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Steering wheel play

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66ejag

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What is a normal amount of free play in the steering wheel with the car parked. My BN7 has about 1.2 inches measured along the outside circumference of the original steering wheel. The car tracks well at any speed.

Thanx,
Ed
 
ED, I would say that is pretty good for that old box.---Keoke
 
There are two adjustments on the box. The screw adjustment on the top sets the peg to worm clearance. It should be adjusted to snug in the straight ahead position, BUT with no binding at the turn extremes.

There is a second adjustment to set worm/steering shaft end play. This is set by adjusting the number of shims under the cover on the front of the steering box.

Maybe just lucky, but I've been able to adjust the box to less than 1/4" steering wheel free travel at the outer wheel rim. This, on a 50 year old box which has obviously had correct lubrication during it's life.

Tie rod ends & steering idler box bearings must also be tight & not worn.
D
 
Yeah Dave that's true. However, the peg is probably worn to the point where adjustment will only bind the box up. It might be possible to rotate the peg 90 degrees and improve on it but most likely it would entail a rebuild. I don't think 3/4" either side of center is too bad for an original old box. OTOH, the tighter around center without binding the better---Keoke
 
Ed -

That's ok but frankly you can take up the slack by adjusting your box.

My BJ8 has no play at all... but then again the box is new. The BN1 has not play either... it's been adjusted.
 
When I renovated my BT7 about 15 years ago I did the steering box myself, including fitting oversize needles in the peg and a new reamed bush on the vertical shaft. Although the car was fine to drive and it got through the local tests, there was still around 2 inches of free movement at the steering wheel perimeter. The problem is that the scroll wears in the straight ahead position, so although it can be adjusted out, it then binds in the non straight ahead position. Also the vertical shaft wears oval so that a new bush has little effect.

Finally decided to give the car a treat and have just fitted a new box from SC parts. There is now no play in the steering which is great but obviously it will never compare with a modern rack and pinion system. Just slightly less arm waving to be done /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Richard
 
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