'31 - Tight Steering after rebuild - 08/03/13 05:19 PM
This one may fall under the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" idiom, but here goes. My '31 Coach steering when I got the car was very easy, with car on jack stands the steering sheel could be turned lock to lock effortlessly. In fact a small push and it would go lock to lock on its own. However, the various ball type joints needed refurbishment and regreasing, the sector shaft bushing had way too much play, steering box was filled with heavy grease, and the horn bushing needed replacement.
So all thet work meant puling everything out, replacing sector gear outer bushing, refilling box with 600W(no leaks!)refitting all the draG LINK/connecting rod and tie rod balls/seats etc. Car also has new king pins and generally, from connecting arm out, steering seems very light.
After installing the new horn bushing yesterday (which admittedly is a tight fit), the steering seems stiffer than it should be. I also checked for backlash, a seperate issue and pitman arm has about 1/8" backlash. I've tried today backing off the steering shaft bearing retainer clamp about a full turn (to ease pressure on thrust bearing), but that did not seem to make any difference.
My question is just how freely should the steering be when everything is to spec. I had box apart to assist in cleaning out all the old grease, at which time I also backed out the shaft bearing clamp a few turns. (I did not remove worm gear or shaft from box). Is it possible that loosening the shaft bearing clamp may dislodge or realign something to cause stiffness? This afternoon I plan to resnug the shaft bearing clamp to point it does not cause further stiffness (as described in manual re worm gear end play) and then to remove backlash in pitman arm. (I have system set up so steering wheel is in proper position in straight ahead.)
Any advice to offer a novice?
So all thet work meant puling everything out, replacing sector gear outer bushing, refilling box with 600W(no leaks!)refitting all the draG LINK/connecting rod and tie rod balls/seats etc. Car also has new king pins and generally, from connecting arm out, steering seems very light.
After installing the new horn bushing yesterday (which admittedly is a tight fit), the steering seems stiffer than it should be. I also checked for backlash, a seperate issue and pitman arm has about 1/8" backlash. I've tried today backing off the steering shaft bearing retainer clamp about a full turn (to ease pressure on thrust bearing), but that did not seem to make any difference.
My question is just how freely should the steering be when everything is to spec. I had box apart to assist in cleaning out all the old grease, at which time I also backed out the shaft bearing clamp a few turns. (I did not remove worm gear or shaft from box). Is it possible that loosening the shaft bearing clamp may dislodge or realign something to cause stiffness? This afternoon I plan to resnug the shaft bearing clamp to point it does not cause further stiffness (as described in manual re worm gear end play) and then to remove backlash in pitman arm. (I have system set up so steering wheel is in proper position in straight ahead.)
Any advice to offer a novice?