Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-10-2019, 06:24 AM   #1
marty in Ohio
Senior Member
 
marty in Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Elyria, Ohio
Posts: 753
Default Steering Wheel Shim ?

We've rebuilt the steering gear on my 1930, two tooth, town sedan and thought the steering was a little tight. We redid the adjustments and it still seemed "not right." It appears that the steering wheel is too tight on the column. Maybe my steering wheel is worn out. Today we are going loosen the clamp at the bottom of the column and make sure that it's seated on the gearbox and try to shim the wheel a little with a rear axle shim to see if this will raise the wheel up a little. Has anyone out there run into this problem?
marty in Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2019, 07:55 AM   #2
Joe K
Senior Member
 
Joe K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Cow Hampshire
Posts: 4,175
Default Re: Steering Wheel Shim ?

The position of the steering column shaft inside the housing is set at the lowermost ball bearing race. It is unlikely this race is damaged or moved as it can go down no further than permitted by the housing shoulders (to remove this race, one removes the housing contained parts: worm, sector, etc and uses a punch to reach in through the two bolt holes at the bottom of the housing and "walk" the bearing race out.)

Your thought on the column mis-positioning relative to the upper bearing race/column seat might be the solution. It might also be a loose worm/shaft assembly which leaves "free play" for the worm (which you don't want) but in the process causes the upper bearing race/column seat to be too high - and thereby causes the column to be too high.

It may also be the worm is placed on the steering shaft too high leaving not enough space. The worm is simply a press fit onto the shaft. And can be moved by placing the shaft inside a 1" pipe which bears on the worm, and then "tapping smartly" the pipe on the concrete or a steel plate - inertia will move and possibly remove the worm from the shaft.

So there are at least three potential causes for what you are seeing.

IIRC, there are dimensions offered for the location of the worm on the steering shaft for the various column options. I don't have a link for these off-hand but the same dimensions are what most who sell the worm/shaft assembly have to work to in matching replacements.

Joe K
__________________
Shudda kept the horse.

Last edited by Joe K; 04-10-2019 at 08:01 AM.
Joe K is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 04-10-2019, 08:18 AM   #3
marty in Ohio
Senior Member
 
marty in Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Elyria, Ohio
Posts: 753
Default Re: Steering Wheel Shim ?

Joe,
Thanks for the quick reply. I think the worm gear is correct on the steering shaft as I replaced the shaft with the worm already on it from Snyders. I have the steering wheel off and the column collar loose as well as the column support under the gas tank, and as soon as I have help here we will try to tap on the column to make sure it's seated on the gearbox. Will keep you advised.
Marty
marty in Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2019, 05:20 PM   #4
marty in Ohio
Senior Member
 
marty in Ohio's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Elyria, Ohio
Posts: 753
Default Re: Steering Wheel Shim ?

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
We cut about an inch from a rear axle shim, put it on the steering shaft and put the steering wheel back on. It drives like it's new.
Marty
marty in Ohio is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:43 AM.