Steering Shaft rubbing

[Vsantoro]

We recently did an alignment on the 62 monza which worked great. We had to adjust the steering box to get the wheel straight because the last owner that installed the steering box did not line up the steering wheel.

After it was done, the alignment is good now, but I noticed a little grinding when turning corners. Checked everything out and it looks like the steering shaft is rubbing on one side of the tube that goes through the cab.

is there supposed to be some type of bearing around the shaft in that tube ?
I was thinking maybe just some grease and pulling it over slightly might help but wanted to post it here first.

thanks,
vic

[66vairguy]

We recently did an alignment on the 62 monza which worked great. We had to adjust the steering box to get the wheel straight because the last owner that installed the steering box did not line up the steering wheel.

After it was done, the alignment is good now, but I noticed a little grinding when turning corners. Checked everything out and it looks like the steering shaft is rubbing on one side of the tube that goes through the cab.

is there supposed to be some type of bearing around the shaft in that tube ?
I was thinking maybe just some grease and pulling it over slightly might help but wanted to post it here first.

thanks,
vic

Maybe I didn't understand your statement, but I've never heard of "adjusting the steering box to line up the steering wheel". The correct procedure is to find the center spot of the steering box (spot of least play) and mark the shaft at the steering wheel. Then you put the steering wheel on straight, THEN you adjust the tie rods so the wheels make the car go straight and have the correct tow in.

This assumes the steering box is NOT worn out, and now they often are.

Others may know more than me and are free to comment

[RexJohnson]

The shaft and wheel should both have marks on them that you simply line up to put the wheel on correctly. Then if the wheel is not centered you would adjust the tie rod ends to center the wheel.

[Frank DuVal]

Me too! Steering box adjustment is to set the high center of the sector gear so it is a little tighter when the car is going straight down the road.

If one sets the tire rods wrong because 1. they didn't check the marks on the shaft and steering wheel, 2. set toe while only looking at total toe, not per side, keeping the steering wheel centered, then moving the steering wheel a tooth or two on the spline is the easy fix, Just remember now the it will steer more in one direction than the other.

Now if we misunderstood what you mean by adjust steering box, OK, typing in not always getting point across....

Did the steering wheel nut go on all the way? If not the upper bearing may have fallen out of position. Also the steering column does have play up down and sideways twist a little (bottom bolts to dashboard), so yes, this might be what you mean and it might be the cure.

[sethracer]

There really isn't any positional adjustment on the corvair column internals. Early models, actually through early 65 are, supposedly, self centering - of the shaft within the jacket. I suggest this: With the front wheels off the ground (safely), loosen up all the mounting bolts, including the three bolts that retain the steering box to the frame rail and including the clamp between the main steering shaft and the box. Don't remove any bolts, just loosen them up. Loosen any mounting bolts for the column under the dash, and at the firewall as well. Then turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock a few times, then set the wheels straight ahead (the steering wheel should be straight ahead, too.) now tighten down all the bolts.