Recirculating ball steering box

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funkaholik
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Recirculating ball steering box

Post by funkaholik »

I have the later, recirculating ball steering box (1970). It is sloppy and it leaks. Is there anyone who is rebuilding these? Or, does it just need adjusting and gaskets / seals?

Thanks in advance for any info.
Erik Miller
Concord, CA
1970 Datsun SPL311-29945, owned since '95. Back on the road in 2022!
1967 Mustang, 428, 5 speed
1981 VW Rabbit Truck, 1.6 turbo diesel
...Oh, and a daily driver.
viewtopic.php?t=19067
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23yrRebuild
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by 23yrRebuild »

The bearings and seals are fairly easy to replace.
Mike
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funkaholik
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by funkaholik »

Good to know. Although, considering that your avatar is an image of the inside of a transmission, "easy" might be a relative term!
Do any of the vendors sell the seals and bearings for these late boxes? I haven't seen any.
Erik Miller
Concord, CA
1970 Datsun SPL311-29945, owned since '95. Back on the road in 2022!
1967 Mustang, 428, 5 speed
1981 VW Rabbit Truck, 1.6 turbo diesel
...Oh, and a daily driver.
viewtopic.php?t=19067
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funkaholik
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by funkaholik »

Oh, I see that Rallye has parts. I'll contact them. Thanks again!
Erik Miller
Concord, CA
1970 Datsun SPL311-29945, owned since '95. Back on the road in 2022!
1967 Mustang, 428, 5 speed
1981 VW Rabbit Truck, 1.6 turbo diesel
...Oh, and a daily driver.
viewtopic.php?t=19067
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funkaholik
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by funkaholik »

One more question: What weight of oil is used inside the box, and is there a fill line or a fill amount?
Erik Miller
Concord, CA
1970 Datsun SPL311-29945, owned since '95. Back on the road in 2022!
1967 Mustang, 428, 5 speed
1981 VW Rabbit Truck, 1.6 turbo diesel
...Oh, and a daily driver.
viewtopic.php?t=19067
JT68
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by JT68 »

funkaholik wrote: Wed Aug 19, 2020 4:58 pm Good to know. Although, considering that your avatar is an image of the inside of a transmission, "easy" might be a relative term!
Do any of the vendors sell the seals and bearings for these late boxes? I haven't seen any.
Seals/gaskets yes, (we have). Bearings no, - they almost never fail at less than 1 rpm.
LT/JT
https://www.datsunrestorationproducts.com/
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New, Used and Reproduction!
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by GoldHawg »

JT just did my box, complete freshen up. Looks super nice but I'm far away from driving it.
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tjp
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by tjp »

23yrRebuild wrote: Wed Aug 19, 2020 4:31 pmThe bearings and seals are fairly easy to replace. Mike
I currently have late box open and cannot figure out how to remove the needle bearings. I'd post a picture of what i am looking at but my stupid "smart" phone takes pictures too big to post on this site now and I have the size at the smallest setting.

So, my question is how does one "easily" remove the needle bearings? I'd prefer to not damage them BTW.....
My junk pile:
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70 1600 legit 2nd owner. Stroked and bored
Several salvaged w access to a barn full of parts, part cars & whole cars
......What's in the barn is for sale. What do you need?
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sfdaugherty
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by sfdaugherty »

So, my question is how does one "easily" remove the needle bearings? I'd prefer to not damage them BTW...

I would like to learn how to "freshen up" an rb box.

Shannon
69 2000 SRL311-10088 (Type 4 Solexes)
68 SR20DE SPL311-18735 (SR20DE S15 Autech)
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68 1600 SPL311-20462 SOLD! After 41 years in the family
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by redroadster »

I'd look into the colaspsible steering shaft...the unsiezeing of it ...that's important
Last edited by redroadster on Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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sfdaugherty
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by sfdaugherty »

Huh??
69 2000 SRL311-10088 (Type 4 Solexes)
68 SR20DE SPL311-18735 (SR20DE S15 Autech)
68 2000 SRL311-01179 (Restoration underway)
68 1600 SPL311-20462 SOLD! After 41 years in the family
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Linda
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by Linda »

Are the needle bearings individual , like on the Warner tranny counter shaft, or are they encased in a bearing housing?
Linda
Sadly-Linda has passed away 2022. She was the 311's den mother and drove the first Rare-Parts ball joint project. RIP.
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redroadster
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by redroadster »

sfdaugherty wrote: Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:37 amHuh??
The 311s then had a collapsing steering shaft in a head-on accident ...but in 77 when I worked there at Datsun
Techs there since early 70s told the system siezed up on most of them after 3 years . I used to get them where the owners added a fill port to add 90w to the steering shaft
In hopes of it letting it collapse when needed.
The scca racers that told of accidents with it and dangers of it ...Datsun around the time had a bulletin
To replace the horn pads many that had cracked and thus useless , Datsun had new production of it a improved version cheap they wanted every car still put there, to buy one and gave away some at the last .
Law suits you know .
Last edited by redroadster on Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
Datsun dealer tech 76 to 87
Mitsubishi tech 9 yrs
Volvo, Kia, Toyota too
6 month - Rolls Royce
ASE MASTER TECH 96. - 11
70 SPL 86 Z31 T , Sportster
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Linda
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by Linda »

Red,
The topic is the steering BOX, got any info on that, like the needle bearings removal??
Linda
Sadly-Linda has passed away 2022. She was the 311's den mother and drove the first Rare-Parts ball joint project. RIP.
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redroadster
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Re: Recirculating ball steering box

Post by redroadster »

Linda wrote: Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:40 pm Red,
The topic is the steering BOX, got any info on that, like the needle bearings removal??
Linda
Oh the needle bearing Jaws or arms in that configuration for a slide hammer come to mind ...seemed like he wants a like new steering system though and the column is a part of it
Last edited by redroadster on Thu Aug 20, 2020 9:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Datsun dealer tech 76 to 87
Mitsubishi tech 9 yrs
Volvo, Kia, Toyota too
6 month - Rolls Royce
ASE MASTER TECH 96. - 11
70 SPL 86 Z31 T , Sportster
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