i never should have paid that much to fix it i bet if i try and sell it i couldnt get more than 2000

 

[tomelroy]

I had a similar thing happen on my 96 d1. going 70 mph on the freeway around a corner with a gaint rock wall in front of me....The wheel slipped and luckily cought after about a 30 degree turn of the wheel. From there I had about a 60 degrees of play in the wheel...then the problem went away and would occasionally reapper on the drive home. Tightened the bolt and the problem went away.... this is a bad design.

Its a damn good thing mine did not do what yours did or I would have been screwed.

 

[conquestor]

This exact same thing happened to me today with a 1998 D1 SE7!

I was turning into my parking space at work and felt a pop in the steering wheel then I had NO steering at all. I only spinned the wheel one or two times each way to trouble shoot that the link on the steering shaft was spinning on the steering box. I haven't got it apart yet to view the damage, but damn if I would have been anywhere but in a parking spot it would have been bad news.



I have been running 33" BFG's for about 3 years now and I wonder if that could have caused premature wear to the aluminum joint.

 

[95d1]

Rover make a new shaft thats made of steel to fix this problem. Do a search and you will find an after market shaft made by flaming river thats supposed to be bomb proof. This happens alot. don't drill a hole just put a steel shaft on.

 

[scottjal]

Yeah, I think I would be replacing it with updated parts to keep the steering going. You are also going to be needing the "cassette" thing that the wires go through for horn etc.

 

[alex]

this same BS happened to me off road. Get a new steering shaft, and periodically check the tightness of the bolts.

 

[Angel of Death]

This isn't a d2 problem is it? They've fixed it prior to 99 right?