Possible 1952 steering issue

[willyp]

Posted for a buddy working on his 52. Any incite would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much!

He writes, Since I have never driven this truck or a stock one like this…I can turn the steering wheel 2.25 turns to left and 1.75 turns to right. My questions to someone would be is that normal? I thought I had the sector gear in the steering box indexed incorrectly. I took it apart again and moved it a tooth, which did not change anything but the position of the steering wheel. If I disconnect the steering (pitman) arm from the steering linkage I can turn the wheel and box 3 turns in either direction. So, I have plenty of margin and centering with the sector and worm gear. If I jack up the front end and move the wheels by hand I can get them to travel stop to stop with and without the steering box connected. I measure all the geometry and it is symmetrical. The only thing not making sense is the difference in the number of turns of the steering wheel.

[mr48chev]

Did he by chance change or modify the steering arm on the spindle. Some hot rods that go from the factory steering arm to one of those hot rod style steering arms have the same issue as they run out of travel before they run out of turn at the wheel in one direction. usually they turn further to the right than they do to the left when that happens.

I'm thinking my truck did it a bit because I took three leaves out of the springs for a quick and nasty (and unwise) lowering job and the angle of the drag link changed drastically in the process.

[52ChevPU]

OrrieG and MR48chev, Thank you for your suggestions. I did replace the tie rod (old one just slightly bent). The steering knuckles and tie rod ends appeared in good shape. No other modifications from stock (had original springs re-arched to factory at spring shop). The drag link is original but I did replace the ball stud on the pitman arm (worn to a flat spot) and rebuilt the drag link ends. I will double check the adjustment on it as you suggest. Thanks.

[mr48chev]

One thing I didn't think about earlier. There should be a stop on each side that is bolted to the pin/bolt that holds the king pin. If someone put the wrong one on one side or left one out on the other side it wouldn't turn the same distance from center on each side.

The guy who had my front axle before I did left the stops off when he replaced the king pins and it turns too far on each side. It turns too far in each direction.

[OrrieG]

Center the tires and wheels. Center the steering box. Adjust the drag link to fit the position of the ptiman arm and connection on the tierod or kingpin?spindle arm. In a ideal world box quits turning right when the king pins hit the stops. If the pitman arm has been lengthened the box will stop before the wheel go to full turn. If it has been shortened the wheels will hit the stops before the box goes to its limit. When everything is centered position the steering wheel to right position. Usually when there is more turn to one side that means someone adjusted the drag link to center the steering wheel throwing off the centering.

[mr48chev]

I didn't think of that one as I haven't ever had to work with an adjustable drag link on one of these these trucks. Always just the stock stuff on the ones I have been around.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by willyp

Posted for a buddy working on his 52. Any incite would be greatly appreciated. Thanks much!

He writes, Since I have never driven this truck or a stock one like this…I can turn the steering wheel 2.25 turns to left and 1.75 turns to right. My questions to someone would be is that normal? I thought I had the sector gear in the steering box indexed incorrectly. I took it apart again and moved it a tooth, which did not change anything but the position of the steering wheel. If I disconnect the steering (pitman) arm from the steering linkage I can turn the wheel and box 3 turns in either direction. So, I have plenty of margin and centering with the sector and worm gear. If I jack up the front end and move the wheels by hand I can get them to travel stop to stop with and without the steering box connected. I measure all the geometry and it is symmetrical. The only thing not making sense is the difference in the number of turns of the steering wheel.

either the box is not indexed correctly or the stops are on wrong or missing.

Have him go through this link
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...51ctsm0901.htm

and make sure the stops are on and on the correct side of the axle. The king pin lock pin hold them on then check for other interference in the linkages

[willyp]

Thanks for the quick reply, there is an invaluable wealth of knowledge here. ill pass this along.

[willyp]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

either the box is not indexed correctly or the stops are on wrong or missing.

Have him go through this link
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...51ctsm0901.htm

and make sure the stops are on and on the correct side of the axle. The king pin lock pin hold them on then check for other interference in the linkages

thanks for the link, I noticed your in Houston. I just moved to Houston in May of 2016 from DC. Pretty good car/truck scene here, guess the weather helps.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by willyp

thanks for the link, I noticed your in Houston. I just moved to Houston in May of 2016 from DC. Pretty good car/truck scene here, guess the weather helps.

Weather is even better when your in your shorts and T shirt out barbequing in January and February.

[52ChevPU]

DWSR and WillyP, Thanks for the information...I agree something got over-looked. I reassembled it with new King Pins and worked from numerous pictures I took prior to dis-assembly. I have found other things on this truck that I thought were factory were just a prior owner's best judgement. I did a compare and stare with the assembly manual and checked for any binding...so far nothing jumps out at me and it does freely travel from stop to stop.

[dwcsr]

well if this front end was done prior to your fixes it may well have the wrong drag link on it. 47-54 are not the same as 55-59 although they look similar.
47-54 is 12"
55-59 is 15-1/2"

[mr48chev]

This time around I'd say it is something so simple that it got over looked in the trying to figure it out process

[dsraven]

hey, thanks OrrieG. ya, this is rotator cuff surgery #4, the second one for my r/h shoulder. torn up pretty bad inside and had several anchors put in and also joint and bone "debridement" down far enough to make the bone bleed. anyway, you probably know what that is like already, no fun. just out of my sling so pt is pretty basic range of motion stuff. the pt says I am ahead of the game so thats good. sure am going stir crazy though.
thanks for the thoughts, hope yours are all healed up.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by dsraven

hey, thanks OrrieG. ya, this is rotator cuff surgery #4, the second one for my r/h shoulder. torn up pretty bad inside and had several anchors put in and also joint and bone "debridement" down far enough to make the bone bleed. anyway, you probably know what that is like already, no fun. just out of my sling so pt is pretty basic range of motion stuff. the pt says I am ahead of the game so thats good. sure am going stir crazy though.
thanks for the thoughts, hope yours are all healed up.

Sounds like my wifes surgery, she was in pretty good shape 3-4 months out, full recovery at 12 months.