So here's the situation I have a Land Rover discovery 2003, last week after going over some really bumpy railroad tracks, the immediately started shaking and cranking but only lasted until I pulled over and parked the car..which was maybe 20 feet...got out and under the car to see heavy leakage of transmission fluid... I had it towed about a half mile to my house where it sat and drained all the transmission fluid from the leak... Now the car starts great sounds great but won't go into gears.. abs, downhill decent, and TC lights came on... No check engine light. After a few days I got under the car again to see if I can find the leak, I noticed that there was a piece unattached close to where most of the Leak seemed to be coming from..I asked a friend if he could recognize the part, he then told me it was called ("Steering rack pinion shaft to steering column") ... Now my question to everyone is...could this have been why the car broke down? is it the reason all the transmission fluid leaked out? the reason now none of the gears will catch once I start the vehicle? Is this a terrible problem and basically broken broken or worth fixing? Should I sell, what's a fair price to sell with that issue in its condition? I will try to upload a video or picture of under...

Other info for help pricing- exterior great, interior mint all black leather, 120,000 miles, had no prior issues 2003 LR discovery

Thank you in advance everyone

 

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The loose piece that you're looking at there is nothing to do with the steering, it's one of the driveshafts. The unit that it has come off of is the transfer case. The transfer case doesn't change gear when you're driving; it handles the delivery of power to the front and rear of the car. The end result is the same though, in that your car will no longer move.
I suspect that it wasn't actually transmission fluid that came out of your vehicle but the oil from the transfer case.
As far as repair goes, I don't know for sure but it may be possible to remove the output flange from the end of the driveshaft and reattach it to the transfer case without having to remove the transfer case from the vehicle but I have no idea how much that might cost.

 

Thank you man, I'm going to do some research on the information you've provided! Very much appreciated!! If anyone else has more info to add or advice on what next step should be taken.. I'd really appreciate it, thanks!!

 

That is your front driveshaft that fell out, you usually only see that if the double cardone joint breaks. For some reason the flange came off the output shaft. there is a nut that holds the flange on, I have heard of them getting loose but never coming off before. Rovers North has a good exploded view on there site.

 

If you lost Trans fluid I would bet the shaft hit your Trans and put a hole in the case. Look for trauma.

 

X1 ............ I tend to agree with Abran, look for further damage underneath. Losing a drive flange is a rarity where the nut has worked totally loose. When rebuilding the Cardan on the driveshaft it does pay to install new flanges, nut and felt washer. Problem is the splines on the shaft are hardened but the flange is soft ordinary steel with broached splines and does wear over time on the splines.