Steering Boxes

[rms_sandiego]

The one I replaced with big divot on the surface. Replacement came through the dealer. 

Edited February 17, 2018 by rms_sandiego

[mac]

One advantage to living between ZF and SKF (24 miles southwest of ZF and 5 miles north of SKF) is talking, and being schooled by the engineers directly involved when we go out to lunch together.  (No guesswork here)

 

Back in the day, ZF used to get POS sent to them from Mobile Tradition, like pic #1, for rebuilding.  

 

ZF doesn't rebuild any more.

 

Luckily, I've still got a few parts on the shelf from "back in the day".

 

If your rebuilt units don't look like these other photos, you probably went to the wrong shop. 

 

Mac. 

 

 

[Einspritz]

Yup, beauty, and that is what I am doing for my projects.

[jgerock]

There is no mystery to these worm and roller steering boxes.  I am betting most folks who pay for a "rebuild" are only getting a freshened box that looks clean and pretty.  If the two main parts (the worm and roller gears) are not galled or pitted and the two ball (not needle) bearings look good, then folks can easily do it themselves at home using hand tools and the replacement gasket and (2) seals.

[Einspritz]

That's the common misconception, and why I asked to know what parts the poster's shop replaced.

 

There are needle bearings within the roller (at least all of mine), and that roller must be shimmed properly.

 

Each of the elements has an incremental additive effect, so the problem just gets worse and worse; so I guess it is a matter of what one will tolerate.

 

You will know it in your steering wheel, particularly if it is, say for a stock 1600-2, less so in say a 13" MOMO wheel; either way, angular slop is angular slop.

 

What I can also say is that if done properly and to perfection, these boxes can be renewed and last a long time if maintained and not run into curbs. I rebuilt the box in my faux Tii in the '90s IIRC over 200K miles ago and it still works with no slop.....BTW it had 200K on it when I rebuilt it, but it never ran dry, and I don't hit curbs.

 

In the end, if anyone is satisfied with how their steering  works before or after "rebuilding" the box, then great.