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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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 Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 11:23 am Post subject: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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Hello new to the Samba so I have a 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel. Everything is new on the car full body of restoration suspension pan motor. Everything‘s new when I turned the steering wheel as I was rolling out of the garage I noticed the steering wheel move a little bit without the wheels turning now it seems like I’ve got an inch and a half to 2 inches of wheel play and was wondering how do I tighten that up thanks
Last edited by Luke59ragtop on Wed Oct 22, 2025 11:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 11514
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 11:39 am Post subject: Re: 1959 VW Bug rag top questions |
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Hi and welcome to the samba.
Do yourself a favor and buy a work shop manual for your 59 year car. It will have a section on adjusting the steering box.
I look forward to seeing this car out and about in the future.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin! 
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas! |
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my59
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003
Posts: 4009
Location: connecting the dots
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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I got some grief from the state inspection with "excessive play in the pitman arm" years ago.
The guy said if I could bring in the manufacture spec, and the play was within spec, he'd pass it.
OG shop manual is needed.
If all is new, what kind of steering box was installed?
_________________
my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2845
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| Luke59ragtop wrote: |
| ...how do I tighten that up |
Remove the spare tire...behind it you'll see two access covers. The steering box is under the one on the driver's side.
Loosen the large lock nut with a 17mm wrench, tighten the screw in the center just a little bit, then snug up the nut while holding the screw in position. This adjustment takes up the play between the roller and worm inside the box. Don't crank it down hard...tighten it just enough for the roller and worm to make good contact.
Two inches of play in the steering is not overly excessive...a slight adjustment should be all you need. Remember, this isn't rack & pinion steering...some amount of play when the wheel is centered is normal. If this adjustment doesn't take it up some, you'll need to dig deeper into the front end to find the cause.
Nice looking car...welcome aboard.
_________________
'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone)
Last edited by rcooled on Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:44 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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Bobs67vwagen
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2005
Posts: 861
Location: Eastern north carolina
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| If the shop manual is a bit much for you right now. Get John Muirs VW repair for the complete idiot. He has a section on steering box adjustment and is written in a basic way that is easy to understand. Nice car those rag sunroofs are better than a convertible in my opinion. |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| my59 wrote: |
I got some grief from the state inspection with "excessive play in the pitman arm" years ago.
The guy said if I could bring in the manufacture spec, and the play was within spec, he'd pass it.
OG shop manual is needed.
If all is new, what kind of steering box was installed? |
I dont know i will have to check when i get home thank you |
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my59
Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003
Posts: 4009
Location: connecting the dots
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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I just uploaded the 2 page portion of the '59 shop manual to my gallery.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget. |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| Bobs67vwagen wrote: |
| If the shop manual is a bit much for you right now. Get John Muirs VW repair for the complete idiot. He has a section on steering box adjustment and is written in a basic way that is easy to understand. Nice car those rag sunroofs are better than a convertible in my opinion. |
Well thank you i just cancelled my order on Haynes repair manual 54 thru 79 |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| my59 wrote: |
I just uploaded the 2 page portion of the '59 shop manual to my gallery.
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Awsome thank you so much |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2025 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| rcooled wrote: |
| Luke59ragtop wrote: |
| ...how do I tighten that up |
Remove the spare tire...behind it you'll see two access covers. The steering box is under the one on the driver's side.
Loosen the large lock nut with a 17mm wrench, tighten the screw in the center just a little bit, then snug up the nut while holding the screw in position. This adjustment takes up the play between the roller and worm inside the box. Don't crank it down hard...tighten it just enough for the roller and worm to make good contact.
Two inches of play in the steering is not overly excessive...a slight adjustment should be all you need. Remember, this isn't rack & pinion steering...some amount of play when the wheel is centered is normal. If this adjustment doesn't take it up some, you'll need to dig deeper into the front end to find the cause.
