Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[oldtimer]

I am counting on some of the wise men to come to my aid as usual.There appears to be a point,when moving the steering,when I feel what I would describe as a "notch",a binding at one small specific point.Is this just old age in me, and the box,and might I be able to lose or minimise what is a barely discernible issue at present or will I simply move the fault to another point or make it worse?
My thanks in anticipation.
oldtimer

[D4B]

I often had this problem with a VW camper splitscreen model 1967.

Although I tended to let the independant VW specialist sort it out for
its MOT, I can tell you what I remember if it helps!

It is a delicate balance between too much freeplay, which can be
interesting on the motorways in high winds, and creating a notch by
trying to adjust out the freeplay...

The reason that you end up with a notch is because the worm drive
piece inside the steering box is so used to operating at a certain point,
when you try to adjust it creates this tight spot, which when you are driving I think is much more dangerous than freeplay....

Found this article on google about a beetle box:

http://www.vw-resource.com/steering_box_adjustment.html

Hope this helps

[oldtimer]

Thank you D4B for your help.A number of factors there to consider.Glad to know this is not something I imagined and that someone has been there before.

[Penman]

Hi
What type of box have you got?
I had something similar on a Minx with a Worm and Nut system, it turned out to be ball bearings from inside the Nut being forced out until eventually there weren't enough left in there and the steering wheel just spun round without moving the front wheels.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[oldtimer]

Hello Penman
The car is a 1968 Volvo 120.The box is Gemmer,cam and roller type with a reduction ratio of 15.5 : 1.
My old workshop manual,not a Volvo one,indicates various shims for steering box bearing.
This may sound very learned but I don't have a clue really but it may help some of the wise men on the forum to indicate what may help alleviate the problem.
Thank you for input.

[Farmer John]

Hello Oldtimer,
The only help you need is advice to replace your steering box.
A new box, new parts, service exchange, the choice is yours depending on availability. Service exchange would be best. If you really need to use a used box check it by hand for noise and lumpiness. Unusually for mechanical contrivances steering boxes sound worse when spun by hand than they are inside. No tolerance for notchiness though.If the lubricant has leaked out the box is useless.
Get someone qualified to remove and replace the box.

John

[47Jag]

Oldtimer,

Most steering boxes of this type have a high point at the straight ahead position. It's adjustable by a setscrew on the top cover. The reason it's there is to provide a bit of stabiliity/resistance as I said, in straight ahead position. As to why you have 'suddenly' noticed this I don't know. I reckon the sector shaft bushing has worn and as a result is binding on the cam. There's only two moving parts so take the box out and have a look OR have a twiddle with the adjuster screw.

Art

[oldtimer]

My thanks to you both,Farmer John and Art,I suspect that the advice from the first gentleman is the way to go although,being a "careful Scot"there is some natural resistance to this solution.Art,being a fellow Scot,has tended to offer possible alternatives to delay the drastic action of spending money.Rape may indeed be inevitable but I am unlikely to lie back and enjoy it.
As to why I have "suddenly" noticed this ,Art,it may be that I was without the car for the best part of three months and had not previously been aware of it.Even now it is a matter of it being very slight,to the point of being a figment of my imagination,but it is never long out of my thoughts.
Thank you both for your time and input.