1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Which one is the correct upper steering housing cap (B-3589) for a 1932 Ford passenger car? The taller one (in red) is 2 3/8” in height and the shorter one is 1 9/16”. Otherwise, they are identical.

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Matt,


I associate the short one with fractures in the bottom of the steering column tube because it does not extend beyond the slot in that tube.

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

David,

Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me.

Matt

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Watch out for BB parts, the tube is thicker than car and that housing smaller dia. I remember? Newc

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Newc,
I just rechecked the diameter of opening for both and they are the same. However, the worm gear is throwing me off. The worm gear is 15 for the smaller housing but the larger one is 52. The length of the shaft of for both is 40.83" - matching the length for a 1932.

Matt

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Technically speaking, 15-to-1 steering gear sets weren't adopted until 5,000 passenger cars and commercial vehicles into the 1933 model year in the U.S.. The '32-early '33 gear set had a 13-to-1 ratio.


There is no 52- prefix sector or worm gear listed in the various '32-'37 chassis parts catalogs.


Judging from your third photo, your two sector gears have differing ratios.

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...8&d=1711303901

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...9&d=1711303901

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1711303901

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Thanks to Pete's enlargement, there's no question. The 15 and 52 gears are not the same. The 15-to-1set will steer with less effort.

Re: 1932 steering housing cap (B-3589)
 

Agreed. You can't interchange the two. Both sets of gears and worms are worn, so I will replace everything. I just removed the worm, and the rod is in good shape.