Inspecting Parts of Steering Gear

TM 10-3930-609-35

3-39. Cleaning Disassembled Parts of Steering Gear

(5) Close above half of ball guide with second

Clean all parts by washing in SD. Dry parts with clean

half of ball guide. While holding two halves of ball guide

cloth or with compressed air under moderate pressure.

together, plug each open end with petroleum jelly to

Clean parts thoroughly to facilitate inspection.

prevent balls from falling out. Push guide into guide

holes in ball nut to complete one circuit.

3-40. Inspecting Parts of Steering Gear

Note

a. Inspect teeth on pitman shaft gear for wear,

If guide does not push all the way in

pitting, or other damage. Also check fit of pitman shaft

easily, tap guide lightly into place

gear in sleeve bearing mounted in housing and check fit

with small block of wood.

of pitman shaft gear pilot in bushing of side cover.

(6) Fill second ball circuit in same manner as

b. Check housing, wormshaft, bracket, end cover,

described above.

side cover and pitman arm for cracks and distortion.

(7) Assemble ball guide clamp to ball nut with

c. Check all threaded parts and tapped holes for

screw and lockwasher.

stripped threads or other thread damage.

(8) Check assembly by rotating ball nut on

d. Inspect bearings under magnification for

worm to determine that nut moves freely without binding

damage to surfaces of balls and for cracked, chipped or

or roughness. Do not rotate ball nut to end of worm as

worn cones and cups.

damage to ends of ball guides may result. If binding or

roughness is detected, some slight damage to ends of

e. Check ball guides for damage at ends which

ball guides, to worm grooves, or to balls may have been

deflect or pick up balls. Check balls and surfaces of

overlooked.

worm for roughness or surface damage.

b. Carefully press sleeve bearing into housing,

3-41. Repair and Replacement of Steering Gear

using an arbor press.

Parts

c. Install seal in recess of housing.

a. Repair minor thread damage if practicable with

tap or thread chaser.

Note

During

assembly,

apply

small

b. Replace all cracked or distorted parts.

quantity of nondrying, oil-resistant

c. Replace gaskets and seal at each reassembly.

sealing

compound

(such

d. Replace bearings if defective in any way.

Permatex No. 2) to male threads of

3-42. Reassembly of Steering Gear (fig. 3-9)

adjuster, side cover screws and lash

a. If ball nut has been disassembled, reassemble

adjuster.

Use care in applying

ball nut as follows:

compound to adjuster to prevent

(1) Place wormshaft flat on bench and slip

fouling of wormshaft bearing.

slip nut over worm with shallow end of rack teeth to the

left from steering wheel position and with holes facing

Note

upward.

During assembly apply grease GAA

(2) Aline grooves in worm with grooves in ball

to worm bearings, pitman shaft gear

nut by sighting through holes in ball nut.

bearings in housing and side cover

(3) Count out 27 balls (sufficient for one half

and to ball nut teeth.

of circuit). Place these balls into one of the holes in ball

d. Install bearing on wormshaft and insert

nut while turning worm slowly away from that hole.

wormshaft with ball nut into housing, guiding end of

Continue until ball circuit is filled from bottom of one

wormshaft through upper shaft bearing cup and seal.

guide hole to bottom of other guide hole or until ball nut

e. Screw adjuster into end cover and place ball

reaches end of worm.

bearing on end of adjuster. Assemble end cover to

Note

housing with four screws and washers, using gasket

If nut reaches end of worm before

between end cover and housing.

holes are filed, hold down balls with

f. Screw locknut onto exposed threads of adjuster.

blunt end of a rod or punch and turn

g. Assemble lash adjuster with shim in slot in end

worm in reverse direction a few

of pitman shaft gear. Check end clearance which

turns; then, continue filling circuit.

should not be greater than 0.002 inch. If necessary,

Working ball nut back and forth

change thickness of shim to obtain specified clearance.

several times may be necessary to

h. Start pilot on pitman shaft gear into bushing in

close up spaces between balls and

side cover. Then, using a screwdrive inserted through

fill circuit solidly. Always hold balls

hole in side cover, turn lash adjuster counterclockwise to

down while turning down.

pull pitman shaft gear into bushing as far as possible.

(4) Lay one half of a ball guide groove up on

bench and place remaining balls from 27 count in

groove.

3-16