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05-21-2023, 03:12 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Lucas, TX
Posts: 610
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Steering box slop
Recently, I rebuilt the OEM steering box on my 1953 3100. After the rebuild, I cut the steering column to fit an Ididit column and have completed the reinstall of the steering box and the Ididit column. Today, I finished the project (or so I thought) by mounting the steering wheel that came with the truck (see photo below). However, I noticed that I have nearly 1/4 of a turn of the wheel in slop. That is before the column attempts to move the wheels in either direction. This seems like a lot of play to me and was wondering 1) what is causing this problem, 2) how to remedy it, and/or 3)what steering box alternatives should I consider?
EDIT #1: Has anyone used an off the shelf manual (not power steering) box to replace the stock one? I see several universal fit manual steering boxes on Speedway and I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck with one of these. EDIT #2: If anyone has the OEM steering box that they taken off their truck in favor of a power steering unit and they are open to getting rid/selling it, send me a PM and/or a photo of the unit.
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1953 Chevy 3100 - 5 window 1/2 ton pickup My 1953 Chevy Work-In-Process Photo Gallery "I don't have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere." Last edited by TX3100Guy; 05-21-2023 at 04:24 PM. |
05-21-2023, 05:38 PM | #2 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Lucas, TX
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Re: Steering box slop
Quote:
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1953 Chevy 3100 - 5 window 1/2 ton pickup My 1953 Chevy Work-In-Process Photo Gallery "I don't have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere." |
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05-21-2023, 09:10 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
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Re: Steering box slop
the gears in the box are cut with a slight taper and are also made to fit just a bit tighter in the middle position where the linkage is supposed to be set up when driving straight ahead. this is so you don't have to mind the wheel so much when going straight down tyhe road. it is important to adjust the steering box with the box sitting in the centered position because otherwise, if adjusted fairly tight when off center, the gears can get too tight in the centered position. loosening the lock nut and turning the screw inward pushes one gear into the other through the tapered face on the gear that is attached to the pitman arm. before adjusting it is a good idea to check the pitman shaft for play in the output bushing of th box. play here will not allow a proper adjustment. some of these old boxes have not been adjusted in many miles so the shaft may have a worn spot where the bushing rides as well as where the seal rides and there is likely matching wear on the bushing. I usually grab the pitman shaft and wiggle it up and down and side to side to check how much play there is before doing the adjustment.
another thing to check is the lube level in the box. it's a great time to change the lube. |
05-21-2023, 09:20 PM | #4 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Lucas, TX
Posts: 610
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Re: Steering box slop
Quote:
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1953 Chevy 3100 - 5 window 1/2 ton pickup My 1953 Chevy Work-In-Process Photo Gallery "I don't have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere." Last edited by TX3100Guy; 05-21-2023 at 09:26 PM. |
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05-21-2023, 09:50 PM | #5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 8,333
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Re: Steering box slop
80/90 gear oil seems to ring a bell. A copper washer under the jam nut on the adjuster would possibly help stop that leak. Some pipe thread sealer on the cleaned adjuster bolt threads may also help.
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05-21-2023, 11:43 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,709
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Re: Steering box slop
A lot of guys run John Deere Corn head grease in their steering boxes. Especially the ones that leak 80/90 https://www.rdoequipment.com/product...PerformanceMax
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
05-22-2023, 09:33 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Ruidoso New Mexico
Posts: 52
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Re: Steering box slop
have stock steering column and gear box not using located in Ruidoso n
New Mexico john Bryant 817 368 4941 |
05-22-2023, 09:49 AM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: Lucas, TX
Posts: 610
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Re: Steering box slop
Send you a PM
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1953 Chevy 3100 - 5 window 1/2 ton pickup My 1953 Chevy Work-In-Process Photo Gallery "I don't have a carbon footprint, I drive everywhere." |
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