My steering has some places within the lock to lock range that seem to stick or get in a rut. I'm told it is one of the bearings and/or the shaft inside the steering box. Is there someone out there that rebuilds these as a service and has anyone had any luck dealing with them??? Thanks!
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Jim,
You might try Corvette Steering Services in Anderson, SC. I understand they make their own worm and sector units. You can either buy their parts or they will
rebuild the unit for you. Our local Corvette guru thinks there the best.
Regards,
Donald #31176 -
Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Jim, Try Corvette Steering Service. I had mine rebuilt by them. I have not installed it yet. They were great to deal with. Joe Deluca #37862Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Jim--
Do it yourself! It's almost always galling (pieces of metal that have fallen off) the sector roller. The ST-12 tells you exactly how to rebuild the steering unit--you can buy the parts from a number of suppliers. The most difficult part is getting the steering column out of the car, and you have to do that for someone else to rebuild it anyway!Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
I agree with Mike, Do it yourself. I did my '57 a few years ago and it is not too difficult. The worst thing was getting the steering column out. I had to pull the LH exhaust manifold and the radiator and Shroud to get mine out. Difficult to keep from scratching the painted tube when reinstalling. I advise getting new rubber gaskets at the firewall. Mine were hard and contributed to the removal/install difficulties.
Problem is most likely galling of the sector gear. Like anything else on the old Corvettes it runs into bucks, but what doesn't?
Good luck,
Ted von KampenComment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Thanks everyone!!! Foutunately for me, I had the motor out and the guage cluster too, made removing the column relatively easy. I started to try to take the pitman arm off last night, but stopped because it wasn't budging. I olied it up and left the pressure of a small puller on it over night. Any hints??? Also, I made some markings on the arm and shaft to reassemble onto the same spline, seemed like a good idea. While it's apart, should I replace any drag link components, or just clean and lube??? Thanks again!!!Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
When you get the pitman off you will find that there are 4 wide splines on the shaft so the pitman will only go on correct unless you are 90 degrees off rotation.
My Pitman came off relatively easy. It is a good sign that yours is tight. Just get a bigger puller is my suggestion. Use penetrating oil and soak so it runs down the spline into the grooves.
Good Luck.
Ted von KampenComment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Good idea to disassemble the drag link and inspect the balls and seats for wear, and the springs are probably weak by now; if you get a rebuild kit for it, make sure the ball seats have holes in them for grease to pass through - I've seen several of these kits where there is no hole in the ball seats, so the only grease they will ever see is what they get when they're assembled.Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Thanks to all. I have it all apart and there is a "chip" in the sector gear. I also just checked prices from a couple of vendors for overhaul kits, then I got up off the floor... holy cow!!!! $400-450 is there any other choice??? Assuming my second mortgage is approved and I get this kit, how does the worm gear come off, any tips???Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Jim -
Most of the rebuild kits come with the worm gear already pressed on a new steering shaft, which is why the '53-'57 kits (long shaft) carry a different number than the '58-'62 (short shaft) kits; all the other parts are identical.Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
The sector gear is pressed off, like an axle bearing.Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
if the bank doesn't approve the second mortgage, try local old time junk yard for a 49 to 54 chevy pass car steering box. except to slower turning ratio, the old 49's are what the corvette developers drug off the shelf when coming up with the pieces in house to build the 53's (vets that is)Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
Mike: How do you get the roller bearing races out of the box and cover AND how do you get the needle bearings out of the box and that cover without the special tools??? I did get a box rebuilding kit so I have all the new parts. Before I destroy the old needle bearings and roller races, I am considering just reusing them if I can't come up with a way to remove them. would a "normal" machine shop have the right tools??? I really don't want to "send it away". Any help from anyone is appreciated...Comment
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Re: C1 - 61 Steering Box
For anyone who may have been following this, I bought a small puller from PepBoys last night and improvised my way through removing the cup roller race and the two needle bearings, then carefully installed the new ones; the box roller race was in good to excelent shape and i gave up on it. all is reassembled, to be adjusted and re-installed tonight (I hope). Thanks for the help!!! JimComment
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