| : I have a 29 rdstr PU with the old style 7 tooth steering column.It has about 4 to 5 inches of play in it, and I have finally decided it is time to do something about it. should I rebuild it myself, or find someone to do it who has done it before. Most things I just dive right into, but this sounds like it might be a little tricky. I live in Oregon, and would appreciate any advice. Thanks Parnell Parnell,
Don't let the steering column scare you.With a little persistence and attention to detail, you can get it rebuilt.I have a '29 Town Sedan that had probably 5 or 6 inches of travel at the rim of the steering wheel.I rebuilt it using every part that Walt Bratton sold for a 7 tooth plus a couple for the 2 tooth.Even with the foreign made gears I have less than an inch of rim travel after about 4000 miles.
The 2 tooth parts I used were the roller bearings for the sector bore.On the 7 tooth it is much more difficult to machine this bore since there isn't a perpendicular surface to set the housing on.We had to set it up in a Bridgeport mill and witness in the bore with a dial indicator then bore it out to fit the roller bearings.If you don't have a friend with a machine shop this could take some cash to get done since it is time consuming.It doesn't really do much for the play in the wheel but it doesn't seem to help in the effort.
But with all new gears, bearings, races etc, you can get a decent performing 7 tooth.It just doesn't have any adjustment once it does start to wear.
John
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