C3 Steering Sector Gear
Does anyone know where can I find a sector and worm gear to rebuild the steering box on a 1969? The only place I've found one is at Eckler's and they cost more than a rebuilt steering box, over $300. Thanks.
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Re: C3 Steering Sector Gear
William-----
They're going to be expensive, no matter where you find them. You might try Corvette Steering Service at www.corvettesteering.com, but, if they have the parts, I expect you'll pay about the same.
Here's why it might be worth the $300, assuming the parts are NOS or equivalent quality to GM:
If you purchase a rebuilt steering box, what you get is a steering box with a USED set of worm and pinion shafts. Of course, shafts too worn for re-use will not be re-used by competent rebuilders but, you'll end up with a steering box with worm and pinion shafts that will not be new but will be worn to one degree or another. They may be ok but they will not be new. Most of the other parts in the rebuilt steering box will be new but that won't make up for the fact that the worm and pinion shafts will not be new.
If you use NEW worm and pinion shafts in a steering box rebuild + the other new parts that go into any rebuilt steering box, then you have, essentially, a NEW steering box. The only significant parts that are re-used are the case and, possibly, the cover (with new bushing).
A NEW (or, essentially new) steering box is better than a rebuilt box.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: C3 Steering Sector Gear
William, get Corvette Steerings rebuild kit that contains the 3 brass bushings, bearings, seals, gaskets and balls. If your steering box has not gotten water or been run dry then the worm gear and pinion which are steel will not need to be replaced as the brass bushings are the wear part of the box generally. About $70 for the kit. Wheel bearing grease works great instead of a 90wt lube "cause it dont run out when the seal gets old? Try a kit, its more fun than spending $300.
ScottComment
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Re: C3 Steering Sector Gear
Here is another opinion. Saginaw Steering Gear sold off their manual gear business back in the early 1980s. (Essentially right after Corvette converted to rack and pinion steering.) Service parts and minor production business was taken over by a company in western Michigan who purchased the tools and all the drawings.
The business didn't survive and the tools were sold again. (They eventually ended up in South America.) Where the tools are today, I really don't know. I will tell you this. Just because you have the original drawings and the original tools doesn't mean that you have the expertise to build good parts.
Now some more bad news, some of the recent "new" gears are worse than worn old original Saginaw gears. Look for a stylized cast "S" (we called it a road S) on the side of the gear casting. Saginaw was the only one authorized to use this identification on their gears.
Contact Gary Ramadei (14833) he is an expert on rebuilding the original Saginaw gears. You will get your original gear back better than any "new" part today.
JimLast edited by Jim S.; September 7, 2009, 09:45 PM.Comment
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Re: C3 Steering Sector Gear
Jim----
I agree. Some of the later, non-Saginaw SERVICE steering boxes have been reported to suffer from various problems. I have one of these I purchased about 10 years ago but I've never installed it so I don't know what, if anything, it suffers from.
The last Saginaw-manufactured box (i.e. with "S" cast on the housing) was purchased about 1986. It has worked well.
The last worm and pitman shafts I purchased were purchased in the early 90's. I believe these were Saginaw-manufactured parts. It may be that the Saginaw-manufactured parts were in GMSPO inventory for a long time due to "slow sales". All of the worm and pitman shafts were discontinued by the late 90's, although the complete steering gear assembly was available until just a few years ago.
By the way, the non-Saginaw steering box I purchased about 10 years ago says "Made in Canada" on the packaging. So, as of that time, I expect that's where the tooling was located.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C3 Steering Sector Gear
To add to what was said, I have new gears in stock but will not sell them direct to anyone. I've found they have to be fit and every set is not the same.
I just did a box over the weekend. I ended up opening 2 new sets of gears before I got a set that set up where I wanted them. For this reason I won't sell gears as I can't fit them. Some of the bores vary and one set could be different in 2 otherwise identical boxes. Attempting to set them without a 0-30 dial wrench is also a waste of time.
As for buying a common exchange box,save your money.As I mentioned in another thread, I was given one at Carlisle from a guy. We opened the vendors box at my spot and found it was unfit for use.I told him to take it backe but this was the 4th box he swapped out already. I took it back to the shop and found the rack was installed upside down on the ball screw. No way it would have been in spec and should have never been sold to anyone. It did have a nice paint job and too much grease though.
Rebuilding a box using just a master kit will not get you one you may expect. It may be ok but unless you blueprint it then it will be average at best.
Good luckComment
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