Steering gears - do they tighten up your steering

[DHort]

I am sure my gears are starting to wear out. Is it as simple as replacing the gears that are in there to remove some of the play in the steering wheel? How well does a new set from Langs fit after you have removed the old set? Might it require some work on the lathe? Thank you.

[TXGOAT2]

Play is usually distributed through the entire steering linkage. I'd carefully check every moving part of the steering system, and make sure the pitman arm is absolutely tight on the steering shaft. If the play is all in the gear box, it can be rebuilt in most cases. Referring to the repair manual should provide information on how to check for excess wear and how to deal with it.

[TWrenn]

And often times play in steering comes from the entire gear box up on the column, as in slightly loose rivets allowing the whole shebang to move even slightly without hardly noticing, and that can add into the equation. Been there.

[Dan Hatch]

Start at wheel bearings and work your way back to the steering wheel.
Play close attention to the axle itself, the holes for kingpin.
Most are worn out.

[John kuehn]

Question.
Have you ever gone through the front end assembly? Steering issues most of the time really start from the bottom up and end up through the steering column. Steering gear boxes after many years need attention but the front end bushings, king pins, steering linkage bushings, and wheel bearings add to the slack your steering gear box can’t handle.

You will be surprised when your front axle assembly is rebuilt how stable your steering becomes. It’s not hard to do. It really does make a difference!

[George Mills]

While I can fully agree with what others have said about a full thorough examination of everything...a quick diagnosis would be to lock the steering shaft with cushioned grips and note left/right rotation of the steering wheel from there. A little bit is expected but not too much. Lots of 'left/right'? that's backlash and wobble due to loose and worn parts up top.

Also depends on the generation of the steering design. I've seen the late 5::1 generation to have elongated the stop slot by a bunch, I've also seen where the stop pin in that version magically had disappeared. Might be best to just pull the steering wheel and cap and take a look see.

From there you have a few choices at the top of the column. 1) pop the 3 satellite gears and replace in kind. Doesn't help with ring wear, doesn't quite help with sun gear wear...but probably will cut what you do have as far as lash a bunch. 2) pull the column complete and go back in new. Cures a lot, a mornings work (usually..the first hour and a half is getting all the do-dads off of the column shaft while doing the 'pull' up and over the front seat, better off a 2 or 3 man job as the lower stuff can be a devil...after that things go easier, real easy and quick)

Choice to be made if the old 4::1 system. Would you want to go 5::1 with the replacement? Makes steering effort marginally better (some say - night and day <wink>). Sun Gear has to be replaced, Ring gear if in great shape will probably cause a lock up (but lap-able to size a fit).

[speedytinc]

Much of the time, the 3 pins are worn. New pins are off the shelf hardened dowel pins which are .3750.
The originals had the clearance in those pins. I find changing the pins with slightly worn gears will adequately tighten the gear set much of the time.
Pull the cover off & measure the gears & pins before you start ordering parts.
& yes check every thing for wear & slop. Have someone move the steering wheel back & forth as you look for wear/movement in all the moving joints. Areas in need of attention will be obvious. The steering shaft frame support bracket bushing is commonly overlooked or not attended to.
Its a real joy to drive a T with a tightened up steering system.

[John Codman]

When I first drove my '27, I discovered that I was aiming it rather then driving it. To make a long story short - There was a little slop in just about every connection in the steering system. The big Gorilla was the lower steering shaft bushings, but I wound up working on every connection. The top steering gears were OK, but the gear box had been replaced with a locking type of box which had no key. I couldn't find a locksmith who could pick the lock, so I cut the box off and replaced it. I'm actually pretty impressed with the way the car rides and steers. It's actually quite comfortable to drive.
.

[TXGOAT2]

I will second that a T with tight steering (and round wheels in reasonable balance) is a pleasure to drive. If the steering on your car fights you, it needs repair or adjustment.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Dave,

Are you just replacing the 3 gears, or the steering shaft too? Don't know if they're also available, but replacing all 4 gears is better practice. News gears running with old gears isn't always a good combo. As others mentioned, the 3 pins need to be looked at as well for possible replacement. You'll sometimes find them loose in the steering column shaft.

[Harvey Bergstrom]

When I went through the whole steering system on my ‘24 Touring, I started with straightening the tie rod. Then I replaced all bushings & pins in every joint as every one was worn out, probably from lack of oiling. A little play in every joint will add up to trouble and you will have to herd your car down the road rather than drive it. I have to replace the bushing in the steering box yet as it is worn. I could hear a clunk every time I turn the wheel side to side. I only have about 1 inch of play, which bugs the heck out of me, so as soon as I get new bushings, they will be put in too. I replaced the steering shaft with the 5:1 ratio and it made a much friendlier car to steer. Now my car is an absolute joy to drive. Good luck in getting your car up to par!

[TRDxB2]

The steering gear bone is connected to the steering shaft bone
The steering shaft bone is connected to the steering bracket bone
The steering shaft bone is connected to the pitman arm bone
The pitman arm bone is connected to the drag link bone
The drag link bone is connected to the tie rod bone
The tie rod bone is connected to the spindle arm bones
The spindle arm bones are connected to the spindle bones

Shake the wheel to the left
Shake the wheel to the right
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle
Where's the wiggle in that dance