• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A Steering Box Sealant

CJD

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
For the 2 covers on the steering box, a gasket goes on the casting, then a steel or brass shim, and finally the cover. so the gasket seals the shim to the casting. But nothing seals the shim to the cover...I know this because the shims came off clean and easily on disassembly. It's no wonder they leak!

Are you guys using sealant on the shims when you reassemble the covers?
 

TR4nut

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Are you guys using sealant on the shims when you reassemble the covers?

Hi John-

Its been a couple years since I did that, but yes, I put sealant on the shims - hylomar in my case.
 

sp53

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I used Indian head gasket sealer. I would suggest one thing to look real close at the end piece because they are often warped, and that is often why they leak. The P.O.s would tighten them up and in just the little 3 inch deal the corners pull in and the center pooches out and then leaks. If you have a group, which you probably do, take a look.
 

TexasKnucklehead

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
...once again my memory fails me. I may have put a little hylomar on the shims, but I don't think so. I know I have 90wt oil in the box and it's still bone dry, turns like a champ with no wander. I don't think there is enough space between the shims for oil to leak.

I do know you must consider the thickness of the gasket (and any sealants) when you set the end play.
 
OP
CJD

CJD

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Thanks guys! I'll go with the sealant, and I'll definitely check the covers for straightness.

Last car had the split column. I still laugh every time I look at this 6 foot long steering box on the TR2! In a crash the only thing that might keep the steering shaft from shishkabobing the driver is that most cars you could hit are taller than the end of the steering box.
 
OP
CJD

CJD

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
And...3 year follow-up. I went with permatex 518 on all the shim surfaces. This sealant is the red jelly-like stuff, that claims it will dissolve if it breaks off in an oil environment. The box is dry as a bone.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
R TR2/3/3A Jammed Steering Box Triumph 10
R TR2/3/3A Steering Box Gaskets Triumph 4
JAV For Sale non adjustable steering box Austin Healey Classifieds 3
W BN1 Steering Box Removal Austin Healey 11
Martinld123 Steering Wheel Alignment [Lost centering on steering box 1956 Austin Healey, BN2] Austin Healey 14
W BN1 Steering Box Austin Healey 3
Martinld123 Steering Box Leak Austin Healey 27
TomMull TR2/3/3A Steering Box Cam or Worm Triumph 18
W BN4 Steering box bushing. Austin Healey 2
Gundog61 BN2 Steering Box Leak Austin Healey 2
bighealeysource Changing Steering Box Lube (BN2) Austin Healey 9
B TR2/3/3A TR3a steering box rebuild Triumph 19
T For Sale - 1961 TR3A Steering Box Triumph Classifieds 8
BoyRacer Replace BN1 steering box with later version? Austin Healey 0
TAS525 TR2/3/3A Steering Box Rebuild? Triumph 19
Walter74 Steering Box End Play Austin Healey 2
J Experience with High Ratio Steering Box? Austin Healey 15
Jayplum TR2/3/3A Steering Box end play Triumph 6
J Steering Box Adjusting Bolt Lock Nut Austin Healey 11
Michael Oritt Steering box lube Austin Healey 22
K TR2/3/3A The steering box again? Triumph 9
I Ball Bearing cup for old style BN1 steering box Austin Healey 0
C 1962 Healey 3000 Mark II Steering Box Austin Healey 9
M TR2/3/3A Steering Box Rocker Shaft Bushing Reaming Triumph 4
T TR2/3/3A Steering box oils - grease ? Triumph 20
K TR2/3/3A Steering box install again...the collar with the pinch bolt? Triumph 9
T TR2/3/3A Question on torquing nut on steering box rocker shaft Triumph 8
K TR2/3/3A Steering box fluid again.... Triumph 2
T TR2/3/3A Requesting help on removing TR3A steering column and box Triumph 21
R TR2/3/3A Oops...Steering Box Situation Triumph 7
Csarneson Early BN4 steering box pitting Austin Healey 16
D TR2/3/3A steering box question Triumph 1
doc50 58 Metropolitan Steering Box Leaks Other British Cars 0
AH67 Wanted Wanted steering Idler Box & Arm Austin Healey Classifieds 3
Bob_Spidell Steering Box Replacement Austin Healey 76
B Steering box BJ8 Austin Healey 5
doc50 Adjusting play on steering box? Other British Cars 5
T TR2/3/3A TR-3a Steering Box rebuild question Triumph 3
doc50 Nash metro steering box question Other British Cars 1
L Tight spot on steering box is way off Austin Healey 18
R TR2/3/3A Lube for steering box, transmission and rear end Triumph 6
K TR2/3/3A Penrite semi fluid steering box lube? Triumph 14
B Outer steering column connection to the steering box Austin Healey 6
simon1966 Steering box lubricant Austin Healey 17
S TR2/3/3A Suspension Rebuild & Steering Box Triumph 4
M BN1 "in-site" steering box overhaul ? Austin Healey 4
Got_All_4 TR2/3/3A Has anyone tried this new steering box top plate Triumph 14
K TR2/3/3A Steering Box Triumph 2
M BJ8 Steering box removal Austin Healey 8
T Steering Box Pinion Seal [?] Spridgets 1

Similar threads

Top