Steering gear box problem?

by Frank Nissen
(Matawan , NJ , USA)

I am restoring a 68 corvette and while getting into the steering linkage and such I removed the steering gear. After cleaning the gear box of all the grease and grime I checked its operation through its entire range of movement. It felt very smooth throughout the movement except for a tightness almost grinding in area near the center of its operation. Due to its age and the fact that it appeared to be leaking grease I decide to purchase a rebuilt unit.

After receipt of the rebuilt unit I checked its operation. Found that it was extremely difficult to turn the shafts, both the input shaft or the pitman arm shaft. In fact I had to put the unit in a vice install the pitman arm and force the unit through its range of motion. It felt like there was sand or grit in the gears or the bearings were extremely tight. I moved it through its range of motion repeatedly but it did not smooth out the operation. I don't think this would be normal .

How should the gearbox operation feel on a bench when being turned by hand?

Chris Trautman @ Corvette Assembly Plant 2019

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