Steering box question
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Steering box question
Hey guys,
This weekend I pulled my steering box off and cleaned it up and repainted it. How often do these things go bad? A year ago when I last drove it everything felt fine. I did have a little play in the sterring wheel but since then I have completely rebuilt the front end. It will still be a while before the car is drivable so I can't do a rode test. Also while I had the box off I turned it by hand from the pitman arm. It felt a little notchy (Not smooth) but was easy to turn and know hint of grinding. Is this normal? And last but not least. The steering couplere ie.ragjoint was pretty rusty and the bolts were frozen. Should I go with a whole new one or just get that $15 rebuild kit? How much is the whole thing, and where can you get it? Hope this all makes since! :confused:
This weekend I pulled my steering box off and cleaned it up and repainted it. How often do these things go bad? A year ago when I last drove it everything felt fine. I did have a little play in the sterring wheel but since then I have completely rebuilt the front end. It will still be a while before the car is drivable so I can't do a rode test. Also while I had the box off I turned it by hand from the pitman arm. It felt a little notchy (Not smooth) but was easy to turn and know hint of grinding. Is this normal? And last but not least. The steering couplere ie.ragjoint was pretty rusty and the bolts were frozen. Should I go with a whole new one or just get that $15 rebuild kit? How much is the whole thing, and where can you get it? Hope this all makes since! :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: Steering box question (wadew10)
Here is the steering coupler. With normal driving, the steering box should give at least 100,000 miles of service.
http://store.yahoo.com/corvetteresto...sc-378-sc.html
http://store.yahoo.com/corvetteresto...sc-378-sc.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Steering box question (wadew10)
With respect to your steering gear, now that you have it out of the car, turn the input shaft. Does it still feel lumpy? If it does you probably need to have the gear box rebuilt. It wouldn't hurt to try to adjust the input shaft preload and then the side cover preload. There is a complete procedure in most C3 Corvette shop manuals. If the gear is still lumpy, a rebuild is in order. You can purchase a rebuilt gear for around $200 from the Restoration Store or from most Corvette suppliers. You could also do it yourself by purchasing a rebuild kit for about $70. Again the Corvette shop manual has some pretty complete instructions. Contact me if you need the instructions.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Re: Steering box question (wadew10)
Take the cover off and look inside. If all the grease has dried to a caky lump and it looks dirty and rusty... well, you know what that means.
If it still looks ok inside, put some lube in it and see if it turns smooth.
BTW, vette brakes sells rebuilt boxes for $150.
If it still looks ok inside, put some lube in it and see if it turns smooth.
BTW, vette brakes sells rebuilt boxes for $150.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 172
From: Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Re: Steering box question (wadew10)
Thanks for all the advice guys. I am going to pull the cover off this evening. Is rebuilding the sterring box something that I can do myself, or does it require special tools?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Steering box question (wadew10)
My Chevrolet Passenger Car Chassis Overhaul Manual is very complete on how to rebuild the steering gear. I can scan the 7 pages and send them to you.
You will need to remove the pitman arm from the pitman shaft with a puller. You will need a slide hammer tool to grip and remove the adjuster plug bearing race. You will need access to an arbor press to install the wormshaft bearing race. Lastely, you will need an inch-lb torque wrench (no larger than 0 to 100 inch-lbs.)
I have not personally rebuilt my own gear so I would rely on other forum members (who may have done it themselves) to tell you just how complicated it is. :smash:
You will need to remove the pitman arm from the pitman shaft with a puller. You will need a slide hammer tool to grip and remove the adjuster plug bearing race. You will need access to an arbor press to install the wormshaft bearing race. Lastely, you will need an inch-lb torque wrench (no larger than 0 to 100 inch-lbs.)
I have not personally rebuilt my own gear so I would rely on other forum members (who may have done it themselves) to tell you just how complicated it is. :smash:
