C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

[Dave C.]

I have rebuilt my steering box for my 1965 following Gary Ramadei's and Duke's articles/papers. I am at the point of setting the worm shaft and sector shaft preload. Duke refers to "notchy" feeling of the bearings - this seems like an understatement. When I use my 0-30 in/lb torque wrench on the worm shaft and rotate it the readings jump between 0 and 5 inch lbs through the rotation. After setting the worm shaft preload as best as I can, I attempt to set the sector preload and the total varies through a rotation or more between 5 and 14 in/lbs. There seems to be a lot of variation of the readings through the rotation as a result of the "notchy" feeling bearings. I am trying to film it and post a video on you tube - it is very difficult to explain. I used a corvette steering rebuild kit with under size bushings to achieve 1 thou side play on the sector shaft and ground the adjuster shims to achieve a 1 thou clearence. When the ball screw and worm were outside the box and asssembled it rotated very smoothly.
Any thoughts?

Thanks

Dave

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Dave,

If Gary see's this post I am sure he will respond. Did you replace the worm shaft bearings. I think the preload on these bearings is to much, try to back it off to 3 inlbs. or just to where the notchy feel is gone.

On the sector adjustment, you should see a reading showing the 3+- inlbs. plus some additional for turning the sector and then when the sector comes to center, adjust to add 5 or 6 more for a total of 10-11 inlbs. when the sector passes center then the reading will return to the 3-4 inlb. reading.

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Dave
Sounds like you have taken the time to build a nice box. The amount of "jump" you have in the TW is not good. I would remove the sector( pitman shaft) and see just how the ball screw & bearings set up. If you find the roughness still in there, as I suspect you will, it is either the bearings, pitted ball screw, or worn guides in worm.

I have had similar experiences and would not use the box with that much varience in the readings. With a new gear set I can go lock to lock and it sits on the setting with maybe a 1/2 in/lb change, most times it's dead on.

I have also had bearings that were bad out of the box. I have stock on them so it's not a problem for me to pull another set out and replace them, given you have a kit then you have to be sure what your problem is.

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Gary thank you for the response. The ball screw when out of the box worked quite smoothly. The worm shaft showed no signs of pitting but I did not or could not see inside the ball screw for any deformations etc in the guides. I will take it a part again and look it over and post pics. At has been fun if not frustrating.

Thanks

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Dave
Did you remove and wash all the balls (54) and then the grooves inside the nut? I have found the grooves pitted on nuts and when that happens then they're pretty much done.
Here is what I want you to do since you have the dial 0-30 TW. Disassemble the worm,wash it up good. Then install just the ball screw into the housing with your new bearings and see what you have. If the dial is smooth then the problem is in the ball nut, if still rough then you have bad bearings,races or the radius on the ball screw may be off.

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

All new balls were installed. I like your approach will do this Friday.

Thanks again

Dave

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Ok this is embarassing! I took the gear back apart and upon further inspection the top of the worm shaft that rides on the bearing towards the ball screw is pitted and un even. I spent so much time looking over the worm shaft where the balls roll I didn't even look at the other bearing surfaces at the end of the shaft. Gary I am guessing that this is not repairable and I need to order new internals.

Regards,

Dave

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Dave
Can you post a picture? Did you check the preload and feel like I asked above?

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Gary I will get a camera post a pic later. I removed the pitman shaft and as soon as I backed off the preload on the ball screw it rotated smoothly. I removed the nut and checked the bearing surface on the top of the worm shaft and that is when I noticed the bad pitting and uneven surface. There is no doubt that this was causing the real notchy feeling as you turned the gear. I just ordered gears from Tom.

Regards,

Dave

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Dave,

I think if you put that worm shaft in a lathe you can spin and have that race area dressed out while maintaining the radius. Machine shop may be able to help.

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

I finally got a camera to post a pic of the bad wormshaft bearing surface. I recieved the new gears and are having a hell of a time installing them. The wormshaft and ball screw are fine but the pitman arm is not dropping down to the bottom without a tap and then it is too tight. The bushings in the box are undersize for the old pitman shaft and may be too tight(?) for the new shaft. I ran a hone through the bushings as best I could but it is a guess how far too go. I wonder if it is better to start all over with new bushings and seals at this point.

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Dave,

If you don't want to try and polish the race area on the worm shaft why not use the old ball nut and sector shaft with the new worm.. Save the $$$ and send the other gears back if you can..

In the old set up how many threads of the adjusting screw were above the lock nut when the proper inlb torque was applied. Sounds like you spent a good amount of time with these sector bushings and if the other gears are not wore you may consider using them..

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Tim, I checked on using the new worm with old components - not recommended by all. Consensus is hone out the undersize bushing some more. I found my bore guages and I am going to get some measurements tonight for fun. This project has had a life of its own!

[Dave C.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

Ok, I surrender. I honed out the bushings and the shaft is still tight. When I measure the total preload 1 turn off center either way about 1/4 to 1/3 turn I register about 12-13 inlbs. When go through center it jumps to about 18 -19 inlbs and decreases again less than 10 inlbs at the far ends. Is this ok or rip it all a part again.

[Gary R.]

Re: C2 - Steering Box Adjustment

It's no good, way too high on the lash.