So it looks like I will have to keep the OF SC.

Noticed a slight vagueness in the steering the last few days, so dropped in to a local specialist, who think it may be the steering rack, and quoted an eye-watering price!

What kind of job is a rack change? Is it a nightmare, or just a nut & bolt job?
Are there different racks, or was it the same rack throughout production?

Trying to decide the best route forward, as the price of a genuine rack made my wallet have a seizure!

I had that and it turned out to be rear hub bushes allowing minor rear wheel steer - have you had 4 wheel alignment on a Hunter or similar would be a good place to start

I'm fairly sure that they are all the same through all years.

The job isn't the easiest to do. It might be slightly different depending on engine. The hardest thing is getting the rack out from between the engine and engine sub-frame, and the only real practical way to do this that I know is to slightly drop the sub-frame to get the rack out while supporting the engine. To do this, it really needs a scissor ramp and gearbox jack which most people don't have in their garage. Undoing the bolts and pipework is all very straight forward.

I'd recommend getting an independent specialist to do the job.

The racks are available second hand (I sold one recently that seemed quite good for £50) and you can get them reconditioned, though I can't remember what the price was for those.

Hope that helps. Current:
- 2013 L405 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
Sold:
- 2004 L322 4.4 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 2002 L322 4.4 HSE (having fixed timing chain guides)
- 2000 P38 4.6 Vogue (BRC LPG)
- 1981 2-door In-Vogue
- 1980 Ex-Army SIII LWB
- 1976 SIII LWB
- 1968 SIIA
Stripped for parts:
- 2003 L322 4.4 Vogue

Thanks for the tips

I'm going to get it up in the air at another garage to double check if it is the rack before I go any further

Had one replaced, original quote was an absolute joke. Eurocarparts do gen zf units brand new for much, much cheaper. I went with a recon unit with full guarantee for even less. my Indy did it in less than factory time.

My original quote from my usual specialist (very good, bit pricey) was £2700+VAT!
Genuine rack was £1870+VAT

Going to look into reconditioned units, and other local indies with lower hourly rates. Where I live you can spit in any direction and hit a LR specialist, but most of them are Defender guys. My usual place is the only one local that specialises in modern LRs. However, as this is pretty much a nut & bolt job, most places should be able to do it.

Odd situation around here. The local LR dealership got bought out about 6-7 years ago, changed a load of workshop policies, and virtually all the staff seem to have left and set up there own independent garages. I have 5 specialists within 10 miles, yet I live in a rural, sparsely populated area of East Anglia!

Spoilt for choice, iirc mine was supplied and fitted for £1060, originally £3200 + vat+ fitting

Check that the nut that fixes the lower steering column onto the steering rack splined shaft is fully tightened up. If the nut loosens ever so slightly it can lead to a slight feeling of loose play in the steering wheel. I had a similar thing on my FF which was cured by nipping the nut up.
When my rack finally went, I got a second hand replacement for £200 off fleabay and my local LR garage fitted it for £150. They were able to get the rack out and replaced without lifting the engine, by removing the main track arms and re-fitting them once the body of the rack had been installed.