1969 steering box

[Bill Stephens]

I have my steering box on the bench to adjust and possibly rebuild. The worm shaft has a flat section so that when the rag joint is installed it is oriented correctly with the steering wheel straight when the flat section is on top. This orients correctly with the flat section on the steering shaft when the wheel is straight. The problem is that this is not the halfway point between where the worm gear stops on either side. Also at this point, the resistance in the worm shaft is lowest even though it should be at its highest for straight-ahead travel.

I've read the archive postings, the article in the restorer and the overhaul manual. I believe that the high point should be at the halfway point and this corresponds to straight steering, but if I hooked it up like this my steering wheel won't be straight. I am going to disassemble it, but I wanted to see if anyone had encountered anything like this before I do.

[Harmon Chamberlain (24961)]

Re: 1969 steering box

Bill
Their is no adjustment that I know of in the stering gear box to center the flat section. With the box rebuilt a front end alignment should include centering the steering wheel.
Lyle

[Bill Stephens]

Re: 1969 steering box

Lyle,

That's what I thought. My fear is that the steering wheel won't be lined up with the high point on the sector gear. I was wondering if this thing could have been taken apart and assembled incorrectly so that the two don't line up. Do you know whether that's possible?

[Duke Williams (22045)]

Re: 1969 steering box

First, verify that the steering wheel is properly indexed to the steering shaft. There are a couple of matchmarks and the AIM instructions should also explain proper indexing.

Next, check the tie rod lengths. They should be very close to the same. If not, add the total length of both tie rods, divide by two, set each one to this length, then adjust the toe to spec, and make sure both tie rods are close to the same length once the toe is dialed in.

The above operations should place the gear at its "high point" with the steering wheel and road wheels centered, or very nearly so.

Duke

[Joe Lucia (12484)]

Re: 1969 steering box

Bill-----

Is this car a VERY late 1969 (i.e. like an October-December, 1969 built car)? Earlier 1969's used a worm shaft configuration like 63-68 and had no flat spot on the splines.