According to the service manual, I need a J-544-A steering gear checking scale to make adjustments to my 1950 Bel Air. Is anything like this still available or is there a alternative tool?

In all my years in a Chevrolet dealership I never saw a mechanic use one, The adjustment can be made by feel. You can tell when it is too tight and then back off the adusting screw. Wen too tight it will bind or feel sticky when steering wheel is in the straight ahead position.

Gene, thank you. Your help is always appreciated.

I may be totally wrong here but if the scale on the tool reads in pounds would not a hand held fishermen scale work ?

Gene: If it binds or feels sticky in the straight ahead position would it not REALLY bind up when turned off center ??

Dick

No, when not on dead center the free play increases. Just turn the steering one turn and see how much more play there is.

Thank you for that information. I guess my thinking was backwards. I will try what you suggest.

Dick

I agree that a fishing scale could be used if you can find one that is sensitive enough. Even a “light duty” 0 to 15 pound scale would not be very accurate in the 1 to 2 pound range.

I also agree with Gene that the design of the gears is intended to give a tighter mesh in the straight ahead position.

I made an ounce-inch beam torque wrench to set steering gears. Now that I have done enough I can, as Gene said, feel when things are set properly.

You are all making too much of the steering adjustment. Adjust as needed and drive the car for a mile. If the steering is still loose set a 1/2 turn in with the adjusting screw at a time. If if feels a little sticky when making steering movement while driving straight back it off 1/2 turn at a time..

It is more common to find the steering sear is worn out and/or the play is coming from the loose idler arm and adjusting the steering gear does no good.

The manual suggestion was for a mechanic to do in the shop so he did not need to road test it.

Note that you do the adjusting with the wheels off the ground so there is no load on the steerng gear.