airkewld steering box

[MTT3107]

Anybody here have experience with their steering box ?

I have a steering box from a recommended seller here on the Samba, but steering is still not so good.

Yes it has less play than my original one, but still...

Was looking at Airkewld website, and while the price for their steering box is eyewatering, I am considering to bite the bullet...

But would like to hear other folks' experiences.

PS
My front end is completely reworked, new ball joints, new tie rod ends, new steering coupler

[slayer61]

I have one in my buggy. I replaced all the ball joints, tie rods and ends, the pitman arm and brand new (empi ) spindles. Everything was torqued to specs. I still had stupid lose steering. It wasn't until I replaced the chinese company pitman arm with a 50 year old OEM vw pitman arm did the steering become tight as it should be. My OEM steering box might have been okay, but the pitman arm was the fix to my troubles.
_________________

[MTT3107]

So you have one of the airkewld boxes ?

And what exactly was wrong with your pitman arm ?
I wonder how it could be responsible for loos steering ?

Mine is the original one, and I can't detect any play of the arm relative the steering box shaft, or play in the te rod ends where the attach to the arm.

[scrivyscriv]

How much play do you have in the steering wheel?
_________________
Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[diamondblue1969]

Was the car aligned with the box centered ?

[MTT3107]

I have about an inch and a quarter of play at the circumference of the steering wheel.
And it's an aftermarket steering wheel, smaller than the original, so with an original wheel it would be even more.

Car was aligned, and I tried to adjust the box to minimize play both with the steering centered, and with the wheel turned a 1/4 turn to the right.

No improvement...

[slayer61]

[MTT3107]

Thanks for the replies, all good info..

But still not sure the airkewld box is worth the $$

[scrivyscriv]

Steering boxes are tightened based on the center position. You want a slight tightness as it passes through the center - feeling the worm bearings at that point. If the roller shaft is worn out you’ll also get looseness. There are two adjustments and they should have been pre-adjusted by the rebuilder.

I’ve never used airkewld. He is very invested in customer service, just my observation. I would be surprised if he doesn’t comment here!
_________________
Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[Airkewld]

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. If you follow the install guide, the steering box system will be the best you ever had. And it's free shipping both ways. Give it a shot and I am sure you will be happy.
_________________
TheSamba members-only discount - TheSamba

Win a FREE Chassis Rebuild - https://airkewld.co/WinAChassis

Learn from a PRO on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/Airkewld

FAQ - https://airkewld.co/FAQ

View our Industry Leading Products - https://www.airkewld.com/Products-s/2322.htm

We made a iPhone Ringtone with a Classic VW Turbo Engine - https://airkewld.co/RingtoneTurbo

YouTube Channel - https://airkewld.co/SubSamba

[heimlich]

[baldessariclan]

[heimlich]

[baldessariclan]

[heimlich]

Sometimes you make it really difficult to have these conversations with you. I've never seen a steering wheel connected to a steering gearbox without a coupler.

Many people that buy a box from me are looking at the wheels.

From here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/practicalwork_steering.php

25MM = 1inch.

_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[baldessariclan]

Marcel, all I'm trying to do is clarify what the acceptable & desirable amount of freeplay is within the steering box itself. And once again, I don't think that it's all that hard to define and observe/check.

IIRC, the Bentley shop manual instructs you to gently grasp one of the steering wheel spokes between your thumb and forefinger, and lightly rock the steering wheel back and forth, to measure the freeplay at its outer circumference. And while doing so, if you or a helper can observe the steering box's input shaft and pitman arm, you can easily determine if the freeplay you're seeing is occurring at the steering box itself, or somewhere else.

I've rebuilt these steering boxes in the past, and my experience has been that while you can never completely get all the freeplay out of them, if they have good quality, in-spec components and are adjusted right, the freeplay you'll see at the steering wheel can easily come in at around 1/2", or even less. The trouble is, of course, finding good quality original or aftermarket components that aren't excessively worn, or otherwise outside acceptable tolerance limits (as we both well know - *sigh*).

So anyway, if you're selling steering boxes that are only holding around 1" or more of freeplay measured at the steering wheel, you may want to get with your parts suppliers and/or the folks who are assembling them to figure out what's going on. Same goes for the Airkewld supplier. Just a friendly suggestion -- no harm or foul intended...
_________________
1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...