C1 Steering Box Restoration - Restoring The C-1 Steering Gear

Roller consists of outer tooth and inner race assembly. Ball bearings run between these parts. The original through bolt ("shaft") and nut will be reused. The bolt shown is strictly for holding the assembly together for shipping. This precisely machined set of parts will restore performance to like-new level.

The original, factory shaft-bolt and hex nut secure the roller assembly in the sector. Bolt and nut torque is 55 ft. lbs. Apply Loctite 271 (red) to clean threads. The sector flanges pinch the inner bearing races together, preventing the races from rotating on the shaft in service. Pack the ball bearings with chassis grease.

Once the shaft-bolt is secure, the exposed threads require peening. This is the factory method for preventing the nut from coming loose. Peening crushes the threads toward the nut. Done properly, the peened thread sections lock the nut in place, preventing it from loosening in service. Do not overlook this safety measure.

The rebuild kit includes a new upper column bearing. This provides a new horn wire as well. Before installing the new worm and steering shaft, carefully press the upper bearing into the column tube. Be certain to align the wire properly, using the original, factory routing as a guide.

A correctly lubed column bearing and renewed brass horn ring are an important part of gear restoration. The bearing is not readily accessible once the steering wheel is in place. Greased and fresh, the bearing supports the upper steering shaft. For the bearing to function properly, install the steering wheel's spring and other hardware in the right order.

Pack the tapered worm bearings with grease. Coat the worm surface with grease as well. By now, you have installed new bearing races in the worm adjuster cup and the gear housing. The threaded adjuster cup will set the load on these bearings. Coat the adjuster's threads with a thread sealant to prevent gear lube seepage.

Temporarily mount the steering wheel on the steering shaft. An alternative, shown, is to fabricate a lever arm with nut. The arm's spring scale hole is drilled to match the radius of the steering wheel. Before testing the worm bearing adjustment, grease the sector bearings and temporarily install the sector shaft with side cover. Keep the sector adjustment loose to prevent any drag. Worm bearings require a 3/8- to 5/8-pound pull at the steering wheel rim. Pull at right angles to the spokes.

Once the worm bearings are adjusted properly, secure the large lock nut without rotating the adjuster. (Avoid the hammer and punch method on this nut. A suitable chain wrench will tighten the nut securely without leaving a mark.) Again, turn the gear gently to its left/right extremes, pulling with the spring scale. New bearings can be set closer to the 3/8-pound pull.

For final assembly, coat the adjuster screw, cover bolt threads and side cover gasket with sealant or Gasgacinch. The adjuster thrust washer controls clearance between the screw's button head and the sector slot. This gap should be 0.002" or less, measured with a feeler gauge (shown from ST-12 manual).