Hello to all.
I started rebuilding my steering box today. I had ordered the rebuild kit and was ready, or so I thought.
The steering box is easy enough to work on, at least to get apart, with the instructions in the service manual. No instructions were included in the kit. Most guys can take stuff apart and this is not as complicated as is first looks.
After getting the steering box apart and measured the top bushing, it had .003 clearance between the shaft and busing. I thought that might be over specification so I removed the bushing using a blind hole puller. It came out kind of hard and obviously had a significant press fit. I knew I couldn't measure the replacement bushing and know what the size would be, after the install, because of the interference fit shrinks the inside diameter of the bushing. What I could do is measure the bushing wall thickness. My thought was it would give me some idea of the wear in the original bushings and confirm the fitment of the replacement. Well what an eye opener. The replacement bushing wall thickness varied over .0025 on one bushing and over .003 on the other. I have no idea how they were made but I can guess. The OD was round, it appears the part was moved to another piece of equipment to bore the inside diameter. These are sold bronze not like the rolled factory bushings. They also have a single, straight, oil grove on the ID. Just no way these are going to work correctly. I immediately wished I would have measured the new bushings before pulling the old bushing from its blind hole.
It is now very obvious why Gary builds or has custom bushing manufactured. As I now wish I would have let well enough alone, as it functioned fine! It did need the grease changed that's from sure. The old grease smelled up the shop. I noted some pitting on on one side of one gear . Maybe I will post a picture later. In retrospect I should have completed an inspection and changed the grease, called it a day. The replacement bushing OD is .001 smaller than the bushing I removed. Even if it fit the housing like is should , the bore (ID) would be out of specification. I know this because of the wall thickness measurements. With the straight oil groove, not the X style of the original, it might be be impossible to hone to size after the install. The bushing from the kit pictured below:
I can build the bushing out of 660 bronze, and that will be my likely solution. A second option is to purchase a commercial bushing. I don't understand why a commercial bushings were not included in the kit. I am going to leave the large lower busing(s) intact as they seem to be worn only a .001 or two. With a little more research I found Gary's recommendation of .002 (loose) fit between bushing and the shaft. It appears the top bushing was only worn .001 after almost 100K miles. The lower bushing have more load on them but more lube also. I will have to measure them to confirm.
My hope is the seals are manufactured to better tolerances than the bushings.
I am perfectly capable of completing this job. Part of me is stubborn and I like to "do it myself" as much as possible. For me this is not a aptitude or tool issue as much as it is a parts issue. Or better put, a POS part issue. BTW the replacement roller bearings were marked China. My originals are fine and likely better, even in used condition, than the new replacements.
If you don't have a lathe to build the pusher plates for installing and removing the bushings, the patience to manufacture of modify existing parts and a suitable means to get a bushing out of a blind hole, I would recommending just sending your box to Gary and let him deal with the various parts and fitment issues. Otherwise purchase a new gasket, seals and clean oil and complete the inspection yourself. If the steering box requires anything else, sent it to Gary Ramadei for rebuilding.
My kit was old, as it had all three bushings. The picture of the current kit only has the two lower bushing in the picture. Possibly they have address the bushing issues. I dont recommend purchasing parts till they are needed. Then you my possibly be able to return them.
Tired of poor fitting part. My rant is over.
Rick
I started rebuilding my steering box today. I had ordered the rebuild kit and was ready, or so I thought.
The steering box is easy enough to work on, at least to get apart, with the instructions in the service manual. No instructions were included in the kit. Most guys can take stuff apart and this is not as complicated as is first looks.
After getting the steering box apart and measured the top bushing, it had .003 clearance between the shaft and busing. I thought that might be over specification so I removed the bushing using a blind hole puller. It came out kind of hard and obviously had a significant press fit. I knew I couldn't measure the replacement bushing and know what the size would be, after the install, because of the interference fit shrinks the inside diameter of the bushing. What I could do is measure the bushing wall thickness. My thought was it would give me some idea of the wear in the original bushings and confirm the fitment of the replacement. Well what an eye opener. The replacement bushing wall thickness varied over .0025 on one bushing and over .003 on the other. I have no idea how they were made but I can guess. The OD was round, it appears the part was moved to another piece of equipment to bore the inside diameter. These are sold bronze not like the rolled factory bushings. They also have a single, straight, oil grove on the ID. Just no way these are going to work correctly. I immediately wished I would have measured the new bushings before pulling the old bushing from its blind hole.
It is now very obvious why Gary builds or has custom bushing manufactured. As I now wish I would have let well enough alone, as it functioned fine! It did need the grease changed that's from sure. The old grease smelled up the shop. I noted some pitting on on one side of one gear . Maybe I will post a picture later. In retrospect I should have completed an inspection and changed the grease, called it a day. The replacement bushing OD is .001 smaller than the bushing I removed. Even if it fit the housing like is should , the bore (ID) would be out of specification. I know this because of the wall thickness measurements. With the straight oil groove, not the X style of the original, it might be be impossible to hone to size after the install. The bushing from the kit pictured below:
I can build the bushing out of 660 bronze, and that will be my likely solution. A second option is to purchase a commercial bushing. I don't understand why a commercial bushings were not included in the kit. I am going to leave the large lower busing(s) intact as they seem to be worn only a .001 or two. With a little more research I found Gary's recommendation of .002 (loose) fit between bushing and the shaft. It appears the top bushing was only worn .001 after almost 100K miles. The lower bushing have more load on them but more lube also. I will have to measure them to confirm.
My hope is the seals are manufactured to better tolerances than the bushings.
I am perfectly capable of completing this job. Part of me is stubborn and I like to "do it myself" as much as possible. For me this is not a aptitude or tool issue as much as it is a parts issue. Or better put, a POS part issue. BTW the replacement roller bearings were marked China. My originals are fine and likely better, even in used condition, than the new replacements.
If you don't have a lathe to build the pusher plates for installing and removing the bushings, the patience to manufacture of modify existing parts and a suitable means to get a bushing out of a blind hole, I would recommending just sending your box to Gary and let him deal with the various parts and fitment issues. Otherwise purchase a new gasket, seals and clean oil and complete the inspection yourself. If the steering box requires anything else, sent it to Gary Ramadei for rebuilding.
My kit was old, as it had all three bushings. The picture of the current kit only has the two lower bushing in the picture. Possibly they have address the bushing issues. I dont recommend purchasing parts till they are needed. Then you my possibly be able to return them.
Tired of poor fitting part. My rant is over.
Rick
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