Steering column jacket removal??

mrenfro

mrenfro

Junior Member
I have started a "small" job and managed to make it bigger. I started by wanting to replace the throttle and spark advance levers on my '29 Tudor as the spark advance lever had been frozen in place and the lever broke off. I managed to get the lever rods out, but there was some damage on the upper bushing so I thought I would pull it out and replace it at the same time.

The short story is that the bushing was/is pretty well corroded and welded itself to the inside of the steering column jacket. At this point I think it will be easiest to remove the jacket to work on cleaning out the remains of the upper bushing.

What is the process to getting the jacket off the steering column?

Thanks
 
If yours is a 7-tooth (sector) column, the jacket or steering column tube is not removable from the lower gear housing. If it has a two tooth sector, there is a clamp at the bottom of the steering tube that permits removal of the column from the gearbox.

Since you apparently (I am assuming) have a 7-tooth sector steering gear, remove the sector and steering shaft and use a steel rod (I use a piece of old sucker rod) from the bottom to pound out the upper bearing (towards the steering wheel) from the column.
 
If a 7 tooth it probably has two screws holding in the bushing. Remove them and yes, the bushings can be a bear as they swell and get tight in the mast jacket.
Disassembly of the steering column and working with it on the bench is the only way to deal with it.. and as Rich said you will have to use a rod to drive the bushing out.
If it by chance is a 2-tooth the mast jacket comes off the box after loosening the column clamp and can come off and out. Now from your avatar you have an open car so you are in luck, as you can remove while leaving the bock in the car and removing the key and removing the mast jacket with the gas tank clamp/ mast jacket clamp at box and steering column plates removed.

A little finnesse and it should come out. If close car remove entire 2 =tooth column.
As said earlier if 7 tooth the box has to come out anyway.
Larry
 
Thanks for the help. I am pretty sure I have the 7 tooth variety.

Rich, how do I "remove the sector and steering shaft"?

I was hoping you would just tell me "It's easy, just unhook the dohicky and it comes right out." :-)
 
larrys40 said:
If a 7 tooth it probably has two screws holding in the bushing. Remove them and yes, the bushings can be a bear as they swell and get tight in the mast jacket.
Disassembly of the steering column and working with it on the bench is the only way to deal with it.. and as Rich said you will have to use a rod to drive the bushing out.
If it by chance is a 2-tooth the mast jacket comes off the box after loosening the column clamp and can come off and out. Now from your avatar you have an open car so you are in luck, as you can remove while leaving the bock in the car and removing the key and removing the mast jacket with the gas tank clamp/ mast jacket clamp at box and steering column plates removed.

A little finnesse and it should come out. If close car remove entire 2 =tooth column.
As said earlier if 7 tooth the box has to come out anyway.
Larry
Click to expand...

In a '31 town sedan, can just the steering housing jacket just be removed while leaving the gear/ sector housing bolted to the frame ? this is after removing floor board , pedal seal /plates/ horn rod, steering wheel, upper clamp,perhaps starter.
 
The closed cars may need to have a bolt removed on the steering gear housing to allow the column to be lowered in the cab to aid in pulling the column jacket. If that doesn't work then the whole assembly may need to be removed.

Don't hesitate to start a new thread for your questions. Bringing back up an old thread can be confusing.
 
Thanks; that's what I thought to lower it a bit in the cab and also aid in horn rod removal.
Also would minimize jacket scratching after repainting the jacket and replacing the upper bushing.
 
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