Tight steering box
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 2
From: Palmyra Virginia
Tight steering box
In the process of updating my 1970 coupe it was decided to replace the steering box as it was starting to leak a little and with the engine out there would be no better time to do it. The steering was fine a little more play than I would have liked but nothing too bad. Took the old one out and it turned stop to stop very easily. Purchased a "new" box from a Corvette parts place. When getting the new one ready to install, it took tremendous effort to move the gear stop to stop and it feels like a couple of places where it feels like it wants to hang up.
Does this sound normal for a new box? It is unbelievable the difference in effort required to swing the box stop to stop between the two boxes. I am hoping that it's just a case of the "new box" being defective and a different one will yield a different result, but just looking for some feedback and education.
Does this sound normal for a new box? It is unbelievable the difference in effort required to swing the box stop to stop between the two boxes. I am hoping that it's just a case of the "new box" being defective and a different one will yield a different result, but just looking for some feedback and education.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,179
Likes: 3,999
From: Connecticut, USA
I pretty much know what you have, do you have the original one?
These boxes leak when the grease becomes an old acidic sludge, or someone adds a home brew mix of oil, gear oil, STP, or who knows what. They are not vented, up against the exhaust many times and pretty much never touched.
There should be no play on center -0-,nada on center. Moving the input moves the output- if you don't have that it's no good.
These boxes leak when the grease becomes an old acidic sludge, or someone adds a home brew mix of oil, gear oil, STP, or who knows what. They are not vented, up against the exhaust many times and pretty much never touched.
There should be no play on center -0-,nada on center. Moving the input moves the output- if you don't have that it's no good.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,097
Likes: 4,451
From: Marlton NJ
There's your expert!
But a "new" or "rebuilt" box that is stiff and "hangs up" does not sound good to me either!
Ok I just checked both my borgeson box ad my 90k mile original GM box.
Either of them have any gear clash / clearance anywhere.
Both of them get slightly stiffer exactly in the middle of stop to stop. On-center.
Very easy to turn off center. (with a wrench as a handle). A few in-lbs on center. I'd estimate 10-15 in-lbs.
That is the straight ahead position and the gears are tapered to help reduce slop there.
OEM box 3-3/4 turns lock to lock.
Borgeson box 3 turns.
I had to put a 6" wrench on either input shaft to turn them. Could not turn with my bare hand.
I estimated the TQ with my new small in-lb TQ wrench I just got.
So on your box:
Very easy sounds worn out.
Tremendous effort sounds not adjusted properly.
I am sure there is a turning Torque spec somewhere.
Last edited by leigh1322; Jun 12, 2021 at 02:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 2
From: Palmyra Virginia
Believe the box that came out was original. Very little play on center. The more I look into this the more convinced I am that the "new " box is defective. Plan on verifying this against another new box later next week.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
Your description of the unit tells me you think it is bad.
I can't tell you it ain't but there is "resistance" built in to the unit.
When assembled the "loads" on the gears are made to a turning resistance value.
The input turning shaft is tightened against the gear until so many "inch" pounds are needed to turn the shaft.
Could be your original unit is so worn that there is no resistance and now the new unit feels too tight in comparison.
I can't tell you it ain't but there is "resistance" built in to the unit.
When assembled the "loads" on the gears are made to a turning resistance value.
The input turning shaft is tightened against the gear until so many "inch" pounds are needed to turn the shaft.
Could be your original unit is so worn that there is no resistance and now the new unit feels too tight in comparison.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 2
From: Palmyra Virginia
Actually didn't think there was any issue with original box other than the leaking that was starting . Apparently after years of use the grease that is in these units breaks down and that is what starts leaking out. My guess at this time is that the new box is defective and I will verify that later this week when I compare this one to some other replacement boxes.
The difference in effort needed was felt while swinging the new box through it's range of movement with the pitman arm attached for leverage.
The difference in effort needed was felt while swinging the new box through it's range of movement with the pitman arm attached for leverage.
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