Looking for some assistance on this one... I'm trying to see if it's feasible to narrow a Schroeder Steering Box. Now before anyone gets going on this, I'm not referring to the pitman arm, I'm talking about the steering box / housing. I picked up a Schroeder box with what I had thought to be the accurate width but after mock up I'm about 2-1/2" too wide from the end of the pitman arm splined end to the center of the steering shaft (column) centerline. I've spent the afternoon running through previous posts on the HAMB trying to track this down and have come up with nothing. That makes me think either I'm a fool for trying or it's not possible. Any input would be helpful, even tips on disassembling the business side of the box (tube with the steering shaft from pitman arm to steering gear)... Below are a few photos of what I'm working with. What I've gathered is the pitman arm side has a roller bearing nested in the end aluminum cup which the shaft rides on. The other (drive side) has the steering splined steering gear pressed onto the shaft. Next steps is I'll try and press the gear off in an attempt to be able to slide the assembly apart. Forgive the delay of photos, haven't posted for awhile....
I've run a couple but never had one apart. These were and I think are still being used by the circle track boys. Try to get ahold of them and see if they can advise. Good luck
All I can do is give you a bump in hope one of the guys who is familar with those boxes sees the thread. You might want to post specific info including a photo or two with actual measurements though. Better and more complete info gets better and more complete answers.
Ididit owns Schroeder and rebuilds them in house so a call to tech would surely give you some answers. IDIDIT, LLC Purchases Schroeder Steering
What holds the big gear to the shaft? Just a key, or splines? If it’s just a key I would think it would be easily shortened with accurate measurements and machining. Lathe work and cut one keyway.
Unfortunately it's splined... Planning on pressing off the gear and will attempt to either pull or press out the main shaft from the housing tube...then figure out next steps. ...fortunately all the bearing #s so far are easy to find and available.
Don't expect much help from Ididit. I've inquired both at their booth at Louisville and to their contact page and the response has been basically negative or neutral about the availability of the a custom built Schroeder style steering box.
Thanks for the heads up, I'd had a si.ilar experience with trying to get a set of gears from them. They don't seem to be embracing the Schroeder steering boxes all that much.
You might be better and cheaper off to look for a midget steering. They are narrower. They vary in actual dimension. There are power versions also. What you have can be narrowed but it will require a lathe, mill and a dividing head. Also a TIG welder to narrow the outside tube. It is not a cheap or easy job.
Very possible. I just took a look at the one in my car and from the outside it appears pressed in only. It has been a long time since I have had it apart so I don't remember if it was welded inside.
There has been a left hand steer Schroeder box in the for sale section here on the HAMB I did check their current on line catalogue and they have a page devoted to the Schroeder box.
Pete, aren't the Midget boxes 6-to-1, versus the Sprint at 8-to-1 ? Both are far too quick for a street car.
Usually with the shortest pitman arm hole and a slightly longer spindle arm, it works ok. I have always added power assist also.
I faced a similar problem using a Gemmer box for cowl steering. I cut the original, welded and plug welded a sleeve on the joint. Of course I can never disassemble it - I'd just modify another Gemmer (F100) box if I ever needed to replace it. Not so easy with a Schroeder ($$$) but do-able.
There was a Rod Shop offering F100 boxes converted to side steer on here a few years ago. I think Hilton Hot Rods may have used them for their side steer cars?
Interesting. Maybe they're making more progress with them, I reached out a few months back about a pitman arm and was told they were way behind on production and check back in 6 months... This is very similar to what I was planning. Basically remove the length required the splice the two pieces together with a coupling and tig weld everything. I have a good friend who's a professional certified welder who I'd trust to do the work. Thanks for the commentary guys, I was more curious if anyone had documented this before..but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Success! Made some progress tonight... Worked slow and finally got the splined gear to pop off with a bearing remover and patience. Once the gear was removed the shaft assembly slid out towards the pitman arm side. Next up is removing bearings...then on the tubing. It does appear the aluminum tube is just pressed into the cast aluminum end caps so that'll be the next hurdle, getting them apart to remove about 2-3/4" total width from this side of the assembly.
I sent a Schroeder box to ididit last year and they made some changes to the housing for me and put it back together with all the parts I needed (Gary Schroeder fabbed it up as a mockup box 20 some years back and I needed a few internal bits to make it an operable box). I won't be using the box, let me know if it interests you and I can take some measurements; it was built to fit a '29 roadster. If memory serves me correct, the tube ends are heated up and the tubing itself cooled before being assembled. Room temperature finds the components to be a solid assembly. Similar to installing motorcycle engine bearings, etc.
Thanks for the info Potvin. I'll send you a DM about the box, I'm curious about how the width differs between a Model A and Model T roadster. I'm going to try to press one end off the aluminum tube housing with a press and a little heat on the collar and hopefully get them to separate. Your info gives me hope...
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