Hi Guys,
I'm working through bits on 'Vera' my 1964 Series IIA 88" and the steering has always been typically heavy, so I've rebuilt both swivels ( they were leaking anyway) and the steering still seems very heavy. So I thought I would isolate the steering relay to see how that felt. I popped off the ball joints on top and lower arms, and then had a feel.
Blimey - two hands hanging off the bottom arm would just about move it, really really stiff
!
So I removed a bolt at the top of the relay and drain bolt at bottom to see what the oil looked like, and a small amount of water came out first then very dirty rusty looking oil ! I tried flushing it through and refilling but no improvement. So I thought it needs a rebuild really or replacement.
It is seized solid in chassis even after loads of plus gas (penetrating fluid). So I dismantled in situ and if you go careful it's not too bad, the spring and parts was captured in heavy material.
I was lucky enough to get hold of the Spring compression tool a while ago ready for this job so hopefully rebuild should go okay. Trouble is its still stuck in the chassis. So I looked at all the other posts and there isn't an easy answer to removal, so I through I'd try a different tact.
After removing the plate (217694) at the bottom, I could see the body of the relay and chassis aperture. What I couldn't see as any of the plus gas reaching the bottom of the relay from the top. So I thought how big is the gap between the relay body (knowing it's the bottom portion that ends to seize in) and chassis and can I get anything between the two. An old hacksaw blade ground down slightly to reduce its thickness fits. So I've been working the hacksaw blade up from the bottom and to start with it went in a few thou but with perseverance I have now managed to work the blade right up the side of the relay body to the top. This released a pool of penetrating fluid stuck at the top. My aim is to continue this and eventually work the blade right around the relay or as far as poss and see if this releases the frozen relay body. It worth a go and I'll let you know how it goes, but thought it's a different attack method without major tools required, if it works of course!
Cheers
JRT
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