1996 LAND ROVER DEFENDER air suspension

57STEERING
12
FAULT DIAGNOSISREV: 05/99 VISUAL CHECK AND BASIC ADJUSTMENTS
NOTE: It is important that the following
instructions are carried out in the
sequence shown and the results recorded.
1.Road springs - check that road springs are
correctly seated and are to correct specification
for vehicle. For spring specification
See
GENERAL SPECIFICATION DATA,
Information, Road Spring Data
.
2.Ride height - measure trim height from wheel
centre to wheelarch eyebrow. Record results on
data sheet.
3.Check/top up power steering fluid
See Repair,
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
.
4.Check tension and condition of drive belt
See
ELECTRICAL, Repair, Auxiliary drive belt
.
5.Track rod/drag link - check condition of track rod,
drag link and ball joints
See Repair, Drag Link
and Drag Link Ends
.
If either component is damaged, check operation
of steering damper and steering box for
smoothness. Replace all damaged or worn
components that impair the operation of the
steering system.
6.Suspension bushes - examine all steering and
suspension bushes for signs of wear and
deterioration. Also check all fixings for torque
relaxation. Tighten to correct torque value
See
FRONT SUSPENSION, Specifications, torque,
Torque Values
.
7.Oil leaks - check front and rear axle hubs for
leak and repair as necessary.
8.Brake system - check brake system for leaks,
pipe condition, pad wear/contamination, disc
wear/condition.
9.Hub end float - check movement in the hubs by
rocking the wheels.
10.Check front wheel alignment. Vehicles displaying
a tendency to veer more than considered
allowable, it is permissible to set the front track
to parallel.11.Having completed all the above checks and
adjustments, road test vehicle
See Road Test
Procedure
.
Attempt to reproduce the symptoms established
earlier. If symptoms still exist refer to relevant
Diagnostic Chart.
STEERING LINKAGE INSPECT
NOTE: When inspecting steering linkages
and ball joints for wear the following items
must be checked.
Steering ball joints
1.Check ball joint rubber boots for security, signs
of cracking or deterioration.
2.Check ball joint assemblies for seizure i.e. no
movement on ball joint and associated
assemblies.
3.Check for excessive wear. This will be evident
as extreme movement on track rod and steering
linkages. Renew parts as necessary
See
Repair, Track Rod and Linkage
,See Repair,
Drag Link and Drag Link Ends
.
Steering linkages
1.Check all linkages for wear, deterioration and
damage. Renew parts as necessary
See
Repair, Track Rod and Linkage
,See Repair,
Drag Link and Drag Link Ends
.

57STEERING
4
REPAIR POWER STEERING BOX
Service repair no - 57.10.01
NOTE: A chassis undertray may be fitted
on some vehicle derivatives to conform to
legal requirements. When under chassis
remove and refit procedures are required, it may
be necessary to remove the undertray
See
CHASSIS AND BODY, Repair, Front undertray
.
General precautions
·Whenever any part of system, is removed or
disconnected, utmost cleanliness must be
observed.
·Disconnected ports and hoses must be
plugged to prevent ingress of dirt. If metal
sediment is found in system, establish cause,
rectify and flush system.
·Do not start engine until reservoir is full as
pump will be damaged.
·Metric pipe fittings are used with 'O' ring pipe
ends on fittings to steering box.
·Follow normal 'O' ring replacement procedure
whenever pipes are disconnected.
·Ensure compatible metric components when
fitting replacement pipes.
CAUTION: After refitting steering linkage
parts follow correct procedure to ensure
that road wheels, steering box and
steering wheel are correctly positioned relative to
each other when in straight ahead condition.
NOTE: When drag link is disconnected
from steering box, travel available at
steering wheel to each full lock is not
equal.
Remove
1.Site vehicle on level surface.
2.Apply park brake, chock rear wheels, raise
vehicle and locate axle stands. Alternatively,
raise vehicle on a hoist.
3.Remove road wheel.
4.Remove panhard rod
See FRONT
SUSPENSION, Repair, Panhard rod
.
5.Disconnect steering damper from drag link.
6.Disconnect drag link from drop arm, see J6305
on opposite page, using a suitable extractor.
7.Slacken, but do not remove nut securing tie bar
to mounting arm.8.Remove 2 bolts securing tie bar to steering box
and move aside.
9.Remove filler cap from power steering fluid
reservoir.
10.Position suitable container under steering box.
11.Disconnect feed and return pipes from steering
box and drain fluid.
12.Plug open pipes and steering box ports to
prevent ingress of dirt. Refit fluid reservoir filler
cap.
13.Centralise steering
See Centralise steering
box
.
14.Remove pinch bolt securing lower shaft
universal joint to power steering box.
15.Remove 4 bolts and 2 tab washers securing
steering box to chassis side member.
16.Withdraw steering box.
17.Clean all mounting faces, unions etc. prior to
refitting.
Refit
18.Position steering box to chassis side member,
ensuring locating peg is engaged. Fit tab
washers and tighten bolts to
81 Nm (60 lbf/ft).
19.Fit pinch bolt and nut securing universal joint to
power steering box spline. Tighten to
25 Nm (18
lbf/ft).
20.Secure tie bar to mounting arm and steering box.
Tighten fixings to
81 Nm (60 lbf/ft),starting with
tie bar to mounting nut, then loosen fixings by
one complete turn.
21.Check steering box and adjust if necessary
See
Adjustment, Power steering box - adjust
.
22.Refit drag link to drop arm and tighten nut to
40
Nm (30 lbf/ft).
Fit new split pin to retaining nut.

