stratplus

I replaced the front bearing seals on my 60. While the car was off the ground I noticed a side to side wheel play.

While the wheels are pointed straight, at 12 o'clock, there is no side to side movement when the wheel is grabbed at the 9 and 3 o'clock and moved side to side. The front end is tight.

When I move the wheels to the 10 and then to the 2 o'clock position and grabbed the wheels and move side to side, I have about a 1 inch play or movement from side to side at both the 10 and 2 o'clock position.

The car drives and tracks well.

Is any side to side wheel play acceptable?

Normal, not normal?

Frankie the Fink

I'm thinking that's pretty normal - perhaps Tom Parsons will weigh in on it then you'll have an expert's opinion.

plaidside

"When I move the wheels to the 10 and then to the 2 o'clock position"

Do you mean the steering wheel at 10 & 2? If so then that is normal.
When in the straight ahead position you should be on the 'high' spot of the worm gear. There will be resistance at that point, see the ST-12 for more explanation, then once you move past the high spot there will be play, this enables easier steering.
Joe

SDVette

100% normal.

The steering box is designed to be tight in the "straight" position, and looser on the ends.

Here is a great youtube video showing a rebuild:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx4y...ature=youtu.be

The 3rd video, in the last 10 minutes, describes the crown in the worm gear, and adjustment.

stratplus

No, I meant that the wheels are at 10 and 2 o'clock. Then I grabbed the tires and shook them back and forth.

Plasticman

Same thing. The steering box is off the "high point" at center, and it is designed that way (just as Plaidside and SDVette stated).

Plasticman

stratplus

Those are great videos, I have seen them before. I am familiar with the crown and have that when I adjusted the steering. I could never find a scale small enough, I found a couple but they where way off as to accuracy. So instead of doing the fish scale as shown in the ST12 I did the feel by hand. The steering wheel using my fingertips is fairly easy and through out the turn until it reaches the center point at the 12 o'clock position and then I feel the crown.

With the box being adjusted properly this is why I thought I might have too much play and that something else could be wrong.

Maybe this is normal. I guess the next time someone has the front end up just grab the wheels when they are pointed in the 10 and 2 clock position and see how much play that you have when you move them left/right, and let me know.

SDVette

OK, I re-read the thread carefully... You are talking about the WHEELS being turned to 10 and 2 o'clock, yes???? It didn't make sense - I thought you meant the steering wheel at 10 and 2!

Yes, by the time the WHEELS are turned 60 degrees, you are WELL out of the tight spot, and there is quite a bit of slop in the steering. This is true even on my just-rebuilt and adjusted (By Steve LuVisi) steering box.

stratplus

Yes, talking about the wheels/tires and not the steering wheel.

I am glad that this is normal and that I don't have any slop or issues elsewhere.

Thanks.