Stepdown Center Steering Pin Repair

Finally got around to repairing my Center Steering Pivot Pin on my '51 Hudson coupe. I had thought I might have to replace the entire pivot pin (a gruesome job at best), but after removing the center pivot unit (pretty simple with a powered tie-rod splitter... use your air chisel with the Nieko splitter set, about $18 from Amazon), I found that the pivot pin itself had no discernible wear, (It's easy to detect wear, since the shaft itself is untouched in the center, with the two bearings at the outer edges of the housing.. If you don't feel a ridge there, you're good to go).

It turned out that the movement in the shaft was a result of the lower bearing having partially disintegrated, with several of the roller needles having moved up into the void between the two bearings. Luckily, no damage or scoring of the shaft itself.

Pressing the old bearings out was a piece of cake with a cheapo Harbor Freight hydraulic press, using a simple bearing install tool.


The bearings can be had at any local bearing shop... you'll need 2 Timken B-1612-OH.. total cost, a mere $15 for the two!

Installing the new bearings is equally simple with the bearing install tool (basically a mandrel with different size ends to fit both inside and along the edge of the bearing to keep it centered while pressing in the housing).

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I did take a few pictures, and have written up some details on the process. That document is linked below if anyone else wants to tackle this job.

Repairing Center Pivot

My steering is now tight and precise (well, I went ahead and replaced the old tie-rod ends at the same time.. at $25 a pop it just didn't make sense to keep the old ones) Tie rod ends from Dale Cooper www.hudsonmotorcarco.com .

I'm a happy camper, and just in time for the drive to OKC in July!

PS... Finally, I can confirm others experience. If you DO have to remove and replace that entire pivot shaft, that taper pin just likely ain't gonna come out. My assistant and I heated up the pivot housing, and then beat on that taper pin like crazy, but it just wasn't going to come out. Almost surely you'll have to drill it if the shaft needs replacing.