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volksnut
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2002
Posts: 407
Location: winter park, florida
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 Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:01 pm Post subject: Steering box alignment pins |
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Empi 2" narrowed beam....steering box install, well I pretty much figured that wouldn't work out. It's a dry run so don't ask, yeah I tried the bracket both ways, both recesses are in the center, had to enlarge anyway.
Why install alignment pins if there not even close, I would have thought they would have had it right by now. Time to cut them off.
I believed I used the F word on everything I've installed on this front end.
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EVfun 
Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012
Posts: 6139
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 11:05 pm Post subject: Re: Steering box alignment pins |
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Older front beams didn't have those locating tabs. I haven't found when they where added but my original front beam on my buggy lacked the alignment pins and the clamp lacked the notches for them.
Edit to add: I think I found the change to the fixed locating tabs on the front beam.
Date: 31 July 1961 VIN: 4010995
Steering Now: Roller type, fixed installation position (except standard model, De Luxe Model Germany only) Formerly: Worm and sector
A flat metal stop that located the steering box on one side, but didn't index on the steering box bracket, was added in 1955. My front beam was a '59.
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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volksnut
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2002
Posts: 407
Location: winter park, florida
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 3:27 am Post subject: Re: Steering box alignment pins |
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A flat metal stop that located the steering box on one side, but didn't index on the steering box bracket, was added in 1955. My front beam was a '59.[/quote]
Yes my oem beam does have two pieces of square metal to locate the box side to side, nothing up or down.
I just figured since Empi put them there they should index the box in the right location. Why weld them on there if there wrong. |
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clockworkbox
Samba Member
Joined: July 12, 2020
Posts: 471
Location: Williamsport, PA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Steering box alignment pins |
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I feel your pain. I installed the same front beam, I knocked the tab off but I may weld it back in after I get the body on and have it lined up properly. Some have said they had the steering box move on them without the tabs. I bought it because the deal was too good to pass up but I definitely had to put in some sweat equity to get it right. Also the adjusters are not clocked properly sometimes though mine seem ok and you would think they would have fixed the issue with the nonexistant grease zerk thread size by now... 
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volksnut
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2002
Posts: 407
Location: winter park, florida
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Steering box alignment pins |
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| clockworkbox wrote: |
| I feel your pain. I installed the same front beam, I knocked the tab off but I may weld it back in after I get the body on and have it lined up properly. Some have said they had the steering box move on them without the tabs. I bought it because the deal was too good to pass up but I definitely had to put in some sweat equity to get it right. Also the adjusters are not clocked properly sometimes though mine seem ok and you would think they would have fixed the issue with the nonexistant grease zerk thread size by now... |
I've been in the game since the 70's would have thought they might have it right by now. I narrowed my own last time but figured I'd buy one this time. I'll cut them off and re tack after fitted. Yeah what are they thinking on the zerts, I re tapped and installed 1/8" npt. |
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Bub
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2004
Posts: 1297
Location: Central Washington
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| Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 8:24 am Post subject: Re: Steering box alignment pins |
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That 2" empi beam is thh worst of them all.
Let us know what bushings you decide to use- pretty sure the ONLY ones that fit are the red stepped bullshit ones. At least on the link pn version. Horrible.
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