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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Steering Box Ajustments

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Steering Box Ajustments -- page: 1 2     sarahcecelia 05-07-2020 @ 10:34 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1193 Joined: Mar 2013 My box was leaking at the sector adj. plate, so while I had it apart to put a new gasket in the sector housing, I installed a new sector. I went step by step in '49,'50,'51'Passenger Car Manual. Everything is set within specs. The sector has about 1/64th play in the mesh; if I make it none, the steering wheel pull goes too much over the spec, and feels tight. Problem:w/the carfront jacked up; when I turn to full L. or R., I have to turn the steering wheel about 10" to get them to start to go straight ahead?? What is causing this "Free play ?" And by the way; the NEW GASKET LEAKS!!Was I supposed to put it in water for a bit first to expand it? (I had to put a wee bit of Permatex on it, to keep it from falling out of the upper sector housing!) Is that chinese junk too???!!! Regards, Steve Lee 37RAGTOPMAN 05-07-2020 @ 10:49 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1962 Joined: Oct 2009 Was wondering if you adjusted the steering in sequence , first adjust the up and down play in the worm steering shaft, this might have shims for adjustment ? then adjust the end play in the sector shaft, back and forth, they adjust the mesh between the sector shaft and worm what did the gears look like any groves in them ? worm bearings ok, sector bushing's ok, any photo's with the steering wheel in the center, and the steering box in center,you should a little play, maybe 2 inches free play,back and forth let hear how you made out, 37Ragtopman, sarahcecelia 05-08-2020 @ 8:05 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1193 Joined: Mar 2013 1)disconnected steering arm from tie rod conection,loosened 3 cap screws on steering box mount and 2 steering column nuts on lower edge/ inst. panel; To relieve any misalignment; re-tightend them all, 2) adj. sector end play, 3)Adjusted worm bearing preload w/ paper shims to book spec., 4) adjusted steering gear worm /roller mesh to book spec., 5) rechecked sector shaft play . This was all done with a Fishing scale, that had a red pointer to read pounds. and a black one that moved with it, and stayed at the highest reading.The manual shows a special scale attached to the steering wheel for taking the readings,; but where would one be able to but one?? Does anybody know the answer to that?? Regards, Steve Lee sarahcecelia 05-08-2020 @ 8:08 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1193 Joined: Mar 2013 37Ragtopman-That was a new sector shaft, w/bearing and a new sector gasket.Please read my reply of the seqences just like in the manual. Everything is to BOOK SPECS, and in SEQUENCES as out lined in the manual! The only thing that doesn't make sense is adjusting the sector end play FIRST; because when you adjust the sector /worm mesh later in the sequence, I would think that if you gave it less play ,moving the sector up, makes it tighter against the end play screw on the top of the steering box! That is why the last thing I did was to recheck the end play adjustment screw!! Does any one in the club have any experience with this??I'd like to hear from you!!Tom? Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 5-9-20 @ 8:05 AM 37RAGTOPMAN 05-08-2020 @ 8:37 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1962 Joined: Oct 2009 hi Steve Lee how did the WORM on the steering shaft,LOOK ,? it might be worn down, were the teeth from the sector shaft rides,? also how are the bearing on the worm gear shaft, maybe they are bad and that's why you can not get a good mesh,? maybe sloppy , I think there is something simple and over looked ? I think you should have replaced both at the same time, a MATCHED SET, same maker,,, and used USA made parts, did you remove the steering box, and adjusted it on the bench,? might be easier to work and adjust it, I did a few MODEL A boxes and did adjust by feel, no scales, you just have to make sure nothing locks up or gets stiff, as you adjust,the box, 1937RAGTOPMAN,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, hope this helps, LETS HEAR HOW YOU MADE OUT, TomO 05-08-2020 @ 10:40 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7256 Joined: Oct 2009 Steve, the sector shaft endplay adjustment is made to keep the roller centered up and down with the worm. The worm and roller mesh adjusts how far into the worm that the roller travels. The worm and roller mesh should not affect the sector shaft endplay. That is why the sequence is important. Center the roller on the worm Bearing preload Sector and worm mesh I cannot see what you have done so I will make a GUESS. The only thing that I think may be your problem is the the sector shaft is meshed with the worm too low. This could prevent the sector housing from seating causing a leak and excessive play. You should go through the assembly procedure again to make sure that the sector shaft is seated correctly in the housing. If that doesn't work, see if you can find a mechanic who still remembers the worm and roller steering system. Tom sarahcecelia 05-08-2020 @ 12:21 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1193 Joined: Mar 2013 The Ford repair manual only tells how to "set it all up" while it is in the car. The worm looked okay; but looking at it by eye, you probably won't see wear on the worm unless the is a lot and/or it is uneven. As I previously stated, the omly problem is: at full right or full left, ot takes about 8-10 inches of steering wheel turn to move start the wheels back to the straight ahead position. I took my 1957 Corvette for a ride after adjusting the brakes, and I noticed that it has a little steering wheel play like my '50 Ford does, When the wheels are in a left or right turn, but not as much as the Ford. An old friend, that knows these Fords well,said that is the way they were designed? Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 5-9-20 @ 8:52 AM sarahcecelia 05-08-2020 @ 12:40 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1193 Joined: Mar 2013 Tom, Play in the sector looks, by eye, to be 1/64th" , looking at the end of the sector where that large nut is that holds it on. The steering wheel only goes on it's shaft in ONE position, Right?,and I had it in the STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION when I installed the new sector ; but I have about 1/4+or so, more turns to the right , than I do to the left?? Do you think that the sector might not centered (midway)on the worm?If so, how could that have happened? Is it possible to install the sector off a tooth or so (on the worm), causing me to have a little more turns one way than the other?? Regards, Steve Lee This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 5-8-20 @ 5:59 PM JT Ford 05-08-2020 @ 1:50 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 112 Joined: Oct 2009 I have read in past V8 Times from the modurator on the 49 -51 cars that some of the steering part from china or just as bad as the old worn out ones. And, I have read that SOME of the parts are OK. My two cars could use a rebuild but I think I will just get by with the old ones! sarahcecelia 05-08-2020 @ 5:56 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1193 Joined: Mar 2013 Tom, the sector is seated properly, as evidenced by the lower adjustment plate mating to the sector housing WITH NO GAP AT ALL, where they mate up and when the four bolts are tightened! With that being said, why does the NEW GASKET leak at the front right corner? ! (The lowest point of the 4 corners) The cork gasket was a little smaller than the circumference of the recess that it fits in, causing me to put Permatex on 2 small areas of it to keep it from dropping out onto the floor of my garage! Please read my other posts about this problem, that I made today, to see if you have any answers to them. Regards, Steve Lee

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