Reproduction Parts for 1916-1964 Chevrolet Passenger Cars & 1918-1987 Chevrolet & GMC Trucks
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I'm sure many of you have experienced the slop in steering that sometimes takes a quarter of a turn in the steering wheel before the wheels take notice. With the front end off the ground and turning the steering wheel it appears the steering box is the culprit. I did a search around the web and found that the play in the steering wheel can be adjusted for improvement. The process is pretty difficult to follow in the service manual. Just wondered if anyone has had any success trying to fix the problem?
Here is an interesting thread in the old forums that might be helpful.
https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/277915/steering-gear-question.html
Cheers, Dean
Dean "Rustoholic" Meltz
San Leandro, CA
3511 posts on vccachat.org
Lurch -1927 LM one ton truck - tinyurl.com/Lurch-VCCACHAT-Gallery
Justin - 1928 AB Canopy Express (1/2 ton truck) - tinyurl.com/Justin-Stovebolt-Gallery
Did what my service bulletin had for my 1936 GMC and got it back to almost no slop at all.
@rustoholic Interesting, yes, but a person really needs a picture to understand what parts the folks are talking about. When I began working to get this 41 back on the road, I lifted it to rebuild the wheel cylinders. At that time, I was impressed at how tight the steering linkage seemed to be. So, with the front wheels off the ground, turning the steering wheel doesn't seem to connect with the linkage for at least 1/8 or more of a turn of the steering wheel. It needs a lot more thought than my initial review. We have a great steering linkage/gear shop just 20 miles away and they rebuilt my friend's 46 Ford front end and his car now drives like new. I think I'll take it to him for an estimate of what's needed.
@dunfire I'm going to try the step by step instructions soon and see if I can tighten it up. Your success certainly is encouraging. Thanks.
Get someone to turn the wheel back and forth and watch the pitman arm. The rubber bushings deteriorate, made a big difference on my 39. Filling station sells them.
Dave
@david-dunton Good advice David. There are some other tasks I need to take care of while the wheels are off the ground.Thanks.
I test those with the wheels down for the extra resistance.
@david-dunton That's probably the best way. If the wheels are on the ground and something other than the steering shaft, you definitely have a problem. Strange that both of my 41s have vague steering.