1947 front wander
 

A friend asked me to check the steering components on his 47 pickup because the said it "wanders" and he thinks the steering box needs rebuilt. The tie rod ends ends and drag link seem tight and the steering gear box seems ok to me, maybe a little loose. I checked the toe-in and it is 1/8 positive. We could not loosen the tie rod to adjust it to 1/16-1/8 negative and ran out of time yesterday so we will put it on a lift and try again today. Would that incorrect toe-in cause the wandering? How can I tell if the steering box needs rebuilt and how is it removed to rebuild? Does the entire column have to be removed from the vehicle? Art

Re: 1947 front wander
 

Yes, remove the steering box. Check king pins also.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

Sounds like caster and camber problems. Even if there is play in the gear and the castor and camber are right the wheels will return to center and stay on a direct path.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

I've never heard of the terms positive and negative being applied to toe-in before.

It should have 1/16"-1/8" toe in. (front of the tyres closer than the rear). Which if I had to guess I would call positive.

Can you confirm it has 1/8" toe-out?

If it has that would contribute to a tendency to wander.

Mart.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

Art, sounds like you have checked all the tie rod and drag link ends. I would inspect the king pins for any "play".

You can tighten the steering box by removing the hex head cap on top of the box. There should be a slotted adjustment screw inside. You should have a start type washer that is slotted into a key way on this adjustment screw. Don't lose it. That keeps your adjustment screw in position when you tighten everything up. It denotes on the washer "this side up". You can tighten up the box there. If all of these components are good and tight there should be very minimum play in the steering wheel.

If the box need rebuilt you will need to remove the steering column from the steering box. When you have the column off and the bolts that hold it to the frame bracket removed, the steering box and rod will come out. Remove the pitman arm. Remove the top plate from the box and the end plate that holds the sector in. You will need to inspect the sector for wear as well as the worm gear. Also inspect the two bearings and races inside. You will need a new seal for the end of the sector. Replace all else that is worn. These are easy to rebuild. I just rebuilt mine on the '40. Call me with questions.

If he is experiencing wandering when going over bumps in the road, radial tires will help that.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

Tires??
Paul in CT Besides toe-in.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

.

Most-definitely, if it has some old BIAS Ply tires on it, it's gonna wander. It's amazing how a set of RADIAL tires can completely "tame" a wanderer.

Also, make sure that TOE-IN is where it should be (Closer in FRONT).

Coop

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Re: 1947 front wander
 

Adjust your toe-in first! That is why it is set that way.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

Should the vehicle weight be on suspension to get the toe-in/toe-out accurate?.....Mark

Re: 1947 front wander
 

yes

Re: 1947 front wander
 

I just adjusted my '47 PU steering box per Mac VanPelt's website tutorial. It was not enough to just adjust the box with the nut/locknut/star adjuster. It improved, but not enough. I looked into rebuilding but VanPelt has directions for removing paper shims that are stacked up under the 4 bolt end plate. Remove one shim, definately helped, remove another and it acted as though it was freshly rebuilt. I had recently replaced the king pins and tie rod ends. So check your king pins when it's on the lift, get that 1/8" toe in when it's back down. Adjust per VanPelt before pulling for a rebuild.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

✌��I needed this info as well. Thanks.

Re: 1947 front wander
 

47s have two springs, not like a traverse spring on the cars. They get flattened out the the axle looses its tilt. You can buy wedges that go between the axle and spring to cock the axle back. I made a set for a 47 trk I had years ago to stop the wander.