STEERING
5
REPAIR REV: 05/99
23.Fit panhard rodSee FRONT SUSPENSION,
Repair, Panhard rod
.
24.Fit road wheels. Lower vehicle to ground and
tighten wheel nuts to correct torque:
Alloy wheels - 130 Nm (96 lbf/ft)
Steel wheels - 100 Nm (80 lbf/ft)
Heavy duty wheels - 170 Nm (125 lbf/ft)
25.Remove plugs and refit feed and return pipes to
steering box. Tighten 16mm thread to
20 Nm (15
lbf/ft),
14mm thread to15 Nm (11 lbf/ft).
26.Remove filler cap. Fill reservoir to oil level mark
on dipstick, using recommended fluid
See
LUBRICANTS, FLUIDS AND CAPACITIES,
Information, Recommended lubricants and
fluids
.
27.Bleed power steering system
See Power
steering system - bleed
.
28.Recheck fluid level and replace cap.
29.With engine running, test steering system for
leaks by holding steering in both full lock
directions.
CAUTION: Do not maintain this pressure
for more than 30 seconds in any one
minute, to avoid oil overheating and
possible seal damage.
30.Test drive vehicle: using both full lock directions,
to settle steering components. If possible, drive
vehicle over uneven ground and include harsh
braking.
WARNING: Do not test drive vehicle on
public highway.
31.Drive vehicle in a straight line on level ground
and stop.
32.Tighten tie bar to mounting nut to
110 Nm (81
lbf/ft).
33.Tighten tie bar to steering box fixings to81 Nm
(60 lbf/ft).
34.Ensure steering wheel is correctly aligned when
wheels are positioned straight ahead.
35.If necessary, reposition steering wheel
See
Steering wheel
.
36.Road test vehicle.

FRONT SUSPENSION
1
REPAIR SELF LOCKING NUTS
WARNING: Where self locking nuts are
removed, they must be replaced with new
nuts of same specification.
PANHARD ROD
Service repair no - 60.10.07.
Remove
1.Remove fixings at mounting arm.
2.Remove fixings at axle bracket.
3.Remove panhard rod.
4.Using a suitable length of steel tubing, press out
flexible bushes. Ensure tubing locates on outer
edge of bush and not on rubber inner.
Refit
5.Fit replacement bushes.
CAUTION: Apply pressure to outer edge of
bush, and not rubber inner.
6.Fit panhard rod to axle bracket and mounting
arm. Tighten fixings to
88 Nm (65 lbf/ft).
RADIUS ARM
Service repair no - 60.10.16.
Remove
1.Loosen road wheel retaining nuts.
2.Raise front of vehicle. Support chassis on stands
and remove wheel.
3.Support front axle weight with jack.
4.Remove radius arm to chassis side member
fixings.
5.Disconnect track rod at ball joint.

