E93A Steering Box - Tornado Typhoon
After a long winters gestation I treated the car to a quick trip around the 'block' This is the first time I have driven it so not sure of what to expect but the steering frightened me! On a 13inch steering wheel I have 3 inches of play at the rim of the steering wheel before I see any movement at the road wheels. I have tried to adjust the box using the nut on top of the box itself but not much improvement. Spoke to Small Fords who suggested that I was lucky having this little amount of play! So how do I improve things? Who do you suggest I talk to about getting it rebuilt?
thats why we like wide roads ,but seriously if you can fit a 100e steering box ,not the simpelest of jobs but a worthwile mod ,a panard rod on the front axel( if not fitted with a bellamy set up) will stop some of the spring effect on the steering
ReplyDeleteFirstly...are you a member of the Ford Sidevalve Owner's Club? they have a spare parts inventory...plus knowledge of any expert services required. SmallFordSpares I have foud helpful in the past...and can be cheaper than the FSOC...but that WAS some years ago..just after they moved to Happisburgh...... secondly.......whilst 3" at a 13" wheelrim might seem a tad excessive...before the ol' chequebook sees daylight...check all the steering balljoints from box to wheels? Also check for wear in the kingpins? removing surplus play in the linkages might help..and be a lot cheaper than a rebuilt box? If running a standard Ford axle, a nice home-made panhard rod is useful...don't forget one for the rear end too....the back axle as standard more than contributes to thwarting one's chosen direction! When screwing up the adjustor on the steering box, beware of over-doing things.....it is important to check that there are NO tight spots, lock-to-lock! finally....try not to meet and pass another Ford 8-10hp driver on a narrow road! (isn't it amazing how cushioned we modern drivers have become, against such vagaries.....when at one time, they were acceptable and taken for granted?)
ReplyDeleteYou may have excessive play in the top bearing which can be tightened out by adjusting the large nuts at the top of the column. You will need to remove the steering wheel to get access. the very top nut of the two you will find there is a locknut, the one below is the adjuster. don't overtighten! Dave Haley.
ReplyDeletePop Steering Box
ReplyDeleteThere are two adjustments to make on the box
Jack up the front of the car so the wheels are off the ground on axle stands
First slacken off the adjuster on the top of the box and then go inside the car and look under the steering wheel boss - there is a nut and locknut at the head of the column, this takes up any play in the worm and up and down movement in the shaft - so undo the nuts and lubricate the ball bearings ( they will probably be dry ) with molly grease, then re adjust to remove any play but without tightspots
Second fill the box with EP 140 or remove the cover, empty out most of the oil and fill with CV joint grease, replace top then adjust the screw on the top of the box as normal.
Anything under about 2" play at the wheel and you have a good box !!!
One other thing check the 4 spring shackle bushes they are vital to the stability and steering of a Pop as if they are worn they allow the axle to move sideways and it moves before the steering does !! a Buckler4 split front axle also works wonders on stability as does a Panhard rod but before fitting one get rid of as much free play in the system as you can first
Hope this helps
Ken
another mod I did years back was to replace the rubber 'metalastic?' bushes with plastic one's (from smallfordspares??) these are/were machined slightly oversize so teh bush holes needed reaming...
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