Loose steering gear sector shaft
#1
Loose steering gear sector shaft
While trying to find where my loose steering is coming from I had my wife move the wheel while I looked underneath. What I found was that the sector shaft is moving around where the pitman arm connects to it. I have already adjusted both adjustments on the box. The sector shaft is adjusted so there is a slight drag going through center.
My guess is that there is a bushing or bearing that is worn in there. Would that be correct? So I need to swap the box out right?
My guess is that there is a bushing or bearing that is worn in there. Would that be correct? So I need to swap the box out right?
#4
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,040
Received 1,668 Likes
on
1,266 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
There's a bearing up in there; straight rollers, about 1¼" long or so. Real tall. It might be bad, or, the shaft itself may have pitting on it.
Don't forget, that's the absolute lowest place in the system; if water ever gets in there, like if the car sits around without a hood for awhile (think, at a body shop while getting a wreck fixed, for example), that's where it'll settle. Then if the parts rust, .... not much to do besides replace them.
I have no clue where to get the bearing, if that's what it is.
Don't forget, that's the absolute lowest place in the system; if water ever gets in there, like if the car sits around without a hood for awhile (think, at a body shop while getting a wreck fixed, for example), that's where it'll settle. Then if the parts rust, .... not much to do besides replace them.
I have no clue where to get the bearing, if that's what it is.
#6
Member
iTrader: (6)
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
sofa brings up a good point... If you had the exact same play before & after you replaced the box; then that to me seems to indicate the box might not be the problem. The pitman arm/bearing may be the problem. I've heard of re-man boxes being loose, but not that loose right out of the box.
#7
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
I didn't realize you had already replaced your original box with a re-manufactured unit.
sofa brings up a good point... If you had the exact same play before & after you replaced the box; then that to me seems to indicate the box might not be the problem. The pitman arm/bearing may be the problem. I've heard of re-man boxes being loose, but not that loose right out of the box.
sofa brings up a good point... If you had the exact same play before & after you replaced the box; then that to me seems to indicate the box might not be the problem. The pitman arm/bearing may be the problem. I've heard of re-man boxes being loose, but not that loose right out of the box.
Trending Topics
#8
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
not my pic but you get the idea. right where the screw driver is is where it was making the circle inside the housing. the splined area was moving inside the housing
[IMG]sector shaft by jonnyc127, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]sector shaft by jonnyc127, on Flickr[/IMG]
#9
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,040
Received 1,668 Likes
on
1,266 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
Manual steering uses the same parts in that area. Only difference is, there's no piston aiding the motion of the system. Everything else about it works EXACTLY the same. So that, in and of itself, is not a solution; a manual box can wear out or be damaged the EXACT same way.
The bearing isn't on the Pitman arm, it's on the shaft. If you take the box apart, including taking the shaft out and removing that double seal arrangement, you'll see it up in there. It's easy to knock out, I've done that before, but I never had to replace one so I don't know about getting another. I HAVE had to replace a Pitman shaft for .... pitting. Wonder if that's how it got its name? If memory serves, I had a box with that issue, so I got a JY box and snarfed the shaft & bearing out of it. Gotta be careful with that though; the Pitman shaft (which has a gear on it) is different depending on the steering ratio.
The bearing isn't on the Pitman arm, it's on the shaft. If you take the box apart, including taking the shaft out and removing that double seal arrangement, you'll see it up in there. It's easy to knock out, I've done that before, but I never had to replace one so I don't know about getting another. I HAVE had to replace a Pitman shaft for .... pitting. Wonder if that's how it got its name? If memory serves, I had a box with that issue, so I got a JY box and snarfed the shaft & bearing out of it. Gotta be careful with that though; the Pitman shaft (which has a gear on it) is different depending on the steering ratio.
#12
Member
iTrader: (6)
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
Edit to add: Top right corner in the pic below. I'm pretty sure that's the bearing in question. It's part #8522
Last edited by Alice89; 02-01-2015 at 07:50 PM.
#13
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
yeah they have it in this kit.... http://www.autozone.com/suspension-s...0_12266_17378/
#14
Member
iTrader: (6)
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
yeah they have it in this kit.... http://www.autozone.com/suspension-s...0_12266_17378/
Are you thinking about rebuilding your own box? Its not too hard, It just takes some patience.
