The Ford Barn

Johan Ottosen · 10-27-2023, 03:01 PM

Hi all.
I have a 7 tooth steering colum in my 1929 daily driver. It has about 3" slack.
If I refurb it with new internals, bore it out to accept the a-3574 needle bearings and a sector seal kit, can I expect no slack?
Does anyone have experience with this?

Synchro909 · 10-27-2023, 04:28 PM

I rebuilt the 7 tooth steering box on my 1928 Tudor when I got it. There was absolutely NO slack and even now, after about 20,000 miles, there is only about 1/2 inch play. I do not recommend the use of needle bearings on the sector shaft. A friend who has rebuilt dozens of these also will not use them. He makes eccentric bushes and with a bit of fiddling, gets the worm and sector perfectly engaged. You can't do that with the needle bearing kit.

jb-ob · 10-27-2023, 04:41 PM

2X on NO needle bearings. Been there once & not a gain. You might have the box counter sunk to accept a seal for the sector.

I'm told an acceptable fit can be gotten with the replacement sector and worm.

It was suggested to me to collect several NOS sectors and fit them to your existing worm. Seems many of these NOS or era replacement sectors where made over size to compensate for a worn worm. That was my experience.

The seven tooth steering box is greatly under rated, it works fine & simple to rebuild..

Johan Ottosen · 10-27-2023, 04:44 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro909

I rebuilt the 7 tooth steering box on my 1928 Tudor when I got it. There was absolutely NO slack and even now, after about 20,000 miles, there is only about 1/2 inch play. I do not recommend the use of needle bearings on the sector shaft. A friend who has rebuilt dozens of these also will not use them. He makes eccentric bushes and with a bit of fiddling, gets the worm and sector perfectly engaged. You can't do that with the needle bearing kit.

Thank you. That is good news!
I will give the needle bearings some more thought.

10-27-2023, 03:01 PM	#1
Johan Ottosen Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Denmark Posts: 18	No slack possible in 7 tooth steering? Hi all. I have a 7 tooth steering colum in my 1929 daily driver. It has about 3" slack. If I refurb it with new internals, bore it out to accept the a-3574 needle bearings and a sector seal kit, can I expect no slack? Does anyone have experience with this? __________________ Ford model a Tudor january 1929. Assembled by Ford in Copenhagen, Denmark. Registred may 5th 1929 in Copenhagen. Last edited by Johan Ottosen; 10-27-2023 at 04:45 PM.

10-27-2023, 04:28 PM	#2
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: No slack possible in 7 tooth steering? I rebuilt the 7 tooth steering box on my 1928 Tudor when I got it. There was absolutely NO slack and even now, after about 20,000 miles, there is only about 1/2 inch play. I do not recommend the use of needle bearings on the sector shaft. A friend who has rebuilt dozens of these also will not use them. He makes eccentric bushes and with a bit of fiddling, gets the worm and sector perfectly engaged. You can't do that with the needle bearing kit. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

10-27-2023, 04:41 PM	#3
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 640	Re: No slack possible in 7 tooth steering? 2X on NO needle bearings. Been there once & not a gain. You might have the box counter sunk to accept a seal for the sector. I'm told an acceptable fit can be gotten with the replacement sector and worm. It was suggested to me to collect several NOS sectors and fit them to your existing worm. Seems many of these NOS or era replacement sectors where made over size to compensate for a worn worm. That was my experience. The seven tooth steering box is greatly under rated, it works fine & simple to rebuild..