early steering box rebuild

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cruiserjunktion

cruiserjunktion

Cruiserjunktion@gmail.com
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Early steering box upper race removal.....

I can't seem to remove this race.

Is there a seal under the race? I seem to have bent something under there. (hopefully not the housing)

How do I remove the top bearing from the harpoon?
race.webp
rod.webp
 
Last edited:
Mel,
The early worm & roller box is an inferior design. I strongly urge you to not waste any more time on it, and focus your efforts on installing a power assisted recirculating ball box, like a mini-truck, or FJ60 or scout or....
 
FJ40Jim- My rebuilt oem carb is worth "DOUBLE" what ever I paid you to work your magic

1000 Thanks

Although my truck is a hodgepodge of many different years, and the steering design is dated, I want keep the old steering junk....... I just like the tractor feel.

I have driven it a lil over 6k in 6months. My only complaint was the slop in the box.

I should be able to get that out by adjusting the shims.

Suggestions on getting that race out? Is there a seperate metal ring under it? I may have damaged it.
 
Last edited:
Hmmm, when I rebuilt mine, I found both the race and upper bearing to be in excellent shape. I just replaced the lower bearing and race. Although I think mine had been rebuilt before. Looking in the FSM it looks like you need a SST for removing the upper bearing and race. If the bearing looks great and the race is smooth and clean then I say run it. Adjusting the shims is going to make the big difference in the slop, not really the bearings(unless they are completely shot).
 
red66toy said:
Hmmm, when I rebuilt mine, I found both the race and upper bearing to be in excellent shape. I just replaced the lower bearing and race. Although I think mine had been rebuilt before. Looking in the FSM it looks like you need a SST for removing the upper bearing and race. If the bearing looks great and the race is smooth and clean then I say run it. Adjusting the shims is going to make the big difference in the slop, not really the bearings(unless they are completely shot).
Click to expand...


What he said.:)

Some things are not worth doing just to say you did them.

Best

Mark A.

P.S. Thanks for the PM with the link. Most useful.;)
 
I can tell you what i did with mine when i did it not long ago.

It is probably not the most recommended way though, so if you decide to do it this way be careful.

I took my little Dremel to it with the little cut off wheels and cut it on 2 sides very carefully . Not going all the way thru the race itself and then took a little chisel behind it and split the race in half.

Again not the recommended way of doing this.

HTH
 
I reused the bearings and races.

I made gaskets from silicone and used a front axle seal on the box.

I moved 4 of the 5 shims to the other side of the box.

Steering is like new.


quote

Dear Mel,



I did not change the bearing or races, because they looked good in my case, too. We just removed some shims, although soon, I may put some in again - the box now seems to have developed a "dead spot", but I don't yet know whether it truly has to do with the shims.

I also like the old-style steering column, and if I ever go to power steering, I will do the Saginaw conversion on that old column. According to Dave Gore (4+ plus fabricator for Man-A-Fre) that's the strongest conversion that can be done. It requires some welding, I haven't found a guy yet to do it for me. But then, I have wheeled the truck for some 2 years now (4 times in Moab) and can deal with the manual steering.

The best improvements in the steering system came from (in order of noticeable improvement) going to narrower tires, new bushings and shackles, the shim adjustment, tie rod replacement.
 
I must have been lucky because once I got everything loose, I stuffed the housing with new grease, reinserted the TRE , then hit the TRE on the bottom with a rubber mallet to remove it again and the race came with it.
 
I know this is too late to help but no there is not a seal under the race. The race, unless damaged, should be reused along with the bearings! :-)

There was zero bearing/race wear on my box when I tore into it. Except for the sector shaft defect I mention on my web site the box was like new when I got all the crud off it. Mark A. has all the parts to rebuild the old boxes or can rebuild it for you. Jim C. is correct in that the old box/column is not the best setup but I, like you, sort of want to keep it stock until I do my power steering conversion. I still plan on keeping the old column though! :-)
 
Well duh :o I just thought about the same thing! I have the box in the first pic available. It came out of a 1969. The column shaft was cut just above the output and the sector gear is defective but the bearings and races are in good shape. Yours for the shipping.
 
The EZ way to remove an outer race like that is to weld a bead all the way around on the bearing surface. After it cools, the race will fall out by gravity because the metal shrinks after welding.
 
You a genius:) ....I was going to suggest to put in the oven and let it get a tad higher than and warm and sprey freon on the race....the kind you find at the electronic to trouble shoot. But not so what I suggest will work.

Pin_Head said:
The EZ way to remove an outer race like that is to weld a bead all the way around on the bearing surface. After it cools, the race will fall out by gravity because the metal shrinks after welding.
Click to expand...
 
red66toy said:
Hmmm, when I rebuilt mine, I found both the race and upper bearing to be in excellent shape. I just replaced the lower bearing and race.
Click to expand...

Any hints of getting that bearing off? I tried a universal puller, but only bent the s**t out if it. Cutting was my next idea, unless anyone has a suggestion.

Thanks,

SD_FJ_40
 
If anyone has a part # for the lower bearing I'd love to know, SOR has it for about $30, but I'd rather buy local.

Thanks,

SD_FJ_40
 
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