If you do buy a rebuild kit, You can get the edelmann 8522 kit for $18 on RockAuto. Its the same kit I used for my rebuild. I've put over 10k miles on the rebuilt box and it still feels great. btw I added a pic of the kit in my previous post.
#17
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,040
Received 1,668 Likes
on
1,266 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
Yup, that kit does indeed have the bearings...
All of the ones I've ever used, have only had the paper & rubber stuff. One I still have sitting around for some car I intended to do it to but never did, doesn't have them. It was from NAPA.
Maybe I should be buying kits someplace else...
I agree obviously, they're not terribly hard to rebuild.
All of the ones I've ever used, have only had the paper & rubber stuff. One I still have sitting around for some car I intended to do it to but never did, doesn't have them. It was from NAPA.
Maybe I should be buying kits someplace else...
I agree obviously, they're not terribly hard to rebuild.
#18
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Short Summer, VT
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1985 Trans Am T-Top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T-5 5 Speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi 1LE 10 bolt
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
Napa has both, a seal kit, and a rebuild kit. Rebuild kit has bearings. I've rebuilt a few, challenging the first time until you get the hang of Installing the little *****.
Check the parts kit for content, one kit I bought was missing the cap seal and clip.
Check the parts kit for content, one kit I bought was missing the cap seal and clip.
#19
Member
iTrader: (6)
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
I followed the sticky: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...build-rag.html
I did not know there were multiple rebuild kits; sorry I gave you the wrong part # earlier.
#22
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
Picked up the new box today. I noticed this seal that was not on the first one. I should leave it on and try to put it all the way in right?
[IMG]20150204_143810 by jonnyc127, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]20150204_143815 by jonnyc127, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]20150204_143810 by jonnyc127, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]20150204_143815 by jonnyc127, on Flickr[/IMG]
Last edited by 91 camaro racer; 02-04-2015 at 05:16 PM.
#23
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Short Summer, VT
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1985 Trans Am T-Top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T-5 5 Speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi 1LE 10 bolt
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
Haven't see that before but I think it's just a dust seal they added to keep out road debris.
It looks like it's just a big rubber washer.
It looks like it's just a big rubber washer.
#25
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Short Summer, VT
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1985 Trans Am T-Top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T-5 5 Speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi 1LE 10 bolt
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
The pitman seals are held in by a snap ring, so if it's Outside of that is just a dust shield
#28
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Short Summer, VT
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 1985 Trans Am T-Top
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T-5 5 Speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi 1LE 10 bolt
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
I think I would leave it, they seem to feel the seals need more protection from road debris. You can always cut it off later if you don't like it.
#30
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
just finished putting the 2nd box in. still has about 2 inches of play in the wheel. not sure what else to do. probably going to take it to a shop and have them look at it and tell me exactly where it is coming from. dont want to keep switching boxes every week if i dont need to.
#31
Member
iTrader: (6)
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
just finished putting the 2nd box in. still has about 2 inches of play in the wheel. not sure what else to do. probably going to take it to a shop and have them look at it and tell me exactly where it is coming from. dont want to keep switching boxes every week if i dont need to.
One question: The frame rail behind the steering box isn't cracked right? Always good to check just to make sure.
#33
Supreme Member
iTrader: (30)
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 1,512
Received 16 Likes
on
9 Posts
Car: 91 Firebird
Engine: 6.0
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Loose steering gear sector shaft
I just swapped my box out with another used unit this week
It is a marked improvement over the old one, and my power steering pump quit whining too
but, it still has an inch of play at the wheel.
I upgraded to the astro shaft and bearing. Just replaced my idler arm because it had a smidge of play in it.
the box was free, and the car does drive better..... so at least I have that going for me! LOL
It is a marked improvement over the old one, and my power steering pump quit whining too
but, it still has an inch of play at the wheel.
I upgraded to the astro shaft and bearing. Just replaced my idler arm because it had a smidge of play in it.
the box was free, and the car does drive better..... so at least I have that going for me! LOL
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ambainb
Camaros for Sale
11
04-25-2016 09:21 PM