Here goes, I looked and can't find how to set the gears in a 56 ford truck steering box. I have all the new parts and getting ready to take the shaft down to a machine shop and press the new worm gear on the shaft. The kit came with shim gaskets, but not sure how much play should be in the gears. Thanks !!!
I usually do a little test assembly without the sector shaft installed to get the worm gear bearing preload close. Just start with 3 or 4 gaskets and gently turn the shaft while drawing up the bolts. If it's too tight and you need to add more gaskets, you'll know it before the bolts are tightened. It should turn easily but not be loose. Pretty simple once you play with it a bit.
Thanks thunderbirdesq, I was hoping it wasn't as hard as setting up a ring/pinion...hopefully I'll get it finished in a couple weeks, and get the car back together....
The bearing preload should be done on the bench before the sector is installed. Clean and lightly oiled bearings should be set to about 9 to 12 inch pounds to turn the shaft.
There you go! Thanks ole don I don't have an inch pound wrench, so I always installed the worm shaft without the sector, shimmed until it turned smooth with no noticeable slop, has worked fine for me so far on several boxes.
The Jalopy Journal
