Excessive steering wheel play

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I just returned from a 100-mile trip with my 41 Commodore 8. The car performed flawlessly except for the excessive play in the steering. I went under the car to see if there was anything obvious, and it appears that the steering center arm bearing has quite a bit of lateral play in it. I can push the whole unit up and down a good 3/4". Everything else appears to check out fine. Is this play normal? According to the repair manual, removing this is somewhat involved, and I do not want to remove it unnecessarily. If the bearing is bad where can I get a replacement?

Comments

  • dave s
    dave s Senior Contributor, Moderator
    Go to Caterpiller dealer and get 4F2926--CENTER STEERING BEARINGS ( 2-required )
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    dave s wrote:
    Go to Caterpiller dealer and get 4F2926--CENTER STEERING BEARINGS ( 2-required )



    Will this work for stepdowns?
  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    The stepdown bearing is a Torrington B1612. This bearing is available from NAPA.

    Anyone working a Hudson steering center arm bearing should get a copy of the March/April 2006 White Triangle News. There is a good article with pictures on repairing center arm bearings in this issue.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Thanks Dave. I know what I will be doing next weekend!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    mars55 wrote:
    The stepdown bearing is a Torrington B1612. This bearing is available from NAPA.

    Anyone working a Hudson steering center arm bearing should get a copy of the March/April 2006 White Triangle News. There is a good article with pictures on repairing center arm bearings in this issue.



    Okay, I cannot find this issue with the article, if anyone has a copy they could scan and e-mail me, I would greatly appreciate it. I got the bearing, now need the how to. Worst case scenario, I'll have to hit up hudsondad....
  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    If you don't have a copy, you might try contacting Sam Jackson , he is the editor, at HETfortyqtpi@earthlink.net. (Drop the HET).
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    It would pay to go over the entire system - steering box, pitman arm, drag link, and tie-rod as well. Remember Murphy's Law - corollary 24 "In an overall test, all errors will be cumulative". Check that the arm is tight on the steering box shaft.

    Geoff.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I want to go over everything, now have a predicament.



    (Oh I got the article, thank you all for the response!)



    anyway, are the inner and outer tie rod ends the same (with respect to left and right? ) I only got two, and need to know if I need to get two more of the same or figure out if I got inner, outer, etc...
  • mars55
    mars55 Senior Contributor
    Well, the parts book lists two left-hand thread tie-rods and two right-hand thread tie-rods per car. So yes you need a left-hand thread and a right-hand tie-rod end on each tie-rod.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    well, I'm half way there....
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    well, I got this done today, ran over and had hudsondad press out old bearings, and press in new ones... installed on car, and the sterring has no slop or play at the arm or the mount anyway.



    I should have looked at this sooner, I had so much play in mine, as per the article, I didn't even obther measuring it. I thought something was broken, that's how bad it was. It seemed to drive great, steered nice, etc.... I'm going thru everything else on the car, moving down the line, checking the tie rod ends (replace all) kingpins, all the uppper inners, etc... (or whatever they are...) I guess I neglected this too long. Oh well.



    I will add the article that appeared in the HET was most helpful and informative and I plan on writing a thank you personally to the author of the piece. Only thing that could have made it easier is if the exact sized sockets were listed, mmaybe torque values, but hey, it made the job a piece of cake. Hardest part was finding the bearings.
  • ratlee2
    ratlee2 Expert Adviser
    Can someone post a copy of the article or email it to me as well? I would like to go over mine as well.



    Thanks,

    Rich



    ratlee@earthlink.net
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    ratlee2 wrote:
    Can someone post a copy of the article or email it to me as well? I would like to go over mine as well.



    Thanks,

    Rich



    ratlee@earthlink.net



    passing it on. It should be on it's way. Good luck!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Could someone send me a copy as well? I would REALLY appreciate it.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    send me your e-mail addy....



    ckrantz3@msn.com
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Lots of great stuff in the WTN. You guys should join HET...think of all the tech articles you're missing out on.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I belonged to HET while this was published, just could not find my issue. Hudsondad belongs, so I read his.



    I agree, everyone should join.
  • ratlee2
    ratlee2 Expert Adviser
    Thanks for the copy of the articles guys. I will check it out this weekend.



    Rich
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I'd like to get a copy of the article too. I look through my books, don't have it any more.



    stevilknievel@entermail.net



    Thanks!

    Steve
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I just went through my collection, and I don't have that issue. If somebody could please send me a copy of the article it would be great. My '49 is starting to wander alot, and I would like to adress the issue.



    Thanks

    Mike



    ripbdr@bellsouth.net
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