steering box overhaul

Tech tips and how to's

Moderators: notoptoy, S Allen, Solex68

User avatar
ppeters914
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3075
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:51 pm
Location: Lake Forest Park, WA (just north of Seattle)
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5

steering box overhaul

Post by ppeters914 »

Searched the TechWiki and forums first.....mentions of folks doing it, but no details.

My steering and idler boxes appear in great shape; little to no play..... wooHOO! I'd like to replace seals and gaskets (surprised no one has posted a list of items...maybe it's obvious), which means pulling the arms off the shafts.

Any tips before disassembly, i.e. things to note or punch mark, etc.?

Thanks.
Pete
-------------------------------------
'67 1600 - frame off started in 2014. Now I know why roadster projects take so long. What a stupid idea. :smt021
'66 1600 - parts car
'66 WPL411 ***SOLD***
A couple of Porsches, a RAV4 Hybrid, and a motorcycle
User avatar
Nissanman
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3350
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:07 pm
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Contact:

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by Nissanman »

Yes, a good idea to punch orientation marks in the relevant shafts and arms.
From memory, the splined shafts on my '65 SP310 were tapered and required very little effort from a pitman arm remover to dissemble.
Undoing those big mutha nuts might be a challenge if the boxes are no longer mounted to the chassis.
Mine were shot and I had an Auto Trans Workshop recondition the shafts and hone the bushes to suit.
Nissanman, just trying to help.
1965 SP310 Engine No. G-93326 Car No. SP310-10817
https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/60141836519
On the road again!
User avatar
Mainer311
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 877
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:30 pm
Location: Methuen, MA, USA

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by Mainer311 »

-A big bench vise comes in handy when removing the lower nuts.

-You don't really need to mark anything, but it can't hurt. The pitman splines have a larger spline every 90 degrees IIRC, meaning you can only put the arms on in 4 orientations

-The lower seal on the idler side is meant to be compressed at all times. You'll know what I mean once you see the seal. Since the idler side rides on a threaded shaft, the shaft will "ride" up and down ever so slightly as it rotates. You'll have to index the pitman arm on the idler shaft to get the proper compression on the seal. It's not hard to figure out.

-The worm has o-rings on both end plates, plus a small seal that the input shaft goes through. It's all very easy. Steering box lower seal is just a seal and not like the idler side. It doesn't need to be compressed. The top cover gasket is paper and one can be easily cut out of gasket material.

-When removing the steering shaft from the worm box, be careful that the roller ball does not fall out of the housing. If it does, the needle bearings could fall out, and it's a pain putting them back in.
Jordan
1968 SPL311-21773. Needs paint and some upholstery.
2012 Xterra Pro-4X, 4" lift on 34's, UCA's, pre-runner bumper. Member of the New England Xterra Off-road club.
1971 PL521, Dragon green. Stock L16 w/ 4 speed, lowered 3".
User avatar
ppeters914
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3075
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:51 pm
Location: Lake Forest Park, WA (just north of Seattle)
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by ppeters914 »

Mainer311 wrote:A big bench vise comes in handy when removing the lower nuts.
Yup......that, and a 3/4-inch drive socket set!
Mainer311 wrote:The lower seal on the idler side is meant to be compressed at all times. You'll know what I mean once you see the seal. Since the idler side rides on a threaded shaft, the shaft will "ride" up and down ever so slightly as it rotates. You'll have to index the pitman arm on the idler shaft to get the proper compression on the seal. It's not hard to figure out.
Hmmmm, I didn't notice this at first, but my more knowledgeable friend did. Mine looks like there's two rubber washers (only see one listed in the parts manuals) that are a little "loose" at the end of one rotation, and snug when rotated fully the other way. We decided not to pull the arm to replace those, but now you have me rethinking that.

The space between the arm and the end of the idler housing may change, but there should be a seal in the bottom to keep the grease in, correct? Wonder if the two washers I'm seeing were added by a PO at some time.
Mainer311 wrote:The worm has o-rings on both end plates, plus a small seal that the input shaft goes through. It's all very easy. Steering box lower seal is just a seal and not like the idler side. It doesn't need to be compressed. The top cover gasket is paper and one can be easily cut out of gasket material.
So I discovered. The seals are still in the Nissan stock system, and cheap. I'll go to hydraulics store to match up the o-rings, and cut my own top gasket.
Mainer311 wrote:When removing the steering shaft from the worm box, be careful that the roller ball does not fall out of the housing. If it does, the needle bearings could fall out, and it's a pain putting them back in.
Getting the arm off the steering box required heat and a press. In the process, we learned about the peg needle bearings......spent 30 minutes with magnets before finding them all. :smt013 Interesting that Rallye says there's 38 (matches my count), Scheeler's Roadster Book says 40, and the Nissan manuals don't mention them at all. Regardless, can't wait to reinstall those. :roll:
Pete
-------------------------------------
'67 1600 - frame off started in 2014. Now I know why roadster projects take so long. What a stupid idea. :smt021
'66 1600 - parts car
'66 WPL411 ***SOLD***
A couple of Porsches, a RAV4 Hybrid, and a motorcycle
User avatar
mraitch
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 3629
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:03 pm
Location: Lake Balboa (SFV) - CA
Model: 1500/1600
Year: High Windshield-68-70
Contact:

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by mraitch »

Yet another example of an answer to a question I never knew I needed to ask.
That's what makes this forum so fantastic.
Now, I know, if I ever get to that point, that there is a thread that I may look back at.
Thanks.
Peter Harrison
1970 1600 (Stroker) - TOAD SAN (Eliza)
1970 1600 (Stock) - As Yet Unnamed
Lake Balboa (SFV) , California
User avatar
Mainer311
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 877
Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:30 pm
Location: Methuen, MA, USA

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by Mainer311 »

The space between the arm and the end of the idler housing may change, but there should be a seal in the bottom to keep the grease in, correct? Wonder if the two washers I'm seeing were added by a PO at some time.
Could have to take up space, but, if you thread the idler shaft in a little bit, you don't really need the washers. The top of the pitman arm should contact seal.

