SWB Steering Shaft

[tijnes]

I'm having the following steering problem with the '66. The steering wheel itself does not have excessive play. The bushing and spring are installed and the 27mm nut is tightened.

After about 1/3 of a turn it binds slightly without grinding and after that it just turns without any resistance for the next 1/3 of a turn. I drove the car into the ally by my "shop" for the first time today and almost hit the side of the roll gate on the way back in. Not drivable on the street this way.

I jacked up the front thinking it had something to do with the alignment which has not been done yet. But with the front wheels of the ground same thing. When I removed the steering wheel the shaft doesn't sit centered in the column and if I grab a tire and imitate turning everything is smooth until I put the steering wheel back on. When turning by holding a tire with the steering wheel in place I feel the resistance point and see top of the steering wheel go up and down slightly as it rotates.

Is the steering shaft bent,worn out or is this a bearing issue?

Martijn

[4sd911]

Check the big rubber "joint" in the smugglers box, if the bolts are over tightened they will rub and cause the problem you describe. There should be metal tab "locks" on these bolt to keep them from moving.

[tijnes]

That's not it. I ordered a new needle bearing but ended up not using it because the old one was fine. It's not binding.

Just for reference I removed the steering wheel on the 69E (rust bucket) that I have and on that one the steering shaft sits perfectly centered in the column with wheel off.

Martijn

[304065]

Martijn,

There are multiple bearings that hold the three steering shafts- the one attached to the wheel, the upper and the lower. Is there radial play in these? It's hard to tell of course due to the tight location.

[tijnes]

It is hard to tell if the steering bearing in the bottom of the column has play (see pic,not mine) without the steering wheel installed the top steering shaft always has play because of the spring loaded bushing that's on the steering wheel.

For some reason there is tension on the top steering shaft pushing it out of center (see pic ). When I reinstall the wheel it centers the shaft.

Now that I'm looking at the pics. Could it be that the intermediate shaft is not slid into the u-joints all the way and creating tension on the top shaft pushing it to the right as drawn in the pics.

[tijnes]

Update:

Got to spend some time with the car this afternoon. The intermediate shaft was pushing the steering shaft off center. I adjusted it so that there was no tension on the steering shaft anymore but the original problem remains.

Next I dropped the steering rack and removed the lower u-joint all together. So the steering wheel could rotate freely. When I turn the steering wheel the steering shaft binds very lightly at one specific spot in the turn and wobbles up and down (like a circus bike). It really seems like the steering shaft is bent or the bearing worn in one specific spot.

Assuming this is the problem how hard is it to replace the shaft and bearing?

Thanks
Martijn

[Fleming]

tijnes, Check two items.

get a copy of the older parts book page 4/2 (June 1967). The two items you will be looking at are #57 (it is the housing for the switches) and the second item is the spacer #48 for the top bearing.

First: look at the back of the steering wheel to see if there is a wear mark from rubbing on the edge of the switch housing? (Is the steering wheel touching the housing #57)

If it is: 1) was the top bearing spacer #48 put in upside down (or it is missing) the nut will draw the steering wheel into the housing. Rubbing will occur.

Or 2): If the steering shaft has been installed lower than the 7mm below the housing the steering wheel could rub on that housing. Fig 113 page S45 of the workshop manual.

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"What was the last thing worked on" did someone change out the steering wheel? (Probably the bearing spacer). If someone replaced something in the steering shaft measure the spacing between the top of the steering shaft and the housing.

(Don't let that circus wheel movement get to you. The center of the hub is offset to the bottom on some wheels so you have more space for your knees. You never see it until the tires are off the ground and the steering wheel is spun from lock to lock. Some Momo steering wheels are intentionally off by an inch or so).

Let us know what you find.
Bob

[Zeke]

If the rack is raised, the angled portion of the shaft needs to be shortened. At least the flat that the u-joint slips onto. Many say this isn't an issue or necessay, but I've had it happen (binding) on 2 cars.