Steering box

[Erlend / bug66]

Is there any other solution than hunting down a NOS VW box? Does anyone offer a good reconditioned box?

Car is getting too fast to not be 100% confident in the steering. Too much play on center at the moment.

TRW is not an option. Binned 2 already. 

[modnrod]

I couldn't find anything (RHD '73 1303). I was lucky mine is a low-km car (86K), so once I'd found some new balls and seals I filled it with grease, set it up on the bench and it's OK. Not good, but OK, better than any reco unit.

I do remember thinking that machining the shaft/housing/race to suit slightly oversize or next size up balls to remove any slack would work (then find seals to suit), but that was as far as I got.

Rack and pinion conversion?

[leec]

What's been wrong with the 2 trw ones? The new one I bought recently I was quite impressed with. Felt a little too tight to be honest
Lee

[Erlend / bug66]

I couldn't find anything (RHD '73 1303). I was lucky mine is a low-km car (86K), so once I'd found some new balls and seals I filled it with grease, set it up on the bench and it's OK. Not good, but OK, better than any reco unit.

I do remember thinking that machining the shaft/housing/race to suit slightly oversize or next size up balls to remove any slack would work (then find seals to suit), but that was as far as I got.

Rack and pinion conversion?

I can't legally convert to R&P steering. MOT and such.

Getting someone to machine the box is an option, but not in Norway.. Maaybe someone in the US knows a guy?

[Erlend / bug66]

What's been wrong with the 2 trw ones? The new one I bought recently I was quite impressed with. Felt a little too tight to be honest
Lee

They have been total junk. Not set up right from the factory, and impossible to adjust right even by the book.

[leec]

I see. On my oval, I found and used a good used steering box. That has gone 11.83 in the 1/4 and never felt it wasn't up to the job
Lee

[spanners]

Early boxes as on ovals are weak, they just break with abuse and won't take any knocks on the running gear, not much better are the early pre rack 1302/3 boxes, OK on smooth pavement, no good off road, ball joint T1 boxes are better to a point and will stand some abuse, mine has 25 years track racing on it, but a German endurance b/j race car kills his over one 24 hour race at Nurburgring with big slicks, it's a narrow window of endurance, yes, TRW are rubbish to be avoided for racing, what can we expect for £120  sterling? Grabbing  any oe boxes you come across may be a wise move.

[leec]

It's a later steering box in my oval. Late 60's

[Erlend / bug66]

Same here. Hate swapping and finding out they suck more than the one I had one (and then re-fitting the old one) 

[Zach Gomulka]

Had one brand new TRW, it was absolutely terrifying to drive. Ended up getting another TRW as I couldn't find a suitable original replacement and it feels fine.

[Roman]

What wears out? Is  it the wormb gear, wormb wheel or the bushings? I have never worn out a single one in my life, but I have suppliers who makes these parts in small quantitys.
We have wormb gears that runs 24/7 in glass forming machines and they are almost indestructible.

[Erlend / bug66]

My guess is that my box has been adjusted wrong over a number of years before I bought the car.

Adjusting just the top bolt at set nut will ruin the box?

[vwhelmot]

Incorrectly adjusting the top nut will make the steering stiff at centre and cause it to prematurely wear but you would have to be a complete dead head not to notice. Just wind the nut until there is no free play, its very simple really. Steering boxes very rarely wear out, only through lack of proper adjustment and lack of lubrication because its been leaking for years will it start to feel rough with free play etc. I`ve had one with the bearing surface in the worm shaft pitt badly because of the about lack of care.

[max Der Bahnstormerz]

i always thought a little excess slop in the center was good for a drag car. it took out any driver error to keep the car straight.

[Iryanu]

i always thought a little excess slop in the center was good for a drag car. it took out any driver error to keep the car straight.

I'll tell the MOT man that in a few weeks. 

Adjusted mine up on the weekend and the free play has just moved from the middle off to the sides at about 1 turn of lock. I wound the top adjuster in a worrying amount to take the slop out (like 4 full turns!). Think I'll be putting my spare one on at some point which is a known OEM super nice box.

We all love a tight box after all. 

[Brandon Sinclair]

I hate the TRW ones as well and wanted a VW box but wanted one rebuilt and ready to go.

Bought one off Ebay from this seller-he has been doing rebuilds for years and it is cheaper than a TRW box and works fantastic.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rebuilt-Volkwagen-Bug-Ghia...mp;vxp=mtr

[cel]

Hi!

Just found these guys in germany, they are rebuilding steering boxes. The site says they use original tools but also that 25-50% are not repairable due to broken spindles, they do 1303/02 as well.

http://www.mtm-kaeferschmiede.com/mtm-leistungen/lenkgetriebe%C3%BCberholung-1200-1500/

Best regards

Marcel

[Erlend / bug66]

Hi!

Just found these guys in germany, they are rebuilding steering boxes. The site says they use original tools but also that 25-50% are not repairable due to broken spindles, they do 1303/02 as well.

http://www.mtm-kaeferschmiede.com/mtm-leistungen/lenkgetriebe%C3%BCberholung-1200-1500/

Best regards

Marcel

Just sent them an email. Curious about the price

[cel]

Great, i am courious too, but i think its not cheap 

[Erlend / bug66]

300 EUR, and you need to give them a workable core.

[cel]

300 EUR, and you need to give them a workable core.

Tx for the update.

[volkskris]

So what is the right method to adjust a steering box exactly?

[alex d]

So what is the right method to adjust a steering box exactly?

You might want to start here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/looklisten_19.php

sadly as mentioned above many boxes are damaged in this day and age, most of them due to neglect and misadjusting