Steering Box rebuild problem
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Smethport PA
Steering Box rebuild problem
I'm rebuilding the original steering box from my 71. I had a machine shop install the Pitman Shaft bushings, races and seals from the rebuild kit. I can't get the Pitman Shaft in (too tight). I took some measurements: Pitman Shaft OD is 1.122 in. and ID of the new bushings is 1.10 in.! The supplier insists this is the correct bushing and they have not had anyone else reporting problems. What The Heck! Anyone else had problems like this?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Well sort of I guess (here's a part of a conversation I had with someone over on DC)
"...Went to finally assemble everything and the new bushings were way oversize on the o/d. and .010" undersize on the i/d prior to installation.
The bores on the housing are 1.250, bushings were 1.287
The endcap hole is even smaller and the bushing o/d is the same.
......
Had to make up a tapered shaft and re-machine all the bushings down and then machine the bores to try to get something closer to size once installed.
Align honed the two main bushings to .001-.0015" clearance.
Cap is at .0014-.0017+ slightly out of round but it's the best I could get on the sunnen that close to the blind end......"
So if that helps or hinders I can't say but the bushing kit I received was either wrong for the box or the box was wrong for the bushings.
M
"...Went to finally assemble everything and the new bushings were way oversize on the o/d. and .010" undersize on the i/d prior to installation.
The bores on the housing are 1.250, bushings were 1.287
The endcap hole is even smaller and the bushing o/d is the same.
......
Had to make up a tapered shaft and re-machine all the bushings down and then machine the bores to try to get something closer to size once installed.
Align honed the two main bushings to .001-.0015" clearance.
Cap is at .0014-.0017+ slightly out of round but it's the best I could get on the sunnen that close to the blind end......"
So if that helps or hinders I can't say but the bushing kit I received was either wrong for the box or the box was wrong for the bushings.
M
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Smethport PA
Thanks Mooser. It looks like the machine shop probably mashed the bushings. I'm having the bushings re-cut or honed, by a different machinist, to the proper tolerances. Hope this works!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Depending on the design of the part & bushing. Usually, on these thin walled bushings, especially those which have the grease grooves on the I/d, the interference on the install collapses bushing slightly and that with a very slight initial undersize condition on, usually should only need to get a sizing pass with a hone or reamer (.005 or less)
For normal walled bushings, removing these kind of numbers would be typical.
My case was different since the bushings weren't even close to even fitting in the housing.
You'd need to talk with a few of the resident experts to see what's normal for these boxes though, I've only done mine
M
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 232
Likes: 2
From: Langley B.C Canada
I'm rebuilding the original steering box from my 71. I had a machine shop install the Pitman Shaft bushings, races and seals from the rebuild kit. I can't get the Pitman Shaft in (too tight). I took some measurements: Pitman Shaft OD is 1.122 in. and ID of the new bushings is 1.10 in.! The supplier insists this is the correct bushing and they have not had anyone else reporting problems. What The Heck! Anyone else had problems like this?