I had 38 needle bearings as well. 19 on top, spacer, and 19 on the bottom.
Jordan
1968 SPL311-21773. Needs paint and some upholstery.
2012 Xterra Pro-4X, 4" lift on 34's, UCA's, pre-runner bumper. Member of the New England Xterra Off-road club.
1971 PL521, Dragon green. Stock L16 w/ 4 speed, lowered 3".
User avatar
S Allen
Site Admin
Posts: 4521
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 4:57 pm
Location: Knoxville, IA(Lake Redrock)Emory, TX
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Contact:

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by S Allen »

Will add this to the wiki. Thanks to all.

S
66 Stroker-Going Orange
67 SRL311-00279-resto project
Stock '72 240Z-Blue
2002 Ford F250 7.3 Diesel 2WD Hauler
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2009 Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth
User avatar
msampsel
Roadster Nut-Site Supporter
Posts: 1812
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2014 5:31 pm
Location: SoAZ

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by msampsel »

S Allen wrote:Will add this to the wiki. Thanks to all.

S
Suggest adding a paragraph or sentence about using wheel bearing grease and a wooden dowel to
hold the needle bearings in place, in the unlikely event they drop out inadvertently.
67 1600 (Mods only a mother could love)
78 911 SC Targa (Severe Oversteer but still loved)
User avatar
Linda
Fraternal Den Mother-RIP
Posts: 7807
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:37 pm
Location: Los Angeles
Model: 1500/1600
Year: High Windshield-68-70

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by Linda »

Would be nice to see a few pics or a video if someone is doing a rebuild.
Linda
Sadly-Linda has passed away 2022. She was the 311's den mother and drove the first Rare-Parts ball joint project. RIP.
User avatar
peter
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 1025
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:51 am
Location: Netherlands

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by peter »

I'm busy to rebuild my steering box with new bearings and new oil seals. It's an early type.
The oils seals I found replacements for in the tech wiki, but are there for the NSK BT18-2 bearings also replacements?
Horsepower is how hard you hit the wall,torque is how far you take the wall with you.
Datsun Roadster '66 #7000 Sora Blue, restored 220 Hp and 340 Nm
User avatar
ppeters914
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3075
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:51 pm
Location: Lake Forest Park, WA (just north of Seattle)
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by ppeters914 »

ppeters914 wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2017 3:14 pm
... and cut my own top gasket.
Geez....has it really been two years? :(

Finally back to this. I have 1/64-inch gasket material. Think that's thick enough?
Pete
-------------------------------------
'67 1600 - frame off started in 2014. Now I know why roadster projects take so long. What a stupid idea. :smt021
'66 1600 - parts car
'66 WPL411 ***SOLD***
A couple of Porsches, a RAV4 Hybrid, and a motorcycle
User avatar
Lorna c
Site Supporter
Posts: 2428
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2016 12:47 am
Location: central coast , ,ca

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by Lorna c »

ppeters914 wrote: Fri May 17, 2019 7:08 pm
ppeters914 wrote: Mon Apr 24, 2017 3:14 pm
... and cut my own top gasket.
Geez....has it really been two years? :(



Haha that's why I don't stop .
:wink:
"Is it me, or does everyone want to race ?"

late 68 1600 3 main motor .
User avatar
ppeters914
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3075
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:51 pm
Location: Lake Forest Park, WA (just north of Seattle)
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by ppeters914 »

Today I learned that you can put the worm shaft in backwards. Yup, it's true. The bearings and cover bolt patterns are identical making it easy if one isn't paying attention.
worm shaft backwards.jpg
:smt013

Notice the taped up shaft on the right? Should be on the left. Luckily, there's just barely enough slack to lift the peg out after removing the top cover. Really wasn't looking forward to pulling the steering arm off. Still have to wait another day for the paint that covers my repairs to dry before installing.

Anyway, triple-check before you button it up.

Hey, Steve, might want to add this to the TechWiki.

Cheers.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Pete
-------------------------------------
'67 1600 - frame off started in 2014. Now I know why roadster projects take so long. What a stupid idea. :smt021
'66 1600 - parts car
'66 WPL411 ***SOLD***
A couple of Porsches, a RAV4 Hybrid, and a motorcycle
User avatar
Nissanman
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 3350
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:07 pm
Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Contact:

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by Nissanman »

Makes a RHD version a piece of kayak doesn't it???
Nissanman, just trying to help.
1965 SP310 Engine No. G-93326 Car No. SP310-10817
https://photos.shutterfly.com/album/60141836519
On the road again!
User avatar
S Allen
Site Admin
Posts: 4521
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 4:57 pm
Location: Knoxville, IA(Lake Redrock)Emory, TX
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Contact:

Re: steering box overhaul

Post by S Allen »

Guess I never added it the first time. I will glean the info and add it today. Thanks.

Steve
66 Stroker-Going Orange
67 SRL311-00279-resto project
Stock '72 240Z-Blue
2002 Ford F250 7.3 Diesel 2WD Hauler
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2009 Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth
Post Reply