[ROVERNET - UK] Re: Rover 2000 SC Steering Box

roger matheson rogerdm at iprimus.com.au
Wed Sep 22 14:04:53 BST 2004


I agree with Paul.  The oil seeping from the idler bolt m eans that the
chamber is full and this would imply that the bottom seal is OK.  It is
important to check visually however.  I beleive Rover felt that the idler
should not be interfered with and that any fault should mean replacement of
the whole unit.  Holwever it can be reconditioned and sleaved with a new
seal just like the steering box.  Jack up the front of the car so that when
you top up the steering box, oil will get to the rear roller bearing.  If
refilling the steering box does not work, then I would suggest,
*    Is broken insulation from the heater box interfering with the
the movement of the track rod across the front of the firewall.
*    Are the top ball joints in the swivel pillar working correctly.  Again
a visual check of the copndition of the rubber boots should suggest if
water has got in etc.
*    Is the universal on the steering colum OK inside the car OK or is
something obstructing the movement of the shaft though the firewall     to
the box
*    Has the sleeve that holds the steering lock assembly around the
steering column dried out
*    Are the steering side rods ball joints OK.

As an alternative why not fit power steering , go the gym for body work or
fit a larger diameter steering wheeel.  Cheers Roger

Generally if a ball joint has failed than you will get slack in the steering
wheel.  Jack up the passenger side front and grip the tyre in the 9 and 3
clock positions.  Rock the wheel toe in and tow out and watch the steering
wheel.  There should be no slack.  If there is then either a ball joint, and
or the idler or steering box are faulty.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter Reynolds" <wreynold at uniserve.com>
To: <rovernet at lyris.ccdata.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2004 9:00 PM
Subject: [ROVERNET - UK] Re: Rover 2000 SC Steering Box


> I've owned my 1968 Rover 2000SC since July 2004 and ti has always had
stiff
> steering.  Even stiffer than my 1965 Austin Cambridge and I thought that
was
> stiff!  In looking at the workshop manual, the Armstrong steering also has
> an idler box.  The manual tells how to check and top up the steering box
oil
> level, but says nothing about the idler, even though the idler box shown
in
> the manual and on the car has what may be a filler bolt on its top.  When
I
> checked the level oil level in the steering box, I had to add oil - lots!
> The gears that I could see looked dry.  When I tried to check the idler
box
> for its fluid level, oil started to ooze out from under the bolt as soon
as
> I had it loosened about an eighth of a turn.  The oil that oozed out
looked
> like graphite in colour, but I was too busy trying to get the nut
tightened
> to notice the consistency of the ooze.  Can anyone help me with why the
oil
> started leaking from the top of the idler box as soon as I loosened the
> bolt.  And how do I go about checking further for the source of the stiff
> steering.
>
> Thanks.  Walter.
>
> Walter D. Reynolds
> 19753 Wildcrest Avenue, Pitt Meadows, B.C.  V3Y 1M3
> Ph:  604-465-6350   Fax:  604-465-6367
>
>
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