Steering box rebuild

[Daniel Harris]

Hi All,

I am currently in the process of rebuilding my manual steering box.
What I thought I was going to do (renew bearings and seals) to what I have discovered that I have to do are now very different.

After stripping the box down and cleaning all the parts I have found that the worm gear is completely shot and can not be put back in, suprisingly though the sector shaft gear only has a couple of tiny pit marks not sure how that can be but it is?
Has anyone else ever experienced similar situations?

My million dollar question is this, does anyone know if this worm gear is available anywhere as either NOS or repro part?

It appears to be a press fit onto the end of the steering column shaft, but at this stage I hav'nt tried to remove it.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

[big m]

Hi Dan,

If memory serves me correctly, the worm gear is welded to the worm shaft and is not removeable. You might try a dealer such as Andy Bernbaum for an NOS unit, I'm unaware of any repros being made at this time.
I ran into this problem with my '57 Fury manual box, and ended up replacing it with a tight used unit. ---John

[Daniel Harris]

Hi John,

Thanks for the info, I will contact Bernbaums and see what they know, I've had success with their parts in the past.
Another thought that crossed my mind was whether to investigate installing power steering instead?
Would it be as simple as changing the steering box and adding the pump? are all the steering arms, drag ling and pitman arm all the same??

[big m]

Dan,
I don't have my parts book in front of me, but most likely the centerlink and pitman arm are different. I'm not sure about the idler arm. The entire column would also need to be changed over, as the power steering box uses a stub-shaft, rather than the long worm shaft. ---John

[Daniel Harris]

Hi, Would anyone be able to tell me the original part number for the worm gear that I need?
'59 Sf with manual steering box.
I currently don't have a parts book to be able to look it up,

Cheers

[rogerh]

I have the Parts Book open to the correct page, laying on my scanner, but I haven't figured out how to post a scan....,
I see a part labeled "Tube and Worm" = Mopar Part 1675 733.

[rogerh]

There is no separate listing for worm gear, lending credence to John Fowlie's belief that the gear is welded to the shaft.

[Daniel Harris]

Thanks for the part number Roger now just to find the part!!, I hear what your saying about the shaft and gear being one unit but there are no visible welds as far as I can see? I was speaking to a guy over here and his theory was that gears were heated up prior to being pressed onto the shaft and as they cooled down they locked on. I will try and press the old one off (got nothin to loose cause its already stuffed) and see what I can find out.

[rogerh]

Daniel,
If you already have the worm and shaft out of the car, go back to your computer and type in www.collectorsautosupply.com. That site has a "search" box. When I put in your part #, it came back stating they have 22 units for sale, but no price listed...

[rogerh]

[rogerh]

Another wy to reach this supplier is:
www.nosmopar.com

[matty]

Can you let me know how you are getting on with the steering box issue as i have the same problem

[Daniel Harris]

Hey Matty, How are you? I havent had any luck as yet mate, I sent an email last week to the guys that Roger had mentioned above but to date have had no reply.
Roger thanks for posting the exploded view of the steering box very helpful, I'll keep you posted when (or if) I get this problem sorted out.

[rogerh]

Daniel,
Would you like me to place a phone call to them on your behalf? I have some free time. Just tell me what you want from Jim Carpenter (Collectors Auto Supply).

[matty]

M y box is real notchy i aint got to it yet but it does seem like these are really rare i dont want ps on it i like the manual box mine is still quite ok unless you need to move from stop, then its real bad i think these cars are real hard for parts for i wish there were more enthusiasts out there