2 tooth Steering box question

clocey

clocey

Senior Member
The sector shaft on my steering box is loose and it seems the bushings are shot. I do not seem to have much play in the worm gear and I am wondering if anyone else has seen anything like this and if it would be possible to just remove the sector housing and replace bushings if there is no damage to the sector shaft.

Thoughts??

Curt
 
Yes, but you'd have to use an adjustable reamer to cut the new bushings to compensate for any wear on the sector shaft. I'm not sure if there is a "standard" size reamer for this job, but if there is, it will leave the bushings too loose because of your used sector shaft. Use an adjustable reamer and keep trial fitting after each pass until the sector can be inserted all the way through the housing and not wiggle around inside the freshly-cut bushings. I then finish with 220 sandpaper to "hone" a smoother finish inside. Reamers can sometimes leave chatter marks that sandpaper will clean up.
Marshall
 
Or you can turn down the sector shaft and convert it to torrington needle bearings by the Bob Carabbio method given by Marco at his site.

http://www.abarnyard.com/workshop/steering.htm

Nice thing about his method is he gives you bearing options depending on how much of a cut you have to make on the sector shaft. More wear - more cut to clean it up - different bearing.

But it is a task for a skilled machinist.

If you want to set aside your current sector, you can buy repop housings with new sectors already installed with needle bearings. They're better than what you have now - but likely not the optimal in tightness.

Housing at http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/523. Nearby is the new sector to fit.

You'll need to do the steering box setup and mate a new sector to your old worm. This might work if the worm is not galled or severely worn. Best is to try it. If they don't mate then go the next step and replace the worm too.

Joe K
 
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