7-tooth steering sector bushings

[Werner]

Hallo,
can I extend the sector axle in the 28-series with 7-tooth steering, without having to remove the entire tube steering housing?

The reason is that I have to replace the sector bushing bearing sleeve, because the pitman wobbles and the oil runs out.

[alexiskai]

I'm trying to understand your question – are you asking whether it's possible to remove the sector shaft without removing the entire steering column? There are fixes available to address the problem of oil leaking out at the pitman arm, but if you are sure that you want to replace the bushing, then it seemed like your question was more about removing the shaft than "extending" it.

[Werner]

Hallo Alexis, thanks for answer.
Yes, my question is whether the entire housing must be removed if I want to push out the 7-tooth sector to renew only the two bearing bushes.

[alexiskai]

Technically, in order to remove the sector, I believe you only need to remove that side cover with the three bolts. Here's a picture of what it looks like with that off:

However, you might have trouble pressing those bushings out in the confined and awkward space available in the engine compartment. I believe most people opt to remove the entire steering column for precision work like bushing replacement and reaming.

[Synchro909]

Werner, unless you want to retain originality, I'd throw the 7 tooth unit away and use a 2 tooth one. Being LHD in Germany, everything should be easy to find - unlike for us with RHD cars. You would be pleased with the improvement. You might even go further and find a later steering box for your car. I'll leave it to some of our American barners to elaborate on that but from what I have read, they make a huge difference. There is nothing available RHD that can make such an improvement for us, in fact, I threw away a (F150?) steering box all converted to for a Model A because I couldn't use it and no one wanted it.

[Tinbasher]

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I just removed the steering column from my 28 because the worm and sector are worn. I had it out in 2 hours. I brought it out through the drivers compartment. The biggest job was removing the clutch and brake pedals. (Getting the pin out of the collar.) Much easier now I have the assy. on the bench. I honed the bushing this morning. I hoped to use the original worm gear but a trail fit has shown me that I need to replace that as well. Since you can only adjust the play on the steering column top to bottom and the sector shaft end play, I'd say your way ahead to remove the unit to overhaul it. As I'm learning. John P. "The Old Tinbasher"

[Werner]

Synchro, your idea is good. But also for me it is not easy to buy a "new" 2 tooth. The exchange "old against new" is only possible via the USA and the freight and customs costs back and forth are outrageously high. But it would make sense to install a "new" two tooth.

Tinbasher, you're right. It only makes sense if the entire steering segment is on the workbench and completely overhauled.


I have 2 inch steering wheel freewheel. That's not good, but not urgent. Therfore I have time until winter.



But I will prefer try to find a 2-tooth steering.



Thanks to all for well-intentioned advice.

[Lawrie]

you can fix up the play in the sector shaft to worm easy in the 7 tooth boxes.what you do is make an ecxentric bush for the sector shaft so its will just turn in the housing,leave it about 10 mm longer on the out side,make it a nice fit on the shaft,then assemble it to the box, turn the excentric bush to get the play out of the gears, mark the position of the bush ,remove the bush, cut it to the right length,the slip it back into the housing using loctite,
Now you have a nice worm to sector shaft fit.
Lawrie

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by Lawrie

you can fix up the play in the sector shaft to worm easy in the 7 tooth boxes.what you do is make an ecxentric bush for the sector shaft so its will just turn in the housing,leave it about 10 mm longer on the out side,make it a nice fit on the shaft,then assemble it to the box, turn the excentric bush to get the play out of the gears, mark the position of the bush ,remove the bush, cut it to the right length,the slip it back into the housing using loctite,
Now you have a nice worm to sector shaft fit.
Lawrie

Lawrie, That's what we do on 7 tooth boxes too only we don't remove the bush to trim it. We use a modern style oil seal on the sector shaft so when we bore the bousing for that, the bush gets trimmed at the same time and tyhe seal is concentric with the shaft. I use a drop or two of Loctite 290 (that's the one you use after assembly) to hold the bush while machining it.

Werner, I'm sure you would have no trouble finding a 2 tooth steering column if you put an advertisement in the "parts wanted" part of the swap meet on this site. Then there are the Randy Gross steering columns which I believe are better again that the 2 tooth.