steering box install - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chrismoore701 · 02-04-2010, 11:44 AM

I have a 79 SWB and I reinstalled the steering box with new bolts. I looked at my manual ysterday and it shows the box being installed with spacers on the bolts. is there any reason for these. there was one bolt with it, and I removed it and put all short bolts in. do not see the reason. The spacer is between the head of the bolt and the frame.

Keith Seymore · 02-04-2010, 02:28 PM

Yes - the longer bolt offers more "stretch", which helps it maintain attaching torque.

K

chrismoore701 · 02-04-2010, 03:19 PM

I did not torque it, just put on real tight, do I need to get these collers and longer bolts and redo this?

Alex1 · 02-04-2010, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

I did not torque it, just put on real tight, do I need to get these collers and longer bolts and redo this?

I wouldn't worry about it.

79gmcc15 · 02-04-2010, 04:11 PM

No mater how tight you did it, you did torque it down. Did you put on the metal plate that helps with cracking the frame? If not I would look into that and use longer bolts. Just something to look into.

chrismoore701 · 02-04-2010, 04:17 PM

funny thing, there was no plate and the frame was cracked. I had one long bolt and three short. where do I get a plate? and for that matter where should I get the coller spacers?

Keith Seymore · 02-04-2010, 04:19 PM

I wouldn't worry about it either.

Or - you could just put locktite on the bolts.

K

chrismoore701 · 02-04-2010, 04:46 PM

I am not sure, I think I did locktite, the only reason I may not have, is I have lockwashers on it.

Big Port Jimmy 6 · 02-04-2010, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

funny thing, there was no plate and the frame was cracked. I had one long bolt and three short. where do I get a plate? and for that matter where should I get the coller spacers?

STOP fix the cracked frame and then reinstall the box. Jay

lvschevytrucks · 02-04-2010, 08:42 PM

you need to repair your frame

*Stitch* · 02-04-2010, 08:59 PM

x3...it'll only get worse

1LowToy · 02-04-2010, 10:30 PM

Ok x4 the frame needs to be repaired.

As for the spacers they are likely supposed to be there. Measure from your sector shaft or steering box out put shaft to the idler arm. This should be the same distance as from the pitman arm ball socket to the idler arm ball socket, with the steering wheel absolutly straight. If you don't have the spacers in there if it was designed to have them you just changed that measurement. This will effect your steering and tracking on turns.

Good luck with that frame crack. Sure would like to see some pics of it and any plans for it's repair.

chrismoore701 · 02-04-2010, 11:30 PM

I did fix the frame. I was too rushed to take pictures. I drilled a hole on either side of the crack. ground a grove in the crack on both sides of the frame to open it up. and hit it with the welder and ground it smoth. could never tell. as for the steering box being out of adjustment. That is the wierd thing. The box is flush with the frame, the spacers are between the head of the bolt and the frame, so I do not see the need for them, except the comment of allowing the stretch of a longer bolt to meet the proper torque.

1LowToy · 02-05-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LowToy

Ok x4 the frame needs to be repaired.

As for the spacers they are likely supposed to be there. Measure from your sector shaft or steering box out put shaft to the idler arm. This should be the same distance as from the pitman arm ball socket to the idler arm ball socket, with the steering wheel absolutly straight. If you don't have the spacers in there if it was designed to have them you just changed that measurement. This will effect your steering and tracking on turns.

Good luck with that frame crack. Sure would like to see some pics of it and any plans for it's repair.

My 79 just has some small thin washers under tthe bolt heads. Sorry for the above steering box location check. If the steering box was spaced away from the frame it would apply. The washers are likely for the torque stretch as mentioned above. No big deal. Sure would have been nice to see your frame reapir.

chrismoore701 · 02-06-2010, 04:39 PM

sorry no picks found it the night I arranged to have friends over to paint. did not want to screw around, had to do the repair and move on.

Chris

02-04-2010, 11:44 AM	#1
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	steering box install I have a 79 SWB and I reinstalled the steering box with new bolts. I looked at my manual ysterday and it shows the box being installed with spacers on the bolts. is there any reason for these. there was one bolt with it, and I removed it and put all short bolts in. do not see the reason. The spacer is between the head of the bolt and the frame. __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-04-2010, 02:28 PM	#2
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,237	Re: steering box install Yes - the longer bolt offers more "stretch", which helps it maintain attaching torque. K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

02-04-2010, 03:19 PM	#3
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: steering box install I did not torque it, just put on real tight, do I need to get these collers and longer bolts and redo this? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-04-2010, 04:11 PM	#5
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	Re: steering box install No mater how tight you did it, you did torque it down. Did you put on the metal plate that helps with cracking the frame? If not I would look into that and use longer bolts. Just something to look into. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

02-04-2010, 04:17 PM	#6
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: steering box install funny thing, there was no plate and the frame was cracked. I had one long bolt and three short. where do I get a plate? and for that matter where should I get the coller spacers? __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-04-2010, 04:19 PM	#7
Keith Seymore Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Motor City Posts: 9,237	Re: steering box install I wouldn't worry about it either. Or - you could just put locktite on the bolts. K __________________ Chevrolet Flint Assembly 1979-1986 GM Full Size Truck Engineering 1986 - 2019 Intro from an Old Assembly Guy: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 My Pontiac story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 Chevelle intro: http://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/

02-04-2010, 04:46 PM	#8
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: steering box install I am not sure, I think I did locktite, the only reason I may not have, is I have lockwashers on it. __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-04-2010, 08:42 PM	#10
lvschevytrucks Unfinished Project Club Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Florence S.C. Posts: 596	Re: steering box install you need to repair your frame __________________ Handle every Stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, Pee on it and walk away. 1996 Dodge Intreped ES Nice car great on gas 1993 Jeep Cherokee. Looking for a swb chevy 73-87

02-04-2010, 08:59 PM	#11
Stitch Account Suspended Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Where I come from, it's cornbread and chicken... Posts: 3,122	Re: steering box install x3...it'll only get worse

02-04-2010, 10:30 PM	#12
1LowToy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sonora California Posts: 860	Re: steering box install Ok x4 the frame needs to be repaired. As for the spacers they are likely supposed to be there. Measure from your sector shaft or steering box out put shaft to the idler arm. This should be the same distance as from the pitman arm ball socket to the idler arm ball socket, with the steering wheel absolutly straight. If you don't have the spacers in there if it was designed to have them you just changed that measurement. This will effect your steering and tracking on turns. Good luck with that frame crack. Sure would like to see some pics of it and any plans for it's repair.

02-04-2010, 11:30 PM	#13
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: steering box install I did fix the frame. I was too rushed to take pictures. I drilled a hole on either side of the crack. ground a grove in the crack on both sides of the frame to open it up. and hit it with the welder and ground it smoth. could never tell. as for the steering box being out of adjustment. That is the wierd thing. The box is flush with the frame, the spacers are between the head of the bolt and the frame, so I do not see the need for them, except the comment of allowing the stretch of a longer bolt to meet the proper torque. __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE

02-06-2010, 04:39 PM	#15
chrismoore701 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highland, IN Posts: 2,326	Re: steering box install sorry no picks found it the night I arranged to have friends over to paint. did not want to screw around, had to do the repair and move on. Chris __________________ Chris _______________________________ 1979 Chevy Stepside SPORT 2018 Chevy Silverado, 39 years apart My build 2008-2016. http://m.imgur.com/a/bURrE



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