Steering problem on 29 Tudor a little confused?

[DeBordEngineMan]

Hello guys I have been driving the devil out of the Tudor this past weekend and this week! I have noticed a problem with the steering. Now a little history on the steering it is a two tooth and me and another model a guy "rebuilt" the steering box now saying that I put new bearings and new races but didn't put in a new worm gear I had a lot of play before about 3 inches but it was missing some parts the cone and locking nut behind it (don't know what that part is called)was not there and replaced with new longer oil tube and new gasket set. With all that being said I ended up with maybe 3/4 inch play or less now that I have drove it the guy said that I would probably have to adjust it a little over time when drove, got it understand that part and done that and took up some slack that had developed over time driving it understood that and took care of that. My problem is while turning the steering wheel it will like "slide or slip" like the steering wheel is lose on the column and then it will catch. Now it only does this one time in the full rotation of the steering wheel left or right and it only "slides or slips" about 1/4" inch but you can feel this when driving and it is not a good feeling but it is not getting any worse. I have checked the steering wheel and it is tight. Thought it may be just wear in steering box since I used the old worm gear. What is some thoughts on this Fordbarners? Thanks Robert DeBord

 

[dlshady]

Robert,

When you say "slides or slips" do you mean that the wheel moves up and down, or there is some kind of rotational play? When I first read your post I thought you meant that the wheel would move in or out (or up and down, depending on how you look at it). Just using the W.A.G method without further information, it sounds like you might have a worm gear that's loose on the shaft or possibly the endplay in the sector isn't adjusted properly. I suppose its also possible to have a worn keyway up top and the wheel could be rotating slightly on the steering shaft, but that should be pretty easy to check.


Deron

 

[DeBordEngineMan]

The steering wheel moves or slips to the sides during rotation not up and down and when I had worm gear out it was tight to the shaft just slightly worn that is why we reused the worm gear it was not worn very much hope this clears it up. Thanks Robert

 

[Mike V. Florida]

I sure sounds like the work gear is slipping to me. I would replace it as it can olny get worse. At first I though about suggesting that you drill and pin it in place with a roll pin but I think that would eliminale any chance of running the horn wire.

 

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Robert, I would suspect the key on the top of the shaft is worn and rolling in the keyway. My 29 did the same until I replaced the key. It seems to be doing it again occasionally so I plan on replacing it and checking the keyway in the wheel. Also make sure the nut is tight on top.

 

[MikeK]

I agree with Barry B. Loose nut behind the wheel. Gee, I always wanted to say that! With the car parked, try loosening the nut completely and see if you can feel slip/slop in the keyway. You don't have to remove the switch rod to do this, just pull it up a few inches to get to the 5/8-18 nut. You may need to shim the keyway for a tight fit.

 

[Rowdy]

I just finished dissassembling a 7 toothsteering column that may have exhibitted the same problem. The worm gear was about 1/4 above the locking ring. It appeared to have been assembled that way, not somethong that happenned during service. The person who assembled it had to overshim the lower bushing to get it together. Likeley the worm gear moved up and down on the shaft. I would imagine it was interesting to steer and may have felt very simular to what you discribe. Rod

 

[DeBordEngineMan]

Hey guys thanks for the suggestions I will check the key way on the sterring wheel didn't think about that! Also got under car will the Wife turned the steering wheel and looked to see if anything was lose under front end and noticed that the radius ball in the mount (I don't really know about this part? have to get Les Andrews book out) was moving and "popping" one time through rotation of the right and left turn this is sure some of the odd feeling I am experiencing while driving. Thanks for the help Robert DeBord

 

[James Rogers]

Bet the worm is not loose on the shaft. The reason you and your friend didn't change it may have been you didn't think it was worn enough to warrant the change but, if you had tried, you would have found that you didn't have the proper tools or expertise to change it. Removal requires a 20 ton or larger press that is tall enough to let the shaft hang loose. To replace the worm, you have to use a collet to hold the shaft close to the worm so as not to bend the shaft when pressing the gear on. Getting the gear oriented correctly is critical so the steering wheel is in the correct position also. The worm is so tight it is almost impossible it would move and, if it is you better not drive the car, it is a death trap.

 

[DeBordEngineMan]

Hey James the guy that helped me rebuilt the steering box had all the equipment and tools to do so he is a life long member of the Smokey Mountain Model A club that I got acquainted with through my brother that also has had Model A's so he knew what he was doing he just said either the worm just was not worn much or he thought that it had been replaced at some point in its life but he said that it was in good shape and did not warrant changing I think what I am feeling is the radius ball moving in its socket but not for sure going to change it this weekend will let you know if it fixes the problem? Robert

 

[dlshady]

Bet the worm is not loose on the shaft. The reason you and your friend didn't change it may have been you didn't think it was worn enough to warrant the change but, if you had tried, you would have found that you didn't have the proper tools or expertise to change it. Removal requires a 20 ton or larger press that is tall enough to let the shaft hang loose. To replace the worm, you have to use a collet to hold the shaft close to the worm so as not to bend the shaft when pressing the gear on. Getting the gear oriented correctly is critical so the steering wheel is in the correct position also. The worm is so tight it is almost impossible it would move and, if it is you better not drive the car, it is a death trap.

Several years ago I rebuilt a 2 tooth box for a customer and when I pulled it apart I found that someone in years past had dressed down the end of the shaft in order to get a new worm to go on easily. That car had a tendancy for the wheel to move in and out about, which is what I originally thought Robert was describing.

Hey guys thanks for the suggestions I will check the key way on the sterring wheel didn't think about that!

Robert, one other thing you might want to check closely is the threaded end of the steering shaft. I've seen a couple situations where someone overtightned the steering wheel nut and it started to break the threaded end off of the shaft. Seen plenty of cases where the end completely broke off, but also a couple where it just started to crack at the base of the threads. If that's going on with yours then the nut wouldn't be providing the proper clamping force and the wheel could very well be rotating on the taper.


Deron

 

[1928Pickuppain]

Cheak your stearing wheel nut. I was comeng back from the smoke shop the other day after buying a few cigars, and as im taking a turn my stearing wheel just started spining indipendantley of the shaft. I lost all stearing and had to slam on my brakes to stop from going off the road into some ones living room. After stoping I gentley rolled her over to the side of the road, luckaly the bed off my truck was almost full to the top of tools; (I use my bed as a big cetch all). I pulled off the light switch and tightend my stearing wheel back down. it always had some roataional play I though it was just the gear box loose so I dident notice it lossining. So check the obvois first.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Cheak your stearing wheel nut. I was comeng back from the smoke shop the other day after buying a few cigars, and as im taking a turn my stearing wheel just started spining indipendantley of the shaft. I lost all stearing and had to slam on my brakes to stop from going off the road into some ones living room. After stoping I gentley rolled her over to the side of the road, luckaly the bed off my truck was almost full to the top of tools; (I use my bed as a big cetch all). I pulled off the light switch and tightend my stearing wheel back down. it always had some roataional play I though it was just the gear box loose so I dident notice it lossining. So check the obvois first.

Wasn't there a key in the keyway?