RE: Steering box seals and other questions

["Nick Koleszar" <npk@domain.elided>]

Jon

You may well find that the box casing itself is cracked. If it's the same
design as the Burman on my '71 Giulia Super, these are well known to have
BIG problems with cracking. They are poorly designed for spreading the
loads, made from poor-quality alloy (compared to today) and old. Make sure
you have a good look around the casing, with someone applying plenty of lock
and shaking the wheel. Try shaking the car, too. You may only see the cracks
under stress (the car, not you).

I'd put some oil in it and see where it comes out. Clean the crud off the
outside first, though.

nk

------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 09 Sep 2002 22:40:53 -0700
> From: Jon Pike <jhpike@domain.elided>
> Subject: Steering box seals and other questions
>
> I had some questions about steering boxes..  the 77 Spider has the (?)
> Burman,  i.e. the recirculating ball type,  not the ZF or whatever that
> has a play adjustment screw on the top.
>
> She came to me with the rubber plug missing,  no fluid in sight.. and a
> heavy layer of dirt on the lower half of the box,  and arm,  and general
> body area below..  which causes me to think,  the lower seal was shot,
>  and the oil ran out thataway..  (and the PO who left the filler hole
> open to the dirty world probably should be shot)
>
> I found out,   BTW,  that a rubber plug from a Vaccutainer (test tube
> they use for taking blood samples) is a pretty good fit..  some chem
> supply house might have them or a rubber stopper of appropriate size.
>
> I haven't yet tried filling it up,  for fear it will be a pretty fast
> leak..  till I can find a fix.  I'm not driving the car right now..
>
> I haven't seen any replacement seals for the steering boxes...  are they
> available?  How hard to replace?
> If the box has been collecting dirt for unknown years.. you should you
> clean the interior.  How do you go about that?
>
> I don't have a lot of play..  but a bit of clicking/thunking when
> cranking the wheel back and forth..  not sure if a few tie rods are
> contributing there..
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Jon
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