Steering woes!

[Avion8]

My 1951 80" has always had somewhat slack steering, but it is now at the stage where I have to do something about it & I have grounded him until I get it fixed:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/06/7.jpg (http://s938.photobucket.com/user/jodel1050/media/P1090845_zps508d9ade.jpg.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/06/8.jpg (http://s938.photobucket.com/user/jodel1050/media/P1090846_zps59823ff5.jpg.html)

The two photo's above demonstrate the degree of slop in the Berman worm & nut steering box - it is just over 60 degrees. I have tracked down a couple of spare complete steering columns but both are incorrect for the 1951 model, although the 86/107" box I have does have the same inner column & nut PN 242304, but it has a cracked housing & wear is not much better. The other steering column I tracked down is the later resirc ball assy for the 88/109", so I really don't want to go that route.

Does anybody know of sources in Australia for the inner column & nut, or do I have to strip the whole unit out & send off to the UK. I do have a couple of quotes from there but the turn time including shipping is going to be quite protracted? Thanks.

Nigel

[mfc]

As far as I know it's the uk or a better unit from a similar era car. I assume you ve ruled out slop in the unit mounts , relay, arms and ball joints etc...
There was a thread around on coating the nut( where most slop comes from) with either a chemical tobuild it up or dipping it in a molten metal ( Babbitt) ....... Ill stick up a link if I can find it

[Avion8]

Thanks MFC. I am sure it is the steering box internals, as everything else is new & the mount to the bulkhead is very solid. My 107" has the modified recirculating ball steering, but this needs chassis rework which I rally don't want to do on the 80".

Trying to find a good 80" box is very hard, especially as ideally I would like a 48/49 Hale or Leys cast iron steering box, but they seem to be as rare as unobtanium! So it looks like pack it up & send it off to the UK.

Nigel

[andy_d110]

I have found a 49 down in Denmark that I'm trying to convince the owner to break for spares. It is completely rotten, has a 2 litre fitted and later axles.

It does have a lot of early parts that would help out a few rebuilds that are going on at the moment.

It has a steering box still attached the bulkhead. I will I've him a call this week and try and convince him to part with the good bits and bin the rest.

[123rover50]

The steering in the Tickford was bad too. I ordered a new bronze nut from steering Services in the UK. They made it a couple of thou OS on the outside. I had a few other bronze nut boxes I stripped, then tried the new nut on all the worms untill I found a good one.
Then it was only a matter of turning down the outside to be a nice sliding fit in the best housing.
I am happy with it now.
I have heard of some 80" boxes with a steel nut but all the ones I have stripped, both alloy and iron all had the bronze nut.

Keith

[chazza]

Check the Series One Club forum as well; there is a post by a chap who has organised a firm in the north of England to make steel nuts I think,

Cheers Charlie

[Avion8]

The steering in the Tickford was bad too. I ordered a new bronze nut from steering Services in the UK. They made it a couple of thou OS on the outside. I had a few other bronze nut boxes I stripped, then tried the new nut on all the worms untill I found a good one.
Then it was only a matter of turning down the outside to be a nice sliding fit in the best housing.
I am happy with it now.
I have heard of some 80" boxes with a steel nut but all the ones I have stripped, both alloy and iron all had the bronze nut.

Keith

Thanks Keith. I will give steering services a call, they may even have a new worm as well! The two spare housings I have both have hairline cracks so will be a no go. The steering box I'm removing appears crack free.

Nigel

[Avion8]

I have found a 49 down in Denmark that I'm trying to convince the owner to break for spares. It is completely rotten, has a 2 litre fitted and later axles.

It does have a lot of early parts that would help out a few rebuilds that are going on at the moment.

It has a steering box still attached the bulkhead. I will I've him a call this week and try and convince him to part with the good bits and bin the rest.

Thanks Andy. Sounds like a good plan, let me know how you go. I'm going to try and source a new nut from the UK so will restore a spare box, but an immediate serviceable steering column would be good.

Nigel

[mfc]

Good luck....(lrsoc reman nut) ... If they have it up and going repost it here as there's a decent market as you know... One of there posts refered to doing the nut and screw / ball.... That'd be the way to go..I'd think a new nut on an old screw would be a temp fix.. If the screw nut. Thread on lrsoc comes to anything that's what I'd be purchasing for my future spares box as the later 88 inch box would
Make my shiney horn dip centre redundant ..... And I love my Bakelite lol it's one thing I won't change
Cheers mark