Who can rebuild a steering box?

[Eric F.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

Gary, Thanks again for all the information and video links. With all this information I don't have an excuse for not doing the work myself. When the time comes I will post an update. Thanks to each of you for your input.

[Donald H.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

I did mine 1960 using the ST-12 and a set of instruction that Tom Parsons authored.

Don

[Mike E.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

Eric,
Since you're saving the money by rebuilding the box yourself. Treat yourself to this 0-30 in/lb. dial torque wrench and set the box up correctly.

The guy in the video looks like he has a nice shop but I never see him using setup instruments. He set end play on C2/C3 rear wheel bearing by feel too.

He also should get himself some Nitrile gloves, digging that nasty old grease out with bare fingers is silly.


Mike

[Eric F.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

Mike, I noticed that too. He didn't torque anything and recommended to tighten the bolts until you see the sealant squeeze out. That made me laugh because I've never seen two people apply the same amount of sealant and there are so many variables there versus using a torque wrench set to the predetermined or standard specs. No worries, I have many gauges, calipers, dials indicators, torque wrenches and other tools for ensuring accuracy in assembly and setup. Thanks for your input.

[Mike E.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

Mike, I noticed that too. He didn't torque anything and recommended to tighten the bolts until you see the sealant squeeze out. That made me laugh because I've never seen two people apply the same amount of sealant and there are so many variables there versus using a torque wrench set to the predetermined or standard specs. No worries, I have many gauges, calipers, dials indicators, torque wrenches and other tools for ensuring accuracy in assembly and setup. Thanks for your input.

Eric,
Forgive me, sometimes I will point out obvious things in a thread just because for everyone participating in a forum topic there could be tens or hundreds of folks that are only consumers of the information.

Often times these are things I wish someone would have pointed out to me prior to taking on a given task.

Mike

[Gary R.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

You guys are correct, while those videos help the average owner better understand the way the units are built more care needs to be taken with the dial in. Could be training too, machine tool guys approach them differently then mechanics a lot of the time. Setting up rear bearings on a c2 or c3 is nothing compared to dialing in a few tenths on machine tool setups. I have old corvette magazines where they did stories from "ABC" corvette shop showing the guy can tell by feel the correct amount of bearing end play or backlash in a build, I would laugh at those stories but many will use them for reference and end up with issues. Outside of the restorer magazine I would not put much into vette mags or various corvette forum outlines from guys who did the job once on their own car.

The same principals I outline in my steering box threads apply to the C1 box, if the parts were not so expensive I would stock them and build them. I know Tom R C1 kits were the best and now those are gone.

Give it a shot Eric and post up some pictures as you go along I would like to follow it with you.

[Eric F.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

I sure hope rebuilding the steering box will be easier than getting it out of the car. It took a lot of pulling, turning, twisting and pushing on the inner fender well to get it out. I did it while the body was on the frame and the engine was out. I can't imagine how hard it would have been if the engine was still in the car. I ultimately removed the grill and slid it out through the opening. Not an easy job, and I had the luxury of a 4 post lift. I've heard people say they come out easier than that but not this car. I guess that's the difference with these early vettes, they were still basically hand made cars of which no two were exactly alike.

[Jim S.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

I think that the easy gear removal comments were made by C2/C3 owners. Not the people with C1s.
Jim

[Wayne G.]

Re: Who can rebuild a steering box?

Eric,
I used the factory Corvette Service Manual when rebuilding my '57 steering box. Not very complicated and the end results were fine.

Good Luck,
Wayne