Just figured out that the box in my car has a problem; dead spot near the center. Already replaced tie rods and rebuilt drag link. My concern is for safety. Just got the car and it now drives great except for the dead spot. Is it likely to lock up or otherwise cause a safety problem?
56 Steering box
- Thread starter DaveBPT
- Start date
KULTULZ
Well-known member
The steering box can be adjusted. If after proper adjustment it still slops/binds, it will most likely have to be gone through.
The procedure is fully described in the correct year FORD SHOP MANUAL. No shortcuts or backyard mechanicing here. You have to follow it to a tee.
The procedure is fully described in the correct year FORD SHOP MANUAL. No shortcuts or backyard mechanicing here. You have to follow it to a tee.
dmsfrr
Well-known member
Does your '56 have manual or power steering? The original design of the power assisted steering tends to have a vague feeling on-center in the steering.
Was your '56 built in the 1st or 2nd half of the model year? The steering boxes were updated to a slightly better 3 tooth version mid-model-year of '56. It has another gear tooth to help spread out wear to the surfaces.
Was your '56 built in the 1st or 2nd half of the model year? The steering boxes were updated to a slightly better 3 tooth version mid-model-year of '56. It has another gear tooth to help spread out wear to the surfaces.
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KULTULZ
Well-known member
OK, is it a dead spot you feel or a binding feel?
There is ball socket @ the control valve that is serviceable and adjustable.
IF all other bushings are good in the linkage system (incl idler arm), this is your next step. Photos below. It will be described in the manual.
What type lubricant is in the box?
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rotorwrench
Well-known member
If it has a notchy spot in the center then there is likely a divot in the worm gear. This is where they wear the most so 90 out of 100 times that is the problem. The sector roller can wear too but most of the time it's the worm. This is why they eventually went to the recirculating ball type gear boxes.
dmsfrr
Well-known member
The 5 pointed star on the top center of an 'early' steering box may be the most reliable method?
I suspect the pre-'58(?) full-sized cars, light duty trucks and T-Birds use three different styles of steering box specific for those vehicles and I don't have a list of their early/late part or casting numbers.
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KULTULZ
Well-known member
KULTULZ
Well-known member
That will be week/day and/or shift of the casting.
dmsfrr
Well-known member
This is the star I'm talking about. But I went and looked again, it has six points not five. (oops)
Outlined in yellow...
As far as I know only the mid-'56 and earlier steering boxes have them. Not that I've crawled into the engine compartments of other folk's vehicles, or know when Ford started using them.
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Jwawhite
Well-known member
What is Good and what is Bad?
I have the original steering box and one from a Wrecking Yard (WY).
Today I disassembled the WY box, it was packed full of -remember this- the green bearing grease. The Sector shaft roller is rough, kinda notchy and won't spin freely. I see wear marks on the Face of the Worm gear from the Sector roller. I do not see pits on the faces of the worm gear including the race area. At the end of of one screw thread, there is a very small surface pit. In comparison with my disassembled Box, it may be the WY box was burned at one time? It has a brown darkness to the pieces that my box doesn't
Question: MY Sector shaft rolls freely and now I have a Worm gear and shaft from the WY. How does one tell if the gears are ok to reuse?? Further on the Bearings and Races in the Box, can they be reused?
I have the original steering box and one from a Wrecking Yard (WY).
Today I disassembled the WY box, it was packed full of -remember this- the green bearing grease. The Sector shaft roller is rough, kinda notchy and won't spin freely. I see wear marks on the Face of the Worm gear from the Sector roller. I do not see pits on the faces of the worm gear including the race area. At the end of of one screw thread, there is a very small surface pit. In comparison with my disassembled Box, it may be the WY box was burned at one time? It has a brown darkness to the pieces that my box doesn't
Question: MY Sector shaft rolls freely and now I have a Worm gear and shaft from the WY. How does one tell if the gears are ok to reuse?? Further on the Bearings and Races in the Box, can they be reused?