Replace steering gear now or try and adjust lash?
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 50
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From: Port Washington Wi
Replace steering gear now or try and adjust lash?
Got my rag joint apart but there is a lot of slop on the input shaft of the steering gear ( 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock). I was planning on following Jim Shea's paper on adjusting the bearings, but got to wondering if that much slop can be adjusted away or whether I should replace the steeing gear while I have everything apart. I've checked the grease in the gear and it is full. Your opinions would be most welcome.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Do you have any threads visible sticking out from the lock nut in the center of the top cover? There should be about three threads showing. If there are no threads showing, it means that there is no adjustment left and the gear should be rebuilt with new parts.
Jim
Jim
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,179
Likes: 3,999
From: Connecticut, USA
Stock built or rebuilt boxes will have slop in several areas that needs to be addressed. You can try an adjustment on the lash if you want, the best way is to remove it and check/adjust it. I set the preload without the pitman shaft in the box.
You can see if my thread on rebuilding these is still here otherwise you'll find it elsewhere.
Good luck.
You can see if my thread on rebuilding these is still here otherwise you'll find it elsewhere.
Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Got my rag joint apart but there is a lot of slop on the input shaft of the steering gear ( 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock). I was planning on following Jim Shea's paper on adjusting the bearings, but got to wondering if that much slop can be adjusted away or whether I should replace the steeing gear while I have everything apart. I've checked the grease in the gear and it is full. Your opinions would be most welcome.
I did overadjust on my first attempt and I didn't have very good return of the wheel to center after making a turn, but I got it right on the second attempt. I also had to center the steering system by adjusting the tie rods to put everything back on center including the steering wheel. Now the tires, steering wheel, steering gear and rag joint are all aligned on TDC when the car is going straight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
If you are to try and adjust the sector shaft by turning the screw in the center of the top cover, you must make the adjustment with the gear exactly on center. The gear set inside the gear has a high spot right on center. When you turn the steering wheel off center there is clearance between the gear teeth that is there by design. If you try to make the adjustment off center (eliminating that clearance) the gearset can be damaged as it comes back to center.
I know that Gary and I have a disagreement about making a careful in-car adjustment.
And there is no question that the correct way to make adjustment(s) is with the car out of the car and an inch-lb torque wrench.
But here is my in-car gear adjustment paper, written from information gleaned from various Steering Gear retired engineers and from my own experience.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...erev14no08.doc
Jim
I know that Gary and I have a disagreement about making a careful in-car adjustment.
And there is no question that the correct way to make adjustment(s) is with the car out of the car and an inch-lb torque wrench.
But here is my in-car gear adjustment paper, written from information gleaned from various Steering Gear retired engineers and from my own experience.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...erev14no08.doc
Jim
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,179
Likes: 3,999
From: Connecticut, USA
Jim,
No problem here, I certainly respect your years of work in Saginaw.
I've done on the car setup but the concern, as you, is not to over adjust it or have it off center. I've had boxes with less then 40k miles that had worn gears from over adjustment and boxes over 100k with good gears so this is a critical step.
I did a 67 last week that was never touched. There was 2 in/lbs from lock to lock as it came out of the car. Once rebuilt and setup the gears were still very good and dialed in to 12 in/lb on center. I don't think I would have been able to get them that close on the car, that and the fact the other internal adjustments were off.
Good luck.
No problem here, I certainly respect your years of work in Saginaw.
I've done on the car setup but the concern, as you, is not to over adjust it or have it off center. I've had boxes with less then 40k miles that had worn gears from over adjustment and boxes over 100k with good gears so this is a critical step.
I did a 67 last week that was never touched. There was 2 in/lbs from lock to lock as it came out of the car. Once rebuilt and setup the gears were still very good and dialed in to 12 in/lb on center. I don't think I would have been able to get them that close on the car, that and the fact the other internal adjustments were off.
Good luck.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 90
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From: St. James NY
does anyone know if there is someone they could recommend on long island to do this properly, someone that has had a decent amount of experience with this. i have a 76 with what i consider alot of play in the wheel and also pulls to the left.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 90
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From: St. James NY
thanks gtr1999. I'm not sure even where to start. I would prefer if someone who knows the system could look at it. I dont want to bring it to just any alignment shop though. Hoping for a recommendation to someone who is honest and reputable. do those two terms still go together though 
