Steering box ??????

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Leon
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Steering box ??????

Post by Leon »

Here's the deal guys....my '76 Beetle's steering box finally gave it up, and I replaced it with a brand new one. The problem now is that I have to turn the steering almost half a turn before the wheels start to turn. :shock: ( Makes for some interesting and creative driving I can assure you. :D )

Doing the adjustments on the box only seem to stiffen up the steering but does nothing about the play. I've checked all the usual things- rubber coupling, column not tightened around shafts, etc. and all seems OK. The ball joints and steering rods have all been replaced about 3 years ago and there are no play there.

I'm beginning to think I've been taken for a ride with the new box, or else I'm missing something ( besides my brain :wink: ).....

Any ideas / suggestions ???
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vader
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Post by vader »

Of all the things I've lost in life I miss my mind the most!
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Leon
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Post by Leon »

Man !!! That's real sick vader !! I've got some real serious problems steering my car and all that you can think about is your lost brain......:wink:

Some real help here will be appreciated..... :D
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Post by Merlin »

Recon' box or new box?

I can't think of anything else, and would consider the box a dud.

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Leon
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Post by Leon »

New box, didn't want to take a chance on a recon..just goes to show....

Maybe I can recon the old one, any good guides on Internet somewhere ?
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fig
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Post by fig »

Have you checked your wheel bearings and king & link pins?
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Leon
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Post by Leon »

Hi fig....those are not too bad. You can see the steering coupling turn about halfway around before the arm on the steering box begins to move...it is definitely slack inside the steering box, but none of the adjustments make any difference.

I just want to make sure, it is the top ( small nut ) adjustment that's supposed to take care of this type of slack ??
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Post by calooker »

Looks as if you have a dud steering box, I would take it back, the adjusting screw on the top is only going to make your stearing harder to turn, and not fix your problem.
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Post by Ryss »

The adjustment nut being referred to is there to remove any back lash - which is what you have. It will only make the steering tight if all free play is removed and the internals are forced into full contact with each other.

As wear occurrs so the nut can be tightened to removed excessive play. Like once ever 300,000 miles. LOL

Tighten the nut so that there is minimal play and check that the box has been filled with oil. It may be a bit stiff because its new?? and not so well made.

Goog luck.
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vader
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Re:

Post by vader »

Leon wrote:Man !!! That's real sick vader !! I've got some real serious problems steering my car and all that you can think about is your lost brain......:wink:

Some real help here will be appreciated..... :D
Stick around for a while and you'll see what sick is!!! :twisted: :zhelp:
"My other ride is your SeatCover! & She loves it!"
Sometimes you'r the statue, sometimes your the pigeon.
"Only the dead go free..." Roger Waters.
"You do not understand the power of the DarkSide" Darth Vader.
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Leon
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Re: Steering box ??????

Post by Leon »

Thanks for all the advice guys, I appreciate it....doing the adjustments only stiffens the steering but the slack still remains :cry:

Cannot understand how a supposedly "brand new box" can have a problem like this....now to get it out of the car again... :evil:
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DDunc
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Re: Steering box ??????

Post by DDunc »

Seems this may be a common thing then, I have just done exactly that and replaced my steering box with a brand new one for exactly the same reasons as Leon and I have the same problem with the play. That steering box was expensive too, never thought a new box could have a problem like this.
Did you get that box out of your car again? Any success?
I would be interested to know, thanks.
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vader
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Re: Steering box ??????

Post by vader »

Now I could just be bullshitting you but when I overhauled my steering box I cleaned it out and repacked it with grease. I have not heard of using oil in the box but then again I'm not a rocket scientist just the RULER OF THE UNIVERSE! There should always be a bit of play in the s wheel, I think its a 13 spanner and a flat screwdriver. Loosen the nut and make small adj's with the screwdriver, check the play and if necessary make another adj. When you are happy hold the setting in place with the screwdriver and lock the nut with the spanner.....

PS. A screwdriver is a tool not to be confused with a "screw driver" found in a F1 paddock with two legs blonde hair and an inclination to "screw F1 drivers"...... High paid seatcover.... :drunks: :drunks:
"My other ride is your SeatCover! & She loves it!"
Sometimes you'r the statue, sometimes your the pigeon.
"Only the dead go free..." Roger Waters.
"You do not understand the power of the DarkSide" Darth Vader.
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DDunc
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Re: Steering box ??????

Post by DDunc »

aha! The splined shaft that the pitman arm bolts onto on my car was moving, just a little bit even though it was quite tight.
So it gave the apperance that the output shaft was not moving because the arm did not move, so i tightened that up a lot and now its good:)
1969 Sunroof Beetle - Scratch Build in progress
1967 Beetle with 4 stud wheels and front discs - next in line for project
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