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jmmj Samba Member

Joined: December 13, 2005 Posts: 257 Location: Brasil / New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject: steering box |
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Hi all,
I need a new steering box for my '71 bus and a local has one for sale which is out of his '68. He states in the advert that it only fits a '68??? is that right?? i would've thought one can use it in 68-71 bay windows...
thanks for help, much appreciated.
-Mike |
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Brian 11 Samba Member

Joined: September 02, 2006 Posts: 158 Location: Jacksonville Florida
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Bus Deopt has a listing for one that fits a 1968 - 1972.
http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211415049FX
Bus Boys state the same thing:
Remanufactured Steering Boxes 1968 to 1972 http://www.bus-boys.com/
Our Steering Boxes come fully remanufactured from the ground up with machined and polished Steering Wormshafts, Steering Pegs, Output (Pittman Arm) Shafts and New Seals. Also included is our bottle of "Box Doctor", a better formulation of lubricants (using MOS2) than the original gear oil or grease used by the factory. Rebuilt steering boxes are sold exchange. The core charge is IN ADDITION to the price of the item. See our Core Policy before ordering.
211-415-049FX Rebuilt Steering Box 1968 to 1972 $306.90 / $150.00 core
If he has a 68 it would be safe to say that it will fit. _________________ I CAN MAKE IT UP THIS HILL IN 4TH GEAR I CAN MAKE IT UP THIS HILL IN 4TH GEAR
My Fleet:
1972 BAY Flash Back
1963 Beetle Nana's Little Bug
1977 Ford F100
1972 Nova
No computers, No abs. Yea! GOTTA LOVE THE OLD STUFF!!!
If everything I tell you is a lie and I then tell you I'm lying, am I? |
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jmmj Samba Member

Joined: December 13, 2005 Posts: 257 Location: Brasil / New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys Thats what i figured, but good to see some evidence.
Is there an easy way of testing for play in the box before installing it? |
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Blaubus Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2003 Posts: 5153
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 6:43 am Post subject: |
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| Is there an easy way of testing for play in the box before installing it? |
hypothetically , if one had a jig that would lock up the pitman arm, it would reveal all the play in the mechanism. but without resistance at the arm, you cant find the play. a box with an 1 1/2 at the steering wheel will not show any major signs of wear before installation- even though this amount of play is quite undesirable. less than an inch is very good.
while most boxes that are compromised show little evidence without installation, if the worm gear is worn heavily (galled) you will be able to feel that. when you get to center steer there should be light resistance, and it should feel smooth.
if you turn it to left of right of center you should not feel up down play in the worm gear shaft (thats the one linked to the steering wheel). only he worst boxes show wear in these areas.
the two sources of wear for the 68-71 box is worm gear wear and worn worm shaft bearings. often the worm bearings get wet (there is a seal) and rust till it plays. there is also normal worm bearing wear, both kinds produce a klunking noise when wheel is turned quickly left to right. even my box with 1/2" play at the wheel has the klunk.
when the worm gear wears it also falls into two categorys of normal and abnormal. abnormal wear is caused by peg bearings that seize as a result of hitting curbs, or offroading, or heavy city pothole activity. the peg is a spindle mounted to the pitman arm shaft inside the box. it meshes with the worm gear and rolls to provide a friction free interface between peg and worm. once the peg bearings are shocked via the pitman arm shaft, the peg no longer turns on its bearings, and the resulting friction produces accelerated wear on the worm. in later stages of this problem the worm gear surfaces becomes so galled that the steering movement will bind during turns, especially left turns.
the bentley manual has lots of good pictures of the mechanism , if you are interested. but they will not tell you how it all goes wrong. |
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