Steering wander can be caused by a loose or corroded steering box mounting. The damage can appear to be within the steering box itself, therefore it is vital to check the fixings before condemning the box.

Check the Cross-Member Bracket

The bracket the steering box is attached to is either welded to or bolted through the chassis cross-member. Check the welds for cracks and look for signs of local crush of the bracket against the chassis rail. If the bracket is allowed to flex under load then the steering box cannot function correctly.

Torque the Mounting Bolts

First check the torque on the three main mounting bolts for the Steering Box on your Land Rover Defender. These should be tightened to approximately 80 Nm, using a torque wrench and not a power tool, and referenced to your workshop manual.

Inspect for Corrosion on Mating Surfaces

Wire-brush both faces of the steering box mounting and inspect for pitting. If there are any signs of rust, especially deep pitting that would cause an uneven seating surface, then the mounting face(s) will need to be cleaned and/or repaired before the refurbished box is fitted or a new one purchased.

Look for Elongated Bolt Holes

Check the mounting bracket holes for wear. If the steering box has moved on its mountings at some time in the past the holes in the bracket may have worn to an oval shape. Check for excessive play by sliding a bolt through each hole by hand.

Check the Drop-Arm Clearance

Check for drop-arm clearance when mounted. If steered full lock, it should just clear the chassis cross-member, if not it will place uneven stress on the mounting points.

If you want a Land Rover Defender Steering Box, westernpowersteering.co.uk/vehicles/land-rover/land-rover-defender-steering-box/ is a good place to start.

It’s worth fixing the mounting before fitting a new steering box as you may find you have to pull the new box out too!