How do you Remove the Steering Box?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Hamilton, ON, Canada
How do you Remove the Steering Box?
I need to rebuild the manual steering box on my '75. Is there a simple way to separate the pitman arm without damaging anything? I removed it many years ago and I used a torch to heat the pitman arm at the steering box and drove it off. That was after I followed the shop manual and tried to remove the pitman arm with the J-5504 special pitman arm puller- the tool broke. Where do you separate the pitman arm- at the steering box or at the relay rod? I don't think there's enough space for a standard pitman arm puller to remove it at the box. If you remove it at the relay rod, you'll wreck the ball stud. The ball stud is in tight and won't drive out.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 3,959
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: How do you Remove the Steering Box? (75 Hot One)
Use a puller,adjustable 2 jaw type. I use the solid typical puller to remove the pitman arm from the pitman shaft. You could use a pickle fork but it will rip the boot on the control valve and you'll be tranmitting shock into the box. OTC makes a nice puller,I just bought one but haven't used it yet!
When rebuilding the box disassemble it and clean it good. Then mount it in a vise with only the pitman arm in it. Use a dial indicator to check the play in the shaft bushings. .002" or under is ok to leave,but don;t be surprised to find more then .005" play. THe kit bushing will bring them to around .003" so you would ahve to make your own to get them tighter,but it makes a big difference in the feel especially a manual steering car.
Gary
When rebuilding the box disassemble it and clean it good. Then mount it in a vise with only the pitman arm in it. Use a dial indicator to check the play in the shaft bushings. .002" or under is ok to leave,but don;t be surprised to find more then .005" play. THe kit bushing will bring them to around .003" so you would ahve to make your own to get them tighter,but it makes a big difference in the feel especially a manual steering car.
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
Re: How do you Remove the Steering Box? (gtr1999)
I sent my box to Chip Woyner at http://www.powersteering.com and he did a nice job rebuilding it, looks like new. I haven't put it back in yet, so no road impressions. It was shot, no grease left, so there was nothing to save but the case and cover. Cost $289. If he could have used the internals it would have been $189. Joe
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: How do you Remove the Steering Box? (joe73vette)
To rebuild a box by painting it up nicely, replacing the bearings and seals and maybe even installing new pushings still doesn't get the job done. The pitman arm has to be brought down to close to .001 and the end play must also be brought down.
The rebuild might look good but unless they install custom machined bushings the play is still too much.
Pulling the pitman arm is very difficult. My puller just grunted and refused to budge.
The rebuild might look good but unless they install custom machined bushings the play is still too much.
Pulling the pitman arm is very difficult. My puller just grunted and refused to budge.
