VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Steering Gear Question

Hello all.

My car, a 41 Special Deluxe has some play in the steering and it has seems to gotten worse lately so this morning I decided to raise the car up and check things out.

I started at the pitman arm area checking tie rods, bushings, etc.

While I was under the car, by pushing the LF tire, I was able to watch the pitman arm/tie rods move and I noticed quite a bit of play in the worm shaft, especially if I take and move the tire back and forth quickly in about a 6 to 8" movement.

So now I am at my desk looking in my 1941 Shop Manual and it looks like there is a bearing where the worm shaft comes out of the housing. I am not sure if this is what it is but the way the shaft moves around when turning, I would suspect the bearing could be bad.

Has anyone ever worked on this part of the steering gear and how hard is it to remove the bearing?

I want to get this fixed because as everyone knows, when it comes to steering, you want it right for safety reasons.

Thanks for your comments!

JH,

The steering gear is one item that I would send off to a specialist. Of all the mechanical items on the 41 that is least one that I would want to tackle.

The bearing may be bad, as you say, but I recommend you take it off and send it to a professional rebuilder. That's what I'm going to do when it comes time.

Good luck,
Charlie

Hi Jughead,

I would do a search of our past posts. Above in the header is a list of topics. Select the Search topic and under is choose Advance Search. Use the Key Word Search term "steering," further limit the search by putting my name in the Display Name Search field, "Mike Buller." The Date Range should be Newer Than "5 Years," and Older Than "1 Month." You will find a lot of info on this topic and can then decide what you should do.

Good Luck, Mike

Thanks Charlie & Mike. Mike, thanks for that tip. I will give that a try!!

Ok Mike, I did what you suggested, and as you said, lot's of good information!! So I am describing correctly what I am talking about, it's the shaft that comes out of the steering box, that the pitman arm connects to with the nut on it.

Is this called the worm shaft, or pitmam shaft? As mentioned earlier, when I was under the car this morning turning the tires left and right, I could see the play at the shaft.

That's why I am wondering if there is a bushing or bearing that has worn out, just inside the steering box.

My car has new king pins and there is no play in the upper or lower link pins.

Also, the tie rod's seem to be in good shape. But as mentioned, most of the play seems to be at the shaft that the pitman arm connects.

From the post I read, it looks like I would have to remove the steering box/mast or column.

Thanks!!

Your option appears to be to remove the steering unit and have new bushings made/installed as needed.

Jughead
The worm shaft has the steering wheel attached and the pitman (sector) shaft has the pitman arm attached.
You could try adjusting the steering box as a preliminary measure (workshop manual gives a good directions) and if that doesnt fix then do a rebuild or have it done for you.
Tony

Hi Jughead,

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/parts/1929_54/images/cmp396.gif

This link gives you a diagram of a steering box. It is not the exact box you have but the names of its parts will help you with identifying problems. I got the diagram from the online catalog that you can access for part information.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/

Most steering problems originate in the bushings for the pitman arm. These are rubber bushings easily compromised by fluid leaks from the steering box, and the aging process of rubber. Your first concern should be to replace them if you have not already or do not know their history.

If the bearings or worm gear have gone bad in the steering box, it is because the box has run dry at sometime (no lubrication). If you indeed have this problem or your worm gear is not adjusted properly then while at the steering wheel you should be able to lift the steering wheel up about 1/8th of an inch. This would be cause for removing the steering box or atleast adjusting the worm gear. If how it is removed has not been covered by the manual or our previous posts let us know. The standard way to remove the box is to drop it to the ground in one complete assembly and to pull the cover or the steering housing "jacket" through the inside of the car.

Good luck, Mike

P.S. I think one of the greatest hurdles we have in repairs is knowing the correct part names. I for one have little background in doing repairs so to ID correct part names I rely on the diagrams in my manual, my free copy of Chevs of the 40's part catalog, and the diagrams I find in the online catalogs mentioned in my post. Hopefully, as you digest the above posts we are making some sense of your predicament?

As I have mentioned in previous posts I videotape my disassemble process to help me with reassembly. I have bought all my video cameras used from ebay for under $100. My camera is my number one tool, and a great source for documenting my hobby.

I would think the bushings would be made of brass like most steering boxes. If the shaft is moving sideways, there is no adjustment that will help. A professional rebuild will give you a good tight box that will not leak.

Wow, Lots of great advice! Thanks everyone!!

Ok Mike, after reading what you said about being able to lift the steering wheel up about 1/8th and inch, I decided to go out to the shop and check this (while the hamburgers are cooking on the grille) :)

The wheel does not move that way at all! So, I guess that is a good thing. I agree with replacing the pitman arm bushings and will do that but I don't think it will cure the play at the shaft.

So since my wheel don't move up, and I don't see any 80/90 leaking and the steering box is full oil, maybe I just need an adjustment.

I've never done this before but will give it a try based on what the manual calls for.

Now, I'm not trying to get out of a total rebuild, but if it don't need that right now then maybe an adjustment will help for awhile.

Thanks everyone!!

The pitman arm is actually 2 pieces that bolt together using the rubber bushings. It made a big difference on our '40 Special Deluxe when I replaced them. If you read in the service manual they talk about disconnecting the pitman arm to adjust the steering box so its a good time to replace them, they are not expensive from the suppliers.

I just finished going through my steering box. The pitman shaft had a lot of play, the output bearing and the seal were shot, but even the shaft itself was so worn that an original bearing and seal would not have helped much. Being in a metric country, the solution was to find the next smaller seal, turn down the shaft slightly on a lathe, fit a new bearing in the output section of the steering box, and ream the new bearing to fit. I had an experienced fellow do most of this.
One thing that is not often mentioned in these posts or in the service book is that even when all parts are in perfect trim and adjusted, the steering box will only be tight when the wheels are pointed forward. The design of the whole steering box is maybe not the best, and the section shaft loses its optimal adjustment as the shaft turns from the center position.
If I had been in the states I might have looked for a new steering box. Good luck

Karl

Karl,

Thanks for the great reminder. Another problem we have is assuming that our old steering systems should function the same as modern ones, and our cars can be driven at the same speeds safely.

Thanks, Mike

Hello

I had an engine put in my 47 Fleetmaster and when I got the car back it would not go into 2nd and 3rd gear. “3 on the tree” I had problems when I bought the car meaning I had to really put a of force in shifting gears, but it shifted. I lubed all the linkage but noting. Since the new engine I can not get it in 2nd and 3rd.

The shop that put the engine in literally closed down.

I was recently trying to remove the steering column from the car and I could not figure out how to do that. I removed the linkage and U-bolt. However it would not come out? It loosed really good but will not pop out of the gear box?
Can anyone guide me how to take th colmu off?

Any thoughts

Any help would be appreciated

To help you more with the disassembly of the steering column from the car, you might want to purchase a 1947 Chevrolet shop manual. You can get one in reprint from the Filling Station in Lebanon, Oregon. www.fillingstation.com