So today my driver's side step has been strange. Open the door and out it comes, close the door, a little judder then remains out. I shut the door then give it a little help and it closes. It is all well lubricated. overfinch modified

Mine’s doing exactly the same. Passenger side working fine 2017 (67) Vogue SE Corinthian Grey

No matter how well lubricated it is I'd still bet money on it being a lack of PROPER lubrication.
A squirt of spray of anything does next to nowt, I've found on L322 and L405 the only way was to remove the bracket/hinges, dismantle as much as possible then soak them and work them manually until they free up.
They are a pretty hopeless design for a country that puts salt on the roads, there isn't a way to get any lube into the joints.

Cass is spot on, there are also a couple of joints that are higher up and easy to miss. I found that ACF50 worked well on ours, I used white lithium once I get them working well and that seems to have kept the water and crud out. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

Last edited by TJH1985 on 26th Jan 2023 5:31pm. Edited 1 time in total

Thanks for the replies, is this something I can do without ramps/axle stands? I.e. on off road setting? 2017 (67) Vogue SE Corinthian Grey

I’ve always done mine in off road height without issue. It does take more than a quick spray though, so take a warm cup of tea with you!

On mine it was the rear hinge, and from memory there were 4 axles to lubricate on each side. With some manual assistance to work them in and out a few times that got them working and I then did the fronts for good measure.

Mine only needed a very light pull to help them come out. Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

That’s great advice thanks. Can you “work them in and out” without disconnecting the actual step? I’ve tried pushing and pulling on the step without any movement. 2017 (67) Vogue SE Corinthian Grey

I just worked them in and out on the motor with some gentle assistance by locking / unlocking the car - I.e out lubricate everything, back in lubricate, leave it to work 10-15m while back inside and then back out and repeat etc I kept doing it until it could reliably do it itself then gave it a final soak over night followed by more of the same in the morning and then some lithium spay grease.

That’s just my experience, mileage may vary! Sold - Bell a 2015 MY16 Loire Blue Autobiography 4.4 SDV8
Previously George a 2007 MY07 Java Black VSE 3.6 TDV8
Previously a 04 MY04 Defender 90

Just to add to this.
What I did was flush the hinges out with WD40 while doing the open / close doors thing to operate the steps (the stuff running out was pretty brown / rust coloured fluid)
When all done I used a Wurth spray lubricant with a straw and sprayed that back in while continuing to work the steps in and out.
I now make a point of every other month I just get under there and give them a spray.

I've often thought of trying to make some sort of rubber shield to protect the hinges from tyre spray but never gotten round to that yet.

TJH1985 wrote:

Cass is spot on, there are also a couple of joints that are higher up and easy to miss. I found that ACF50 worked well on ours.

#2:

I use ACF50 on ours a couple of times a year. The passenger side sems to stick the most as used less.
ACF50 is great on all sorts of stuff left outdoors like padlocks etc, and is even OK on electrical parts.
All the biker guys use it for Winter protecton. Not cheap, but effective.  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?