steering box
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: DURYEA pa
steering box
Are there bearings or bushings in a steering box that can be changed. My steering wheel is also at 7 o'clock. The front end has a mind of its own. It drifts bad. SOmeone told me it was the bearing or bushings in the steering box. Just look for advise and knowledge. :confused: :chevy :flag :cry
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 792
Likes: 2
From: Norcross GA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: steering box (Bobchad)
One other thing that you might try is adjusting your gear while it is still in your car. If you go to http://www.corvettefaq.com and look under Steering. There is a paper entitled Manual Gear Adjustment (in vehicle) along with two pictures entitled Manual Gear Adjust Pic #1 & #2.
If the above adjustments do not work and/or your steering feels lumpy and not smooth. Then you should consider rebuilding your gear.
One other word of caution. Do not overfill your manual gear with grease. You need some air volume inside the gear to allow for expansion of the grease when the underhood temperature goes up. Also, you don't want the ball nut inside the gear to have to push large amounts of grease back and forth as you make your turns.
If the above adjustments do not work and/or your steering feels lumpy and not smooth. Then you should consider rebuilding your gear.
One other word of caution. Do not overfill your manual gear with grease. You need some air volume inside the gear to allow for expansion of the grease when the underhood temperature goes up. Also, you don't want the ball nut inside the gear to have to push large amounts of grease back and forth as you make your turns.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: steering box (ALIEN)
After installing a complete new front end my steering never improved so I tore into the steering box replacing the bearings and making bench adjustments and once agian it didn't help so i once again removed the steering box and checked the pitman shaft clearance and found them about .006 will .001 or tighter is what it wants. I machined my own bushing out of bearing bronze, installed them , then honed them for a perfect tight fit. I did all three and made them longer then stock. You have plenty of room.
This time my steering is tight without any sign of free play. I drive 2 other new vehicles and my vet steering is as tight as the other new cars.
It can be done with the stock setup. A slight weave of the steering wheel causes the car to instanly sway back and forth. No Play.
You can buy these bushings but if the shaft is worn then they will not take up enough play. A machine shop can do this job.
This time my steering is tight without any sign of free play. I drive 2 other new vehicles and my vet steering is as tight as the other new cars.
It can be done with the stock setup. A slight weave of the steering wheel causes the car to instanly sway back and forth. No Play.
You can buy these bushings but if the shaft is worn then they will not take up enough play. A machine shop can do this job.
