63 Steering - a bit loose ??

[Keith W.]

Steering on the 63 is a bit loose, is there a way / fortaking the slack up on the steering box, I think I remember someone saying theirsa screw you screw in or out and that takes some of the slack up ?

Cheers Keith

[Jim S.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

First take a look at the top of the gear box. There should be an aluminum top cover with a screw and nut sticking straight up at you as you look under the hood. There should be three threads showing as the screw sticks through the locknut. If there are less than three threads, this means that the gear box has been adjusted in the past and there may not be any adjustment left inside the gear. If you have sufficient threads, then you could try the following paper.

This paper is in Microsoft Word format. I will eventually change it to a pdf document but not now.

http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/?p=810

Let me introduce this paper with this caveat. The correct way to adjust the manual steering gear box is by removing the box from the car and making adjustments utilizing an inch-lb torque wrench.

Lastly, if you gear cannot be adjusted properly, I would send it to a competent gear rebuilder. I might suggest Gary Ramadei (NCRS 14833)
Gary.Ramadei@radiall.com


Jim

[Keith W.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Thanks for that Jim - youre the man

[Jim T.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Are you getting any wheel shimmy when driving 50-60 mph?

[Dick W.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Pay close attention to the last page of Jim's excellent article. Make SURE the steering gear is exactly on center. I have seen several adjusted that were not on center when they were adjusted and the results were WAY less that optimal.

[Keith W.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

[Mike E.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

That seems excessive. I would check all the steering components if you haven't yet and make sure you don't have another issues.

Mike

[Gary R.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

If you have any questions let me know I'll be glad to help you.

Jim
One of the things I always do with a box before tear down is to check the on-center. I found the original center marks or the later D flats are over the place. I'm doing a '67 box now and here is the center mark at the center of travel, the pencil points to 12 o'clock. I always set them on center but I wonder if this was a wide window during original assembly?

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Gary,

When you check the on center do you do that by simply turning the worm gear full left/right and check that the hash mark at straight up position is the same amount of turns from both stops.

[Gary R.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Yes I simply mark full travel go back 1/2 way and most times the marks are on but one like this are off. There was no endplay in the ball screw or excessive grooving in the teeth that could cause this.

Box centering varies from one box to another. I had boxes from the same year where I didn't like the way a new set of gears dialed in and replaced them with another set only to find the first set dialed in perfect on another same year box.

[Edward J.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Keith, Along with the center mark on box at 12 oclock of Garys pic. it also important to note that the front tires should be pointing straight ahead. other wise the car will be driving down the road and the steering box will not be at center-hence a floating effect of the steering wheel. the play that your experiencing.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Keith,

Start at the wheels to check the wheel bearings for proper adjustment then drag link to check tie rod ends and idler arm. Work your way to the steering box and then make sure everything is aligned per the 63 shop manual before making adjustments to the steering box.

The alignment info is in the archives, it's important to understand that the steering box has a slight drag at the center position which keeps the car from doing what you report but everything else has to be tight also. As you turn the wheel full left/right the gears in the box are machined for slight play so the steering wheel returns to the straight ahead position with no effort, at the straight ahead position there is a drag (no play).

With everything set straight the toe adjustment will need to be set if the car does not drive straight on a flat level road.

[Larry H.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Steering on the 63 is a bit loose, is there a way / fortaking the slack up on the steering box, I think I remember someone saying theirsa screw you screw in or out and that takes some of the slack up ?

Cheers Keith

If you locate your steering box on the drivers side of the vehicle....you will see a large nut on the center top of the box...with a slit screw in the center....Loosen the large nut by using an open end wrench while having a screw driver in the slit....Once loosened....turn the slitted screw til tight and you really cannot turn any further......then back-off 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn....tighten the large nut and take for a test drive....might also be a opportune time to check the fluid in the steering box....check by removing the end top bolt...add if necessary the proper viscosity fluid.......You might also check the screws holding the steering wheel to the hub...under your horn button...there are six screws and they can loosen with time.
........Lawrence

[Gary R.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

While that procedure has been around for a long time it really is not the correct method to dial in the box. One important aspect is not mentioned and that is having the box centered before making any on the car adjustment. Adjusting the lash off center will result in over tighening and will accelerate the wear on the center tooth of the pitman shaft and will result in the gears loosing again without much adjustment left. I see this a lot in boxes sent to me, some with lower mileage. Another issue with that method is a stock box or common rebuilt box will have internal play in the parts.

You will not get the results expected unless the box is removed and bench adjusted. Keep in mind if the box is an old one or one of the "rebuilt" ones commonly sold today there are more issues then just the lash setting.

For lube, a quality bearing grease is what should be used. "special mixture" greases as some advertise are nothing more then a sales ploy. Gear oil will leak out past seals, new or old.

[Mike E.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Guys,
Would this the correct method for measuring lash? The center is the right orange stripe. Excuse the messy work bench.

Mike