63 Steering - a bit loose ??

[Gary R.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Yes Mike, it appears you have the same TW I use 0-30 in/lb. I can't see where you reached but it looks like the needle was jumping around, that is usually from worn bearings and ball screw. If you have the box apart the first thing to set up is the bearing preload, then you get to the center setup.

[Mike E.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Yes Mike, it appears you have the same TW I use 0-30 in/lb. I can't see where you reached but it looks like the needle was jumping around, that is usually from worn bearings and ball screw. If you have the box apart the first thing to set up is the bearing preload, then you get to the center setup.

Gary ---

Yes the needle was jumping around when shaft was off center. It was bouncing from about 1-4 in/lb.. It peaked at 13 in/lb on center. I have the box tore down now. Here are some closeups of the grears and ball screw at a couple of different angles, if that helps with judging the condition of the parts.

BTW you can see the needle better watch the video in full screen and kick it up to HD. The reason for the video was I thought get a baseline prior doing anything to the box.




















Mike

[Gary R.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Mike
It's hard for me to tell from those pictures. I do see a centered pattern on the worm nut but that doesn't mean much if the box was loose in the lash. 13 on center is too much, and it appears the top portion of the pitman shafts center tooth is shiney but again I can't say for sure.

The ball screw bearing radius looks a little rough and that will give you the jumping around, new bearings alone usually won't resolve the problem although that is all many do to them. I would install the new bearings and races and just the ball screw, no worm and see if the preload is a nice steady 5 in/lb. If so then it's good, if it's still jumping all over the place you can either leave it or replace the gears. I replace them at that level. When I dial in the preload with my new gears they are steady from lock to lock.

Then the next step is to see how the worm nut is with new balls in it, sometimes you get a rough feeling there from worn guides. If good then the on center lash setup. If you want the best build you have to machine or fit bushings to the shaft to be used. The bushings in the kits just are not close enough to achieve this dial-in.

Good luck, you can get it better and that might be all you want but to it the best will take some machine work.

[Mike E.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Mike
It's hard for me to tell from those pictures. I do see a centered pattern on the worm nut but that doesn't mean much if the box was loose in the lash. 13 on center is too much, and it appears the top portion of the pitman shafts center tooth is shiney but again I can't say for sure.

The ball screw bearing radius looks a little rough and that will give you the jumping around, new bearings alone usually won't resolve the problem although that is all many do to them. I would install the new bearings and races and just the ball screw, no worm and see if the preload is a nice steady 5 in/lb. If so then it's good, if it's still jumping all over the place you can either leave it or replace the gears. I replace them at that level. When I dial in the preload with my new gears they are steady from lock to lock.

Then the next step is to see how the worm nut is with new balls in it, sometimes you get a rough feeling there from worn guides. If good then the on center lash setup. If you want the best build you have to machine or fit bushings to the shaft to be used. The bushings in the kits just are not close enough to achieve this dial-in.

Good luck, you can get it better and that might be all you want but to it the best will take some machine work.

Thanks Gary,

I still have the box case to clean up, just so I understand the preload adjustment is made by adjusting the big nut near the end of the input shaft. It should be a nice smooth 4-5 in/lb. running torque? Sorry I'm kind of unclear on this, the shop manual isn't really clear either IMO. (See the image below. Note: This is not my box it's an image I found on the web)

The lash adjusting screw should be shimmed to .0015 -.002"?

The centering lash adjustment is made with the slot screw on the top of the box that has the lock nut. It should peak at 11-12 in/lb. on center? (See the image below)



Thanks again for all the help! If I can't get the preload smooth I'll be in touch and send the box your way to do it right.


Mike

[Gary R.]

Re: 63 Steering - a bit loose ??

Yes you pretty much have it, less the custom work done to them. That box pictured is a 78-82 box, look at the casting difference, cover, date tag,lock screws and no lash nut! It also has original gears in it.
I didn't intend on over taking this post so I'll stop posting to this thread now.