Help with steering effort
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
Help with steering effort
Ok, finally replaced some steering components to clean up the leaky mess under the car.
I have test driven the Vette after installing a steering gear box &
control valve. Both items were rebuilt from a very reliable Vendor (Supporting Member)The centering was adjusted great on the valve and everything was aligned text book perfect (gear box centered @ high spot, flats @ 12 o'clock on the input shaft & column shaft, steer wheel & hub aligned with hash marks @ 12 o'clock, great! Tie rods adjusted to equal lengths & to set. Took it to the alignment shop & had her aligned, also great!!
But it was apparent on the way to the shop that my steering is sticky or firm & does not return to center on it's own after making a turn. It's equally sticky or tight in each direction, just consistently tight & won't re-center in either direction. I can’t make a turn with my finger in the spokes of the steering wheel as I used to do. It now requires two hands (almost)
Since I did the gear & valve separately, I can say the valve made no difference, hence I believe the problem is in the gear box.
Any suggestions to loosening the steering up??
I have test driven the Vette after installing a steering gear box &
control valve. Both items were rebuilt from a very reliable Vendor (Supporting Member)The centering was adjusted great on the valve and everything was aligned text book perfect (gear box centered @ high spot, flats @ 12 o'clock on the input shaft & column shaft, steer wheel & hub aligned with hash marks @ 12 o'clock, great! Tie rods adjusted to equal lengths & to set. Took it to the alignment shop & had her aligned, also great!!
But it was apparent on the way to the shop that my steering is sticky or firm & does not return to center on it's own after making a turn. It's equally sticky or tight in each direction, just consistently tight & won't re-center in either direction. I can’t make a turn with my finger in the spokes of the steering wheel as I used to do. It now requires two hands (almost)
Since I did the gear & valve separately, I can say the valve made no difference, hence I believe the problem is in the gear box.
Any suggestions to loosening the steering up??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
It does seem like the steering box as GTR mentioned. I had the same issue the first time I adjusted the steering box last month. It did not return to center after a turn very well and was kind of sticky. After the second adjustment I got it right. Make sure you do the adjustments with the gear at top center and in the correct order.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
I did have the alignment done by my usual tech, very good! I believe it is the box's worm gear lash adjustment. It is a rebuilt box, yes with new gears by a reliable source. I am not aware of the preload specs. I will try backing off the worm gear lash adjuster a bit at a time and see what results I get. Thanks for the help Guys.
Last edited by cherrybombc3; May 5, 2009 at 08:30 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
It does seem like the steering box as GTR mentioned. I had the same issue the first time I adjusted the steering box last month. It did not return to center after a turn very well and was kind of sticky. After the second adjustment I got it right. Make sure you do the adjustments with the gear at top center and in the correct order.
Last edited by cherrybombc3; May 5, 2009 at 08:31 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ear+Adjustment
I put in new GM steering gear lube and then adjusted the gear. See pic attached for the correct GM part number. Don't use chassis grease. Remove the lower bolt only in the 3 bolt pattern for the cover as you look straight down on the gar. Fill to this hole and don't overfill. Allow for airation and expansion. I used a large siringe because it was neat but you can use a grease gun.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 957
Likes: 6
From: Burlington wisconsin
You HAVE to do the worm gear lash first (the big nut and lock ring from the steering column) then the output shaft lash). See "poor man's method" section in this Lars paper.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ear+Adjustment
I put in new GM steering gear lube and then adjusted the gear. See pic attached for the correct GM part number. Don't use chassis grease. Remove the lower bolt only in the 3 bolt pattern for the cover as you look straight down on the gar. Fill to this hole and don't overfill. Allow for airation and expansion. I used a large siringe because it was neat but you can use a grease gun.
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...ear+Adjustment
I put in new GM steering gear lube and then adjusted the gear. See pic attached for the correct GM part number. Don't use chassis grease. Remove the lower bolt only in the 3 bolt pattern for the cover as you look straight down on the gar. Fill to this hole and don't overfill. Allow for airation and expansion. I used a large siringe because it was neat but you can use a grease gun.
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