|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
11-18-2021, 01:24 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 113
|
Steering end play
I have a 1930 Tudor and the other day I climbed over the seat and pulled on the steering wheel and it pulled out about 3/4 of an inch. I pushed it back in and drove the car home with no issues. I decided to try and adjust the end play of the steering box and it still has the same end play. My steering has always been a bit loose and nothing seems to have changed, but this end play concerns me.
. I think it may be time to pull the steering box apart because this does not seem normal to me. Is this normal? |
11-18-2021, 01:33 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,947
|
Re: Steering end play
It just may need an adjustment.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
11-18-2021, 07:27 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
|
Re: Steering end play
Like J mentioned, try adjusting it first.
Yours should a 2 tooth box which has 4 adjustments that need to be done in order. The best procedure is in the Service Bulletins. |
11-18-2021, 07:57 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auburn Washington
Posts: 2,550
|
Re: Steering end play
sounds like the shaft is loose in the worm gear. that is not good.
|
11-18-2021, 08:12 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
|
Re: Steering end play
Pull the box and take it apart. 3/4 of an inch is a lot more that just an adjustment. Something is amiss.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
11-18-2021, 08:26 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,371
|
Re: Steering end play
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
11-18-2021, 11:43 AM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Hartford area, CT
Posts: 374
|
Re: Steering end play
Quote:
Pull out the light switch/horn button and have a look. Or, with a helper, pull the steering oil fill plug. Have a helper pull the wheel in and out and watch the worm inside the housing. |
|
11-18-2021, 12:26 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,947
|
Re: Steering end play
Everybody sure likes pulling thing apart before trying easy things such as adjustment. Maybe somebody did something wrong during a shade tree adjustment.
|
11-18-2021, 02:51 PM | #9 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Largo Florida
Posts: 7,225
|
Re: Steering end play
Quote:
Yep, I agree. There may well be something really wrong, but, for the little time it takes to try adjusting,,,,,,,,, Its a decision the man has to make and it sounds from the OP that he kinda wants to take it apart. |
|
11-18-2021, 03:11 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
|
Re: Steering end play
Mr. Moose has a good point. The steering wheel could be loose.
When you pull up and push down on the steering wheel, do the front wheels move right and left? If not then it is not the adjustment. There is a bolt with lock nut on the top of the box to adjust the end play. The bolt would have to be missing and the upper race locking bolt loose to make 3/4 inch movement and the front wheels would move right and left quite a lot when you pulled up and pushed down on the steering wheel. In any case, do not drive the car until you get this fixed.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
11-18-2021, 08:52 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
|
Re: Steering end play
The Model A Ford Mechanics Handbook, Volume 1, page 1-305 cautions about over tightening the nut for the steering wheel. The shaft is thin at this point and the threads can be damaged or the threaded end can be twisted off the end of the shaft.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
11-19-2021, 08:44 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,371
|
Re: Steering end play
I'm still scratching my head a bit about this problem. There are several things affected here. One is the nut & key fixing the steering wheel. The next is the very tight press fit of the worm gear onto the steering shaft. The adjustment of the end play in the streering box is to keep a good bearing preload on the worm gear bearings. The last item is the light switch rod. It is secured down inside the light switch and I don't know how much play it can allow down there. With all this, it's hard for me to get my head around how it can have this much play.
The busted threaded end of the steering shaft seems the most logical. It takes a lot to get that worm off of a steering shaft. The bearings can't move around in the steering box much unless they are gone. The light switch rod would eventually disconnect from the spider with too much movement. Last edited by rotorwrench; 11-19-2021 at 08:50 AM. |
11-20-2021, 02:23 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Southwest Michigan
Posts: 113
|
Re: Steering end play
I did the original post....I adjusted everything. The steering shaft slides in and out and the wheels don't move. I think the shaft is loose on the worm gear. The steering was a little loose so I was planning to pull the steering box apart within the next year or so anyway.
|
11-20-2021, 08:44 AM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,371
|
Re: Steering end play
It might be but I've not seen a shaft come loose from the worm yet. The light switch rod & clip may be all that is holding it if it is disconnected either at the worm or at the nut on top of the shaft. A person can find out by disconnecting the switch rod from the spider and lifting the rod up and out a bit. The steering shaft nut would be visible for inspection. If it's still connected then the problem would be at the worm down in the box.
One of the restorer series of books from MAFCA has a procedure to repair for a separated or damaged thread on the tip of the shaft. It's not uncommon to find damage there. |
11-20-2021, 09:07 AM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 1,099
|
Re: Steering end play
Quote:
John |
|
11-20-2021, 11:09 AM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 3,820
|
Re: Steering end play
BD, Depending on the body style, the first thing you are going to do is pull the horn rod and the second thing is to remove the steering wheel. That may answer the question before you remove the box. I don't think the gear is loose on the shaft and I think Mr. Moose had it right that it is in the steering wheel. But I have been wrong plenty of times.
__________________
A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
11-21-2021, 11:28 AM | #17 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Georgetown Divide Kelsey ca
Posts: 868
|
Re: Steering end play
Quote:
__________________
Dennis in Kelsey ca |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|