Nice looking car...welcome aboard. |
Well thank you so much all new to me havent had one since high school.But yeah like a said i could feel the steering wheel move just a little bit before the car rolled while i was pushing it out of garage. |
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EVfun 
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6351
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 7:06 am Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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You can only determine steering wheel play when the wheels are pointed strait ahead. If you turn the steering wheel 1 turn left or right of strait ahead you will have lots of steering wheel play, this is normal and not felt when driving because the car is trying to return to going strait.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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thomas.
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2010
Posts: 1379
Location: South West (Pa.)
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 3:22 am Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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Your steering box looks to be a replacement. I only say this because your year bug would have a box that required oil to top off with one (1) bolt on top. Your box has the two (2) plugs on top that use grease to top off. Cornhead grease is what it's called. When I purchased my current '62 ragtop bug it had 4 or 5 inches of play on each side of the steering. After making other necessary fixes in the slop it still had some play. It was the original type that took oil. I purchased a new box. When I bought this box you could still get the TRW steering boxes brand new. I think I bought the last one from cip 1. Anyway , after all the upgrades it steered like brand new. This was about 6 or 7 years ago and the steering is still like new. I probably only put about 2 or 3 thousand miles a year on it though. Here's a link I used when I was doing the work on my Bug.
https://www.google.com/search?q=5+inches+of+play+o...#cobssid=s |
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finster
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 10517
Location: not far from the madding crowd
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| Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 3:29 am Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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^ I think that steering box pic was from rcooled not the op...
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut
nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect... |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| So I decided to take my 59 to a pro vw air cooled mechanic in the Portland Oregon area any suggestions ? |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6351
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 2:56 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| Luke59ragtop wrote: |
| So I decided to take my 59 to a pro vw air cooled mechanic in the Portland Oregon area any suggestions ? |
Whether you take it to a shop or do it yourself I recommend that you start by adjusting your steering box and make sure it’s full of oil. The older worm and sector box is nearly bulletproof and only worm and roller boxes are available new. If you swap to a new box you will also want to install a steering damper (if that hasn’t already been done.)
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26253
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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Before taking your beetle ANYWHERE, do this first. Get a helper to turn the steering wheel, while you slide under the front end to look for anything loose.
Had a body shop work on a Ghia once and when done the steering was loose. Turned out the dampener disc of the steering column was loosely bolted together. Loose as in the bolts could have lost the nuts off of them while driving on the road.
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In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| Well I also noticed that the steering wheel moves left to right and top to bottom its worse now then it has been so that’s why I was like well probably should have someone professional look at this. |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26253
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| Luke59ragtop wrote: |
| Well I also noticed that the steering wheel moves left to right and top to bottom its worse now then it has been so that’s why I was like well probably should have someone professional look at this. |
Then either get someone to go to your place to work on it or tow truck or trailer it to them.
Seeing that something is loose is not rocket science and you can do this yourself.
In the end you need to learn how to fix things on the beetle.
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In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Luke59ragtop
Samba Member
Joined: October 22, 2025
Posts: 14
Location: OR
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| No I agree about learning on my own but with just spending 30k on her I don’t want to mess it up that’s why I was going to have it put on a trailer and take it to a reputable shop here in Portland oregon |
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EVfun
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6351
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2025 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: 1959 VW ragtop that has play in the steering wheel |
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| Luke59ragtop wrote: |
| No I agree about learning on my own but with just spending 30k on her I don’t want to mess it up that’s why I was going to have it put on a trailer and take it to a reputable shop here in Portland oregon |
I’m in Seattle, not Portland, so I don’t have shop recommendations… actually I don’t even have Seattle recommendation anymore. The old Bug is a specialty car, like a street rod, at this point. (An engine for one of these is as expensive as a small block Chevy too!)
I hope someone can give you a shop recommendation. If I was closer I’d offer to stop by and take a look. These are simple cars so usually problems are not too hard to spot. They were produced in such numbers that parts are relatively easy to get.
I love that color. I had a ‘59 that color (no sunroof) but it was such a combination of east coast rust and accident repair that I ended up parting it out. If you pulled the back seat and carpet you could see 3 tires from the drivers seat. This was back around 1990.
_________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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