Steering Shaft Wear

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Steering Shaft Wear
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Conklin on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 09:19 pm:

At what point should you be concerned about wear in the steering shaft at the base of the steering column (at the fire wall).
The shaft I was intending to use in a 4/1 to 5/1 conversion measures .749" accept at the bottom bearing where it varies from .721 min. to .738 max.
I don't recall anyone having a problem with this but I sure would not want it to break.

I also remember reading about repairing the bearing at the base of the column but can not find the thread.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ted Dumas on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 10:37 pm:

The weak spot will be at the upper end of the keyway. A little undersize on the full diameter of the shaft would not be a strength concern.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 11:17 pm:

Donald,

It's not a strength issue. But, if the shaft is sloppy in the support bearing you'll have a lot of slop down there that will lead to front end shimmy. If you must use the shaft, turn the diameter down until it's .721 across the whole length that fits in the bushing. Then, make a special undersize bushing to reestablish the proper clearance.

All that being said, it's easier to find a good shaft.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 - 11:35 pm:

Here's how I fixed mine.



The lower portion of my steering shaft was well worn. I turned it down to .7160" then made new bushings out of aluminum bronze.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Stroud on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 02:55 am:

They can also be built up by spray welding and turned down to original, but I don't know how cost effective that would be now. Dave


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Donald Conklin on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 11:09 am:

The wear I'm referring to is not at the bottom bracket. The wear is about half way down the shaft where it exits the steering column which ends at the fire wall.

Any thoughts on renewing the bearing area at the base of the column, again I remember reading about a repair but can't find it with a word search.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry VanOoteghem on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 12:02 pm:

I wouldn't worry about that.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Philip Berg on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - 12:21 pm:

Mine is slightly worn at that location but I'm not worried as Jerry indicates.


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