Re: rebuild 7-tooth steering gear

Posted by Jim Dey on June 05, 1997 at 18:02:28

In Reply to: rebuild 7-tooth steering gear
posted by bob j. on May 05, 1997 at 19:30:48

: I am looking for someone to rebuild my 7tooth steering gear. I would prefer to find someone in Missouri or Kansas. I know it needs bushings. Please e-mail me at rrj2049@ccp.com.
: Thanks.
Hope I'm not too late to help you with your 7 tooth steering column. There are a few critical issues that make the difference between success and disappointment
1. Select worm and sector gears that match each other closely. It takes only about 0.005 inch of slop between the worm and sector teeth to cause about 2 inches of slop in the steering wheel.
2. The bottom of the steering shaft is probably badly scored. Have a machine shop smooth in down and replace the bottom bushing with a slip fit that has just enough clearance to provide good lubrication.
3. Install new sector bushings and ream them out as little as you can and still not have binding between the bushings and the sector shaft. This is critical because even an extra 0.001 inch in the inside diameter of the bushings will permit side play in the sector that will translate into intolerable slop at the steering wheel. Be sure the inside diameters of the bushings are round and that the sector shaft isn't riding on a few high points that will quickly wear down.
4. Take a lot of care in setting up the loading on the thrust bearings because any end play in the steering shaft has exactly the same effect as slop between the worm and sector gear. Experiment with different combinations of shims until you are within 0.001 inch of causing drag in the steering wheel or detectable overloading in the thrust bearings.
5. Minimize end play on the sector shaft by tightening the adjustment screw until it touches the end of the sector. Then back it off ever so slightly until it just barely doesn't touch.
Good luck with your rebuild job. It isn't really difficult, but it does require keeping tolerances as tight as possible.

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