Sealing the 7 Tooth steering box

[KMBeers]

I am just finishing my 7 tooth steering box rebuild. I am using the oil seal retainer, A-3527-T with the tube and I am going to install the A-3574-X sector seal kit. The o-ring supplied with the seal kit is a 0.139 x-section. The sector bushing was installed 0.09 deep from the mounting flange. The resulting pocket that the o-ring fits in seems too small for a 0.139 o-ring, and it should be a 0.103 size. Anybody else here seen the same thing or am I just overthinking this? With the bore the bushings fit in at 1.250 and the shaft size at 1.125, I think the 0.103 is a better option, especially with there effectively being no pressure on the seal.

[old ugly]

i edited a few time because i found out how the install goes.
sorry. maybe use a smaller o-ring as long as the washer will squish it to create a seal. but i am just guessing.

one thing! those bushing have internal spiral galleys, one end of those spiral galleries inside those bushings terminate before the end of the bushing. this is to contain the oil inside the bushing. did you install those the correct way around?

[old ugly]

sometime people come up with these sort of ideas and they may or may not work properly. cornhead grease instead of oil will slow down the seepage
before you put that box into the car slide the light switch rod all the way into the colum and make sure it has not bind or tight spots. fix it now before the box goes in. then take the rod back out.

[KMBeers]

Thanks for the input and help. I definitely have the bushings installed with the end of bushing with the open groove facing the middle of the sector shaft. I also drilled a hole to line up with the grease fitting and made a small slot to allow it to communicate with the space between the bushings. As I saw it, this will allow the grease to reach both bushings. I will make sure there is o-ring squish by the washer to create a good seal without keeping the 2 bolt flange from touching the inside of the frame. Also I have a Tudor so I will need to have the steering wheel and the light rod in place before I install the steering box.

[old ugly]

you can poke the steering colum, without the light rod and steering wheel, into the car, put a bolt (1) into the box to frame holes just leave it loose. the colum should hang down low enough to put the steering wheel then the light switch rod in. i have done them like that (in tudor sedans) and have had just enough room to clear the headliner. then lift the colum and start the bolts. leave them loose until you get the bottom bolts in.

[KMBeers]

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I was wondering if a process like that would work. I will look to give that a try. Thanks for the help. Right now it is 13F here, a little cold to be out working in an unheated garage. But probably just another day in Alberta….Once the weather turns more “seasonal” here in the Philadelphia area, I am going to install my rebuilt steering column.

[CT Jack]

Go on line and search o-ring groove charts. These charts list groove dimensions for specific o-ring diameters and x-sections. They are also listed based on the end use application such as static or dynamic. Using the A-3574 bearing kit requires machining the o-ring groove.

[KMBeers]

CT Jack, can you send me the machining information for the o-ring groove you were referring to? I am assuming you have done this in the past. I believe on Bratton’s website (when it was open) they said you needed to install the sleeve bearing 0.09 deep to create the groove which is what I did. I am familiar with the o-ring sizing tables which is why I was surprised at the 0.139 ring that came with the kit. This is why I started the post initially to hopefully see what others did when they installed the kit. Thanks for the help and input.

[WTSHNN]

Originally Posted by KMBeers

I believe on Bratton’s website (when it was open) they said you needed to install the sleeve bearing 0.09 deep to create the groove which is what I did.

"To install seal, bore the end of the sector that bolts to the frame .150 deep and 1.375 diameter"

That's from the last printed Bratton's Catalog.

-Tim