C1 Steering Box question

[studiog]

While I was working on my brakes today I had the car on jacks and the tires off. I turned the front wheels several times for better access to the bleeders. I grabbed it by the drum/wheel assembly and turned it several times from lock to lock and I could feel some resistance as the wheels came to the straight forward position each time. Is this normal. I am sure it would be hard to notice if I were turning using the steering wheel which isn't attached right now. Thanks again for any help.

 

[John Mcgraw]

That is normal operation for a box that is not worn out. The "high spot" should correspond with the straight ahead position of the front wheels. This keeps the steering tight when going straight down the road and keeps it from hunting. There is a spec for how much torque it should take to go across the "high spot" with the wheels disconnected from the box. Too tight and the box will wear very fast, and too loose and the steering will hunt and follow every crack in the road.


Regards, John McGraw

 

[studiog]

Thank you very much John. Don't know what I'd do without your help.