jusplainwacky

My steering column in the engine compartment is black and it should be the interior color. I was thinking since I want to paint it, that maybe I might as well rebuild it while I have it out.

Do most of them need rebuilding?

I found some pretty good video's on YouTube

I remember when I did take it out a long time ago, I had a hell of a time getting to the bolts much less getting them off.

I can't remember what else I needed to remove before I take the steering box and column out....so any trick of the trade would be greatly appreciated. I see there is some information on the ST-12, but I haven't looked at it in detail.

Vet65te

If the rest of your steering system (third arm bearing, drag link, tie rod ends, king pins, etc) are in good shape and you still have a lot of play in the steering wheel or, more likely, you feel some 'notchiness' when turning the wheel, then the column/box probably needs a rebuild kit. My 61 had a lot of 'notchiniess' over center and this is what the sector roller looked like. Can't remember if the correct term for that condition is galling or spalling but suspect it's spalling. Only way to fix it is a new kit.
Besides the ST-12, there are some very good writups on the overhaul of the steering column, I think Tom Parsons has one.

Mike T.

jusplainwacky

I don't have any "resistance points"....seems to turn pretty good. But certainly steers like crapola. I do have some play in the steering wheel. I can't quite remember but I think it's 3 inches from either direction fore I feel some resistance.

Vet65te

If your steering box is relatively smooth in operation and the rest of your steering setup is fresh then you might try to make the two adjustments to the box to see if that tightens it up for you. Most people try to get by with the simple lash adjustment but if you read up on it in the ST-12, you should really disconnect the drag link and then go through the steps needed to make both adjustments. Otherwise you could end up damaging the sector roller shown in the pic above. Unless you have the experience to know what the 'feel' is when tightening up the worm and lash adjustments that Tom Parsons and some others have, you'll need to have a decent 'fish-scale' handy.
Mike T.

jusplainwacky

It doesn't sound complicated, however it does sound like you can easily screw it up. On the video's on YouTube the guy shows how to adjust the center, and it seems pretty straight forward, however the column and box are out of the car. I'm pretty confident that mine hasn't been adjust this way. I haven't read the ST-12 yet...but should be interesting to read how to adjust it all.
I know when I was driving the car, the tires tracked very groove in the road to the point of being scary.

62Jeff

I don't believe the steering column is painted interior color, except under the dash, after 1957.

jusplainwacky

Hey Jeff....from the research I have done, my understanding is that it should be interior color all the way to the steering box....not sure if that includes the steering box also.
Let me know if you find anything that says the contrary. Mine was red at one time. I also read this on this forum.

62Jeff

Ok. Maybe it's different for 58. In 62 it definitely is as I described.

I also still owe you measurements of my 62 steering support-to-core support distance, but I haven't been in that garage in a few weeks.

Frankie the Fink

My front end guy, Malone, been in the biz for 1/2 century felt my '61s steering when aligning it a couple of years ago and when I asked him about tweaking the box adjustments. He said, "...if you're smart you'll leave it alone". I have a couple of inches of play in the steering wheel and he felt that actually wasn't bad in these old cars.

jusplainwacky

I would normally leave it alone, however if I have to paint it, I might as well rebuild it.

Frankie the Fink

Somebody on here left some good info on the box rebuild...don't know if it was Tom Parsons (DZAuto) or JohnZ or somebody else...

jusplainwacky

The YouTube shows it in great detail.

Frankie the Fink

Found it! Here ya go. I suppose you DO know not to put that original thin oil back in the box (there is a Service Bulletin about this).

jusplainwacky

LOL...I don't know much about this steering column/box. So to answer your question. NO...but I guess I do now. I'll have to read that also.

SDVette

Good advise about leaving it alone if it's OK... After it's 30 year hibernation, the steering on my '61 was a little sloppy, but OK. I tightened the adjustment, and it initially felt better.. but it quickly became 'notchy' after that. Quick, like 100 miles quick. Backing it off made it scary.

It's great now - after a total rebuild!

So my advise is if the steering is decent, leave it alone. If not, be prepared to rebuild the box.

jusplainwacky

Rebuilding the box didn't look too intimating to me...especially with the YouTube videos...and it's one of those things that as you take it apart, you watch how it goes back together. I just thought it would be a lot easier to paint the column if it was out of the car.

rich5962

I just did a complete rebuild on a '61 steering box using the Deluxe kit. You will need some special pullers to get some bearings and races out.

Inside this link are some photos. Here.

I have about a hundred pics of the rebuild stored in my archive of the build.

Rich
p.s. I'll check my notes, but I believe your '58 column should be black except for a foot or so from the top, to just under the cluster. '53-'57 were interior color to the gearbox, which was black.

jusplainwacky

From the C1 registry, there is a car that was the 6,213 car built and the steering column color is the same as the interior.
http://www.c1registry.com/index.php?...tte&car_id=661
Here is another discussion about the color on the Forum
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...umn-color.html

wilbur

My 77xx still has the original blue paint all the way down to the steering box

jusplainwacky

Hey Wilbur....can you POST a picture? I'd be interested in seeing it.