7 sector shim problem

nkcarizona

nkcarizona

Member
My 29 Fordor steering was very stiff. After disconnecting the Pittman arm and loosening the 4 bolts on the lower bearing housing the steering was fine. Conclusion: need more shims at the bottom. Took out the bottom housing and sure enough, only one brass shim.

Here's the problem. I cannot get the lower housing to slide back into the bottom of the steering housing. It was hard to get off, but I can't get it started. Neither the ID of the steering housing or the OD of the bearing housing are scored. Has anyone had this problem? Any suggestions on how to get it together. I am told the bearing housing should just slide in. I will probably have to try several shim combinations so I will face this problem several times.
 
If you grab the steering wheel and push and pull on it to feel for freeplay, that should give you an indication of shims needed to control end play. I have an NOS lower bushing and will see if I can find it to help determin why yours is hard to reinstall.
 
I had the same problem,the column housing was bent and cracked where the spark and throttle rods exit.This was caused by frame sag. The steering shaft was binding because of the misalignment from top to bottom. I straightened the housing in a press, brazed the cracks, replaced upper, lower and sector bushings and now she steers normally.
 
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Here's my NOS bushing and housing. It has a light grease coating to protect it from rusting. With the beveled leading edge, the lower bushing should push into place without catching an edge as long as no dirt or shim is interfering with the fit. The problem nost likely is between the steering shaft and bushing, rather than the outer part of the housing. The last 7 tooth I took apart had a lot of grooves in the bearing area, caused by years of running it dry I'm sure.
 
Frame sag & rough roads caused many column hsgs to break just under where control rods exit. With the wheels on the floor,turn steering wheel back& forth while looking under S W,& you will see if there is any detectable end play in worm shaft. On the lower brg hsg,check for any burrs& lightly run a file around it.Maybe backing off the sector adj screw might help too.Ive also seen column hsgs that were not broken but were bent enough to cause a bind.
 
Thanks for everyone's input. My bushing and housing looks just like the NOS you have. I think the suggestions about the bent or otherwise damaged steering column are the problem. The bushing is grooved although not badly. The bushing starts onto the steering shaft before the housing engages with the the steering column so if the column is bent and the shaft and housing are not concentric the bearing housing will not slip in. I will try loosening the column to frame bolts, though I doubt this will help. Looks like column repair or replacement.
 
Thought I would post the final solution in case anyone follows this thread in the future.

Took the steering column out and found multiple problems. Yes, too few shims. Also someone (previous owner) filled the box with lube, possible from over lubing the sector shaft bearing. But a bent steering column was the reason I couldn't get the lower bearing housing to slide back in. There were no visible cracks, so I put the steering column in the press and gently bent it until I could easily slide the housing on.

It is all back together now,although it required nearly all the shims in the pack I got. Now it steers fine-one hand on the steering wheel, the other arm out the window.
 
Be careful to not put to many shim in. Like Tom mentioned, the free play up and down with the steering column may be to great with to many shims. I did this when I rebuilt my column-I put in all the shims that came in the package I purchased. I thought there were shims in the package so all of them must go in. Well it ended up that I put to many in, the steering column went up and down and I ended up with way to much play in the steering wheel caused by having to many shims. So just a thought of what happened to me.

Sound like yours may be just right.
 
nkcarazona, I am having the exact same problem with the lower race. I have to use a rubber mallet to get it in and when I tighten up the bolts the steering shaft is hard to turn. I will give your idea a try, hopefully it will have the same results on my shaft.
 
Also remember that the steering box is lubricated with 600W oil, and not grease. If grease is used, it will not flow back to in between the meshing teeth, and then will result in premature wear.
 
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