SUMO-SS-1303 - Defender Drop Arm Conversion Kit, Stainless Steel (Part Number: SUMO-SS-1303)

Steering linkage conversion kit for Land Rover Defender - stainless steel SUMOBARS

The Gwyn Lewis 4x4 SUMOBARS kit is designed to convert the steering linkage of the Land Rover Defender by replacing the standard curved drop arm of the steering gear type Swan Neck with a straight drop arm from the Discovery 1 300Tdi.

The main advantage of this conversion is the elimination of the pressed joint used in the standard Defender drop arm. Instead, a replaceable track rod end is used, which is much easier to service and replace.

Compatibility

Suitable for:Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 / 130vehicles with a 4-bolt hydraulic steering gearearly vehicles with a 3-bolt hydraulic steering gear

Not suitable for:6-bolt steering gear;vehicles with mechanical steering.

Construction

The SUMO-SS-830 longitudinal steering linkage is made in the UK from solid 303 grade stainless steel rod with a diameter of 30 mm.

This is the strongest version of steering linkages in the SUMOBARS lineup, designed for both road use and heavy off-road conditions.The linkage has machined surfaces on both ends for easy handling during tightening of lock nuts.

The right-hand thread can be identified by a special groove on the rod and nut.The manufacturer treats the threaded connections with an anti-corrosion aluminum-copper paste from WÜRTH to reduce the risk of seizing the rod ends in the rod.

Advantages of conversion

In the standard Defender design, the joint is pressed directly into the curved drop arm of the steering gear. Replacing it can be difficult, and damage or dislocation of the rubber seal leads to water and dirt getting inside the joint.

After the conversion, a separate track rod end is used, so:

• the joint is much easier to replace;
• the ends can be serviced and lubricated;
• the seal of the end provides better protection for the joint from contamination;
• the reinforced SUMOBARS linkage has significantly higher rigidity compared to the standard Defender linkage;
• steering becomes more precise, especially on vehicles with large wheels and when used off-road.

Equipment

The kit includes:

• SUMO-SS-830 - reinforced longitudinal steering linkage (Drag Link) made of stainless steel;
• 1 × lubricated left-hand thread track rod end;
• 1 × lubricated right-hand thread track rod end;
• GL79 RHD - Eye/Pin type steering damper bracket;
• straight Discovery-1 type steering gear drop arm, RHD.

Kit weight: approximately 9 kg.

The kit options you can choose from:

- SUMO-SS-1301Kit with two Heavy Duty reinforced ends.

- SUMO-SS-1302 - Kit with two Delphi ends.

- SUMO-SS-1303 - Kit with two Lemförder ends.

Which ends to choose?

Heavy Duty - the optimal choice for heavy off-road use. The reinforced construction and larger tapered finger thread make them more resistant to impact loads. The ends are lubricated.

Delphi - mainly for road use. They have smooth joint operation and provide easier steering, but the manufacturer does not recommend them for off-road use.

Lemförder - a universal option for road and off-road use. It uses a metal ball pair with spring pressure inside, which better withstands impact loads, such as hits from potholes. The ends also have lubrication capability.

Important during installation

The straight drop arm has master splines, so its position on the steering gear shaft is determined by the design.When the wheels are in a straight line, the drop arm should be slightly angled towards the driver, not directly forward.

The approximate initial length of the longitudinal steering linkage between the joint centers is 92.5 cm.

After installation, the length of the linkage must be precisely adjusted so that when the vehicle is in motion, the steering wheel is also in the central position.

The tightening torque for the steering gear drop arm nut is 176 N·m.

After starting to use the vehicle, it is necessary to recheck the tightening of this nut, as the drop arm may settle further on the tapered splines of the steering gear shaft. It is also necessary to periodically check the tightening of the track rod end lock nuts.

Drop Arm = steering drop arm, not "lever";

Drag Link = longitudinal steering linkage;

Track Rod End = track rod end.