8N Steering Box

Hardpan · Nov 8, 2014

The 8N I"ve been working on was impossible to steer and I decided to rebuild the steering box. Got all the manuals, write ups from both Ford sites but I"m at an impasse: The box is on my bench, sector shafts out and the seal,spring and seat are out of the top of the steering shaft. Top bearing is not but the four bolts at the base are removed. I cannot get the steering tube loose! Is it just stuck or did I miss something?

Charner MS · Nov 8, 2014

I would say its just stuck. Tap it loose and if you use a screw driver to tap at the four bolt connection, be careful not to damage the shims.

souNdguy · Nov 8, 2014

sometimes that top bushing at the top of the steering tube comes apart or binds and makes it hard to pull

penetrant and then take a good look.. sometimes you have to peel parts up with a screwdriver to get it released. that is assuming you can move the bottom flange too.

Hardpan · Nov 8, 2014

I just revisited my workbench. The top bearing looks good and rotates but I can't get it out in a dignified manner!! Does it have to come out to pull the tube - I didn't think so but..

The tube base has separated a smiggen from the bottom base but no amount of facial expressions or body language(i.e. Pry bar & ball peen hammer) has any effect.

The base internally has massive gooey rust and crud which I have heavily sprayed with a mix of acetone and transmission fluid. It is possible the crud is holding the separation back or can there be something else - that steering shaft is expensive - hate to screw it up. I'll just let the mix wooooork on the goo for awhile and get back to you unless you have some other ideas. Thanks

souNdguy · Nov 8, 2014

the tube is a press fit inthe the cast top of the steering box. rarely do they come apart.. but they CAN come apart. I took the one on my 8n apart and machined a new tube for it due to damage to the old tube.

if the bolts are out of the top cover, and the flange can move. but the column will not pull off the box and steering shaft, then it's either the top bushing or somehow the top thrust bearing. one of them is seized to the shaft.

yuo can always opt to pull the sector gears and take the ballnut assy and column out as a unit then set it in your parts washer to soak.

Hardpan · Nov 8, 2014

That's about where we are now - the sector gears are out - have been out. Only thing now is to fill a tub to soak the assembly. I'll post back with any progress. Thanks

souNdguy · Nov 8, 2014

Gotta be a bearing seized to the shaft

Hardpan · Nov 9, 2014

You'all right. The bottom bearing on the shaft came out in pieces, the ball bearing were every geometric shape but round and the gunk in the base had everything cemented together. Everything it out, cleaned and on the table - will send along a picture with the next question and believe me there'll be more questions. Thanks for the help .

souNdguy · Nov 9, 2014

Good to hear. Very possible/ probable that the upper thrust bearing race in the top of the column is toast too.

Hardpan · Nov 17, 2014

The advice so far has been sterling and necessary to supplement the book trying to rebuild this box. But I'm stuck again. The book said: Replacing lower bearing cap- "remove welsh plug, drive out bearing cup, replace bearing cup and replace welsh plug." The welsh plug that I removed looks like a cap worn by Mexican Priests in a Western Movie (See picture - hopefully) and the entrance to the seat has a brass like collar that doesn't quite reach the seat.(See picture #2 hopefully) If I put the rearing cup in, I don't believe I can put such a plug back in from the inside and a regular welsh looking plug from the outside might interfere with the bearing cap. Don't forget this is a steering box before SN216989. I don't foresee any problem putting the bearing in - but this weird "Welsh" plug has me stuck - appreciate any thoughts. D---,looks like I'm too young to upload photos

John Smith8N · Nov 17, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:42:26 11/17/14) The advice so far has been sterling and necessary to supplement the book trying to rebuild this box. But I'm stuck again. The book said: Replacing lower bearing cap- "remove welsh plug, drive out bearing cup, replace bearing cup and replace welsh plug." The welsh plug that I removed looks like a cap worn by Mexican Priests in a Western Movie (See picture - hopefully) and the entrance to the seat has a brass like collar that doesn't quite reach the seat.(See picture #2 hopefully) If I put the rearing cup in, I don't believe I can put such a plug back in from the inside and a regular welsh looking plug from the outside might interfere with the bearing cap. Don't forget this is a steering box before SN216989. I don't foresee any problem putting the bearing in - but this weird "Welsh" plug has me stuck - appreciate any thoughts. D---,looks like I'm too young to upload photos

Here's a picture of the bottom race in an early steering box like yours, looking inside from the top. You should drive the Welch plug out from the outside toward the inside. Then drive the race out the same direction. Install a NEW Welch plug from the inside, then install a new bearing race from the inside. Flatten the Welch plug with a wide face drift just enough for a tight fit. Don't beat it up and distort it like the one in this picture.

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Hardpan · Nov 17, 2014

Thank You John Smith, exactly what I needed to hear (better picture than mine too). Really great to have such a support system -books are great but nothing beats experience. I believe I'll go back to work on the steering box now.

8N Steering Box

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