Fwd: steering box rebuild

[John Roper]

FYI, reply from Redhead steering.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Harvey Foster <redheadste...@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 5:27 PM
Subject: Re: In need of a steering box rebuild

We can supply a complete rebuild unit for $349 outright and it would take us 1.5-2weeks to get the parts all together and get it built.

Let us know if we can be of use.

 

Thanks,

Harvey Foster
Owner
Red-Head Steering Gears, Inc.
(800) 808-1148

[Kelvin Dietz]

Do you read that as "it will function as if it were new"?

I'm actually willing to spend that money.  My box is ok but it could certainly be better.  Not interested if that's a steering box that is cleaned with new bearings and seals but worn internal bits.

Doesn't seem like they're charging enough for new or refurbished internals...

Kelvin

[John Roper]

He basically said everything new but the worm gear, so...

And if it's outright with no core, I'm assuming he's got a few "good" boxes to start with?

I'll give it a bash, but won't need those services for quite some time.

[Bahu]

Hi,

I just spoke to a helpful lady at Redhead and she said they had found enough serviceable cores to create good boxes.
They don't have any new internal parts and, as I am sure you know, can't "fix" existing internals.
She said they had found a few good cores within tolerance and were offering them without need of a core.

Joel

[Kelvin Dietz]

Isn't a worn worm gear assembly the biggest problem. 
Didn't Dean Sherman give us a whole bunch of part numbers to do this rebuild ourselves?   Got the emails at home, I I believe. 

I've taken my box apart, cleaned it and painted it.  It doesn't leak.  Maybe new bearings would help a little, but they sure looked pretty good.  Just thinking that mine looks as good and works as well as what Harvey would deliver since the worn parts won't change.  Unless he DOES have decent core boxes, of course...

We could all harass Harvey with questions.  Someone should take the lead so he doesn't have to deal with dozens of guys posing as customers, most of which won't buy anything (because that is kinda what we do.  :^)

Is John that guy?  Or does someone else who really needs a new box run point?

Kelvin

[Ward Hill Press]

At 06:51 PM 11/29/2011, you wrote:
So here's a picture of the internals again:
http://datsun510.com/photopost/data/3523/medium/DSCN2872.JPG

That slop that is felt while driving straight down the road, is that a worn worm gear or the other part or both?

Do we have a Worm and nut or recirculating ball, a Worm and sector, or Worm and roller?
Info on types of steering boxes here:
http://www.carbibles.com/steering_bible.html

Will replacing everything but the worm make for a big improvement?

Walt, is this rebuilder near you?:
http://www.rushgears.com/


For those willing to do some research:
http://www.carsteering.com/

I tried several combinations of 510 and 210 but came up with nothing here. Very slow responding site with firefox, maybe someone else can find something.
http://www.steeringgearsuperstore.com/

This box wasn't a copy of something else like the L series engine or the SU's?

Could that same worm gear been used by other makes?

Just sent this out to carsteering.com:

Do you have rebuild parts or do you rebuild  68-73 Datsun 510 steering boxes?

Can you change the steering ratio?

If no to the above, if I supplied you with a steering box could you possibly find another box that can be adapted?

Steve J

[Stephen Chambers]

FWIW, I'm pretty sure our boxes are recirculating ball. Not sure that makes a difference to the questions at hand, but there you go.

--Steve 

[Kelvin Dietz]

Inside that bronze block are a bunch of little balls that recirculate. Word is there are two different diameters, small next to big next to small.  Do not look for yourself.  Never bothered to measure the diameters.  I did get it back together but it never worked right. 

http://datsun510.com/photopost/data/3523/medium/DSCN2872.JPG

Kelvin

[Ward Hill Press]

I would think that the bronze would wear more than the balls or worm, but that wouldn't make sense. When they wear the steering feels sloppy in the center and gets tighter as you turn. In any case a rebuild shop should have balls of all sizes.

I say let's give Kelvin a second chance to dissect a box, anyone have a spare in the interest of 510 science?
Steve J

[Anthony Schwisow]

Didn't read every post so maybe someone has already noted this, but on Redhead's website they explain the process a bit and they replace the balls.  Quote from their site.

"Probably the most unique and important thing we do is custom fit every single worm and piston assembly with new precision fit steel balls. This is a process not matched by any other company in the industry. This process is very important. The machining tolerances of the original manufacturing leave a small and varying amount of play that can be corrected in no other way."

http://redheadsteeringgears.reachlocal.com/?scid=982563&kw=5016327

Sounds like the problem with play may be less the hard to get shaft and more the replacable ball portion.

---

From: Kelvin Dietz <kel...@datsuns.com>
To: blueb...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 7:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Bluebird510] Fwd: steering box rebuild

Inside that bronze block are a bunch of little balls that recirculate. Word is there are two different diameters, small next to big next to small.  Do not look for yourself.  Never bothered to measure the diameters.  I did get it back together but it never worked right. 

http://datsun510.com/photopost/data/3523/medium/DSCN2872.JPG

Kelvin

On 11/29/2011 6:10 PM, Stephen Chambers wrote:

FWIW, I'm pretty sure our boxes are recirculating ball. Not sure that makes a difference to the questions at hand, but there you go.

--Steve 

On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 6:15 PM, Ward Hill Press <ward...@rcn.com> wrote:

At 06:51 PM 11/29/2011, you wrote:
So here's a picture of the internals again:
http://datsun510.com/photopost/data/3523/medium/DSCN2872.JPG

That slop that is felt while driving straight down the road, is that a worn worm gear or the other part or both?

Do we have a Worm and nut or recirculating ball, a Worm and sector, or Worm and roller?
Info on types of steering boxes here:
http://www.carbibles.com/steering_bible.html

Will replacing everything but the worm make for a big improvement?

Walt, is this rebuilder near you?:
http://www.rushgears.com/

[Bill]

Couple of related links:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/steering3.htm
http://datsun1200.com/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=PB110_Steering_Gearbox

[David Carroll]

List,

Redhead steering gears is here in Seattle. I know at least four people running steering boxes they've rebuilt in vintage cars and all say they are awesome. I do work for a couple shops that restore very rare vintage race cars and they send their stuff to Redhead. We will probably send them the rack from the '58 Lotus Eleven that I'm working on right now, actually. If that were going to happen soon I'd volunteer to talk shop with them about 510 steering boxes while I'm there. Unfortunately it's going to be a while. 

Thanks!
David Carroll
Evil Genius
Experimental Engineering
www.vg30.com

.

-----Original Message-----
From: blueb...@googlegroups.com [mailto:blueb...@googlegroups.com]On Behalf Of Anthony Schwisow
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:59 PM
To: blueb...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Bluebird510] Fwd: steering box rebuild