Hi guys!

We've recently bought a 96 Disco after owning one some years back.
It seems as if this particular part has dropped off the sway bar or suspension or something, I've got no idea what it is, nor does the local bush mechanic.
It would be greatly appreciated if you could help me out!

It looks like some sort of damper, as it's only held on by a rubber seal and a wire cable. But now the power steering has gone very loose, so it's a bit of a worry to drive.

In the photos you are able to see the grey rubber spot where it's broken off from, just on the diff side of the sway bar.

(Ignore the shoelace that it's tied on with, that's my attempt at repair!)

 

It is a damper, I think it is for the steering but not sure.





Your steering going loose is a different issue most likely.
Can you better describe your loose steering issue?

 

Hey Spike,

thanks mate, I thought it would be a damper for something. It looks that way. My main concern now is that by driving it I'll be bending something else out of shape because it'll have no counterweight.
It seems like a really cheap repair job, what do you reckon? Just a replacement weight?

The steering issue is more with the amount of play in the steering and is particularly noticable when driving at low speeds. I.e. to turn left I need more rotations of the steering wheel than usual.

 

I think you will be fine to drive with that damper off, I have no idea where you would get a new one either.

You can adjust the steering on the truck, there is a adjustment screw ontop of the steering box.
But before you mess with that check all steering components especially the pitman arm, the nut comes loose and then eventually falls of and you cannot steer.

 

I once wondered the same thing, and a friend of mine (who is a rover expert) says it's there to dampen vibrations from the front prop shaft, and that driving without it will not hurt anything.

As for the steering, Rovers are bad for steering box failures.