60FRONT SUSPENSION
2
REPAIRREV: 05/99
6.Remove fixings, radius arm to axle.
7.Lower radius arm front end to clear axle and
remove from vehicle.
8.Using suitable length of steel tubing, press out
flexible bushes.
Refit
9.Press in replacement bushes.
CAUTION: When pressing in new bushes
press on outer edge of bush and not
rubber inner.
10.Fit radius arm to axle mounting.
11.Fit track rod at ball joint.
12.Fit radius arm to chassis. Tighten bolts to
176
Nm (130 lbf/ft).
13.Fully tighten radius arm to axle fixings to197 Nm
(145 lbf/ft).
14.Fit road wheel, remove chassis stands and jack.
Tighten wheel nuts to correct torque:
Alloy wheels -
130 Nm (96 lbf/ft)
Steel wheels -100 Nm (80 lbf/ft)
Heavy duty wheels -170 Nm (125 lbf/ft)
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER
Service repair no - 60.30.02.
Remove
1.Loosen road wheel retaining nuts.
2.Support chassis on stands and remove road
wheel.
3.Support axle weight with jack.
4.Remove shock absorber lower fixing and
withdraw cupwasher, rubber bush and seating
washer.
5.Remove four shock absorber bracket fixings.
6.Withdraw shock absorber and bracket assembly.
7.Withdraw lower seating washer, rubber bush and
cupwasher.
8.Remove fixings, shock absorber to mounting
bracket.
9.Withdraw mounting bracket.
10.Lift off top seating washer, rubber bush and
cupwasher.

FRONT SUSPENSION
3
REPAIR REV: 05/99 Refit
11.Assemble shock absorber components.
12.Position shock absorber, complete with bracket
and secure with 4 fixings.
13.Secure shock absorber lower fixing.
14.Fit road wheel, remove chassis stands and jack.
Tighten wheel nuts to correct torque:
Alloy wheels -
130 Nm (96 lbf/ft)
Steel wheels -100 Nm (80 lbf/ft)
Heavy duty wheels -170 Nm (125 lbf/ft)
FRONT ROAD SPRING
Service repair no - 60.20.11.
Remove
1.Remove front shock absorber
See Front
shock absorber
.
CAUTION: Avoid over stretching brake
hoses. If necessary, loosen hose
connector locknuts to allow hoses to
follow axle.
2.Lower axle sufficient to free road spring.
3.Withdraw road spring.
4.Withdraw shock absorber bracket securing ring.
Refit
5.Fit shock absorber bracket retaining ring. Retain
in position with a nut.
6.Position road spring and raise axle.
7.Remove nut retaining securing ring.
8.Fit front shock absorber
See Front shock
absorber
.

60FRONT SUSPENSION
4
REPAIR BUMP STOP
Service repair no - 60.30.10.
Remove
1.Remove fixings.
2.Remove bump stop.
NOTE: A chassis undertray may be fitted
on some vehicle derivatives to conform to
legal requirements. When under chassis
remove and refit procedures are required, it may
be necessary to remove the undertray
See
CHASSIS AND BODY, Repair, Front undertray
.
Refit
3.Position bolts in slots in chassis brackets.
4.Fit bump stop, secure with washers and nuts.ANTI-ROLL BAR
Service repair no - 60.10.01
Remove
1.Mark for reassembly position of rubber bushes
on anti-roll bar.
2.Remove 4 nuts, bolts and washers securing both
anti-roll bar bush straps to chassis mounting
brackets.
3.Remove nuts, bolts, washers and rubber bushes
securing anti-roll bar to both links
4.Remove anti-roll bar.
Refit
5.Position bushes on anti-roll bar. Ensure split
points towards axle on RH bush and away from
axle on LH bush.
6.Fit anti-roll bar with two straps. To ensure correct
fit angled sides of bar should point down.
Loosely fit the bolts, washers and nyloc nuts.
7.Fit bolt, washers and rubber bushes. Using new
nuts fit anti-roll bar to links and tighten to
68Nm
(50 lbf/ft).
8.Tighten nuts securing straps to30Nm (22lbf/ft).

FRONT SUSPENSION
5
REPAIR ANTI-ROLL BAR LINKS
Service repair no - 60.10.04.
Remove
1.Remove 2 nuts, bolts, washers and rubber
bushes from ball joint links.
2.Remove cotter pin and loosen castellated nut a
few turns.
3.Release link joint using special tool18G 1063A
as shown.
4.Remove castellated nut and link.
Refit
5.Fit link and castellated nut. Ensure ball joint link
arm points up. Tighten nut to
40 Nm (30 lbf/ft)
and fit new cotter pin.
6.Align anti-roll bar to links.
7.Fit bolts, washers and rubber bushes using new
self locking nuts and secure anti-roll bar to links.
Tighten fixings to
68 Nm (50 lbf/ft).