Steering box adjustment nut -- stripped?

[markd89]

Hi all!

I noticed some oil leaking from the steering box adjustment nut area. I put a wrench on the nut and it wasn't tight. Easy, I thought, I'll use a screwdriver to keep the adjuster where it is and tighten the nut -- only the nut wouldn't get tight.

Looking at the nut, it appears to be copper. If so, I'm thinking perhaps that is stripped rather than the threaded adjuster.

Am I on the right track? If so, is there any tricks to be aware of in removing/replacing? Can I use a stainless nut with a copper washer to seal or must I get the original nut?

Thanks much!

Mark
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[SGKent]

The original nut was steel with a built in plastic seal. Use a steel nut with some rtv
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[kaiisons]

@SGKent,

I haven't seen one of those sealed nuts on a steering box before. Do you have any pics?

[SGKent]

you have to take the nut off to see the red ring. It is kinda like an oil pump nut on a T1.

This is an oil pump sealing nut from Aircooled.net site. The larger steering nut as show in the last photo has one of these red rings on the boxes I have worked on.

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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[markd89]

Great info, thanks Steve!!
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[markd89]

Update:

The nut and screw are OK (not stripped).

Unfortunately, it is the aluminum steering box cover that is stripped. It has got worse with my efforts so now when I turn the wheel, the adjuster is pressed out about 5-10mm.

I pushed it in and have JB Weld and a heat lamp on it, hoping that will buy some time.

I have a spare steering box - condition unknown.

Questions:

1. Is it possible to remove the cover from my spare and put it onto the box that is in the bus without removing the steering box from the bus?

2.If the adjuster managed to work its way out, would I lose all steering or it just be sloppy?

Thanks again!
Mark
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[markd89]

So, JB Weld didn't work so back to making a more proper repair.

Any help on 2 questions from last post, much appreciated!
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[SGKent]

[mikedjames]

Yes the screw is held into the end of the shaft with a snap ring. Of couse in keeping with the rules, the end plate you stripped the thread in will have a non worn brass bushing and the replacement will have wear grooves...
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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[markd89]

Gentleman, than you!

Steve, especially, awesome info and pics are very helpful!
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[markd89]

So, what happened:

Steve was right, of course. Once the three bolts are removed from the cover, the cover can be spun off the adjuster screw.

Unfortunately, I was not able to complete the in-situ repair.

I had managed to mangle the threads a little on the adjuster screw of the box in the bus and so couldn't remove the nut.

On my "spare", I snapped one of the three bolts holding on the cover. I was still able to spin off the cover as the broken bolt is in the housing side of the box.

Rather than fixing the above and having a box that would probably leak from a new spot, I got a new TRW Brazil box and it was installed yesterday. I had already replaced pretty much everything else steering related and with this box, there is almost no play in the steering.

Side note (and news to my very experienced mechanic buddy): The TRW boxes don't come with oil, you must add it!

Thanks again for all the help!

Mark
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78 TDI Sunroof Bus
Los Angeles

[hiwaycallin]

Another steering box adjustment nut question ...

The steering adjustment locking nut is stuck/fused to the adjustment screw on my '78, so when I loosen the nut, the screw turns with it and vice versa, making it impossible to adjust the box. I've soaked them with PB Blaster but so far no luck getting them to turn independently. My question is, if I back the screw out all the way until the screw stops turning, will it hold firmly enough for me to apply enough pressure on the nut to separate them? Or if I do that am I likely to pull the screw right out of the box and ruin it?

[mikedjames]

[SGKent]

Make sure you are doing it right. The screw threads into the cover. You turn the screw in while the nut out. Use a screwdriver sideways in the adjuster screw to hold it while you turn the nut. Otherwise as Mike says - cut the nut off. It is a special nut however with a seal on one side like type 1 oil pump nuts.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[hiwaycallin]

Thanks guys. After another day of letting it sit with some more PB and getting it into a position where I could get some good leverage with the sideways screwdriver, I got them apart.

[SGKent]

good job
_________________
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin