HELP !!!! Steering Box Removal
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Joined: Dec 2011
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HELP !!!! Steering Box Removal
I cant figure it out, I give up!! I am removing the steering box on my car and have hit a roadblock.
1973 Big Block
4 speed
Power Steering
My steering box has three mounting bolts, one on the rear mounting flange and two on the front flange. The rear bolt and the lower front bolt came off easy.
The upper front bolt is a problem, The bolts comes thru the frame. The wheel well side of the bolt is a dome shape with no head to grab, fits into a square hole in the frame.
The bolt is long and there is a significant length of bolt extending beyond the nut. A regular socket is to short, the bolt slips into the socket and prevents the ratchet from engaging the socket.
A deep socket slips on and engages the nut but the socket is directly against the engine mount support that comes off the frame, I cant get the ratchet on the socket. I tried an extension and a flex joint but neither will work.
I can drill the bolt head off from the wheel well side.
Maybe I can reach up and cut the excess bolt beyond the nut off and then use a regular socket and try to muscle the nut off over the cut off bolt end.
Maybe grind a 1/2 inch off the deep socket.
Slip a wrench over the outside of the deep socket and try to weld it on like a handle
How have others removed this nut ????
Thanks Jack
1973 Big Block
4 speed
Power Steering
My steering box has three mounting bolts, one on the rear mounting flange and two on the front flange. The rear bolt and the lower front bolt came off easy.
The upper front bolt is a problem, The bolts comes thru the frame. The wheel well side of the bolt is a dome shape with no head to grab, fits into a square hole in the frame.
The bolt is long and there is a significant length of bolt extending beyond the nut. A regular socket is to short, the bolt slips into the socket and prevents the ratchet from engaging the socket.
A deep socket slips on and engages the nut but the socket is directly against the engine mount support that comes off the frame, I cant get the ratchet on the socket. I tried an extension and a flex joint but neither will work.
I can drill the bolt head off from the wheel well side.
Maybe I can reach up and cut the excess bolt beyond the nut off and then use a regular socket and try to muscle the nut off over the cut off bolt end.
Maybe grind a 1/2 inch off the deep socket.
Slip a wrench over the outside of the deep socket and try to weld it on like a handle
How have others removed this nut ????
Thanks Jack
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Do not cut, drill or grind anything. Put a regular socket on the nut, place square drive of ratchet into socket. No one ever said the ratchet has to lock into the socket. Remove nut. Will that work? mike...
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Joined: Dec 2011
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I tried that, the bolt threads extend into the socket to the point where the ratchet wont engage at all. If I pull the socket back to the point where I can get a small bite on the socket with the tip of the ratchet it slips on the nut. Have you removed this bolt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
On my '77 yes but it is of course a small block. Mine does not stick out too far that a socket will not work. Next step for you is a box end or open end wrench while holding carriage bolt tightly in hole, or if you insist, cut off the bolt, so that a socket will work. Good luck with it, mike...
Last edited by mds3013; Apr 27, 2013 at 10:03 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 67
From: Warrington PA
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Jack, 
with Mike, I would not cut anything. I have removed my steering box from my 82 3 different times and from the 74 BB once. You may have to use some wrenches, smaller ones, larger ones, to see what fits in where. I think I used a combination of a wrench and socket to do mine. You may also need to get under the vehicle to get better leverage. And you might have to use a smaller rachet drive with an adapter for use when interchanging two drives at once. Just take your time and rethink, you will get it out.
PS they also have those open socket sets that may do just want you need them to do, I know Sears sells them and they may be available elsewhere......
with Mike, I would not cut anything. I have removed my steering box from my 82 3 different times and from the 74 BB once. You may have to use some wrenches, smaller ones, larger ones, to see what fits in where. I think I used a combination of a wrench and socket to do mine. You may also need to get under the vehicle to get better leverage. And you might have to use a smaller rachet drive with an adapter for use when interchanging two drives at once. Just take your time and rethink, you will get it out.PS they also have those open socket sets that may do just want you need them to do, I know Sears sells them and they may be available elsewhere......
