Hi all - Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to everyone. I had my 1951 Hudson Hornet Hollywood up on the lift last week to get all those chassis points lubed (it had been close to 10 years since the last lube job) and to check out the front suspension. The complaint is that the car seems to wander all over the road. My mechanic told me that one of the tie rod ends could use a replacement, and the tires, being bias ply are not the best for handling, but in his opinion, most of the trouble was coming from the center steering arm. He said that when the steering wheel is turned a little one way or the other, he can see the far end (rear) of the arm moving up and down instead of side-to-side. So, do any of you out there have experience in terms of what it takes to tighten this up? My recollection is that I changed the bearings when I first got the car, but I didn't get into replacing the steering arm pivot shaft. Are there any tricks I should be aware of? Thanks, Mike
Michael,
I replaced both the shaft and the bearings in a '54 Hornet Special. The shaft was worn enough so that just putting in the new bearings did not eliminate all the up and down movement. To remove the old shaft and install the new one, I took the center steering arm off, and brought it to a machine shop. As I recall, there is a tapered pin which holds the shaft to the arm. When I did this (in 1966), the shaft and bearings kit was available at a local parts store. Several club members have the kit for sale, I think.
Per
Hi Per. Thanks for the reply. Sounds like I have a nice spring project.
Hi Michael
Have just ordered this kit from 21st century.
Comes with bearings shaft washer and the tapered pin.
Will let you know how it goes!
Regards Simon
I'm not familiar with 21st Century. Can you please reply with a link or other contact info? This sounds exactly what I need. Thanks.
Michael, If you changed out the bearings and kept them greased, I doubt this is the issue. Pull the shaft and check the pin and bearings to see if wear is really an issue. Make sure you follow the manual and torque pin nut to spec.
Gert Kristiansen sells a bushing kit that I have used several times and really like.
January 2012 Posts: 96Flag
If the pin is OK, I sell a center point bushing to replace the Torrington needle bearings. With new lock nut the cost is $30 plus $5 shipping. If you have questions you can email me at : HET gtkristi@copper.net or ask here how it worked for them. Gert Kristiansen, Deseret Chapter.
Hi all - the final chapter, and it's a good ending. I had some time yesterday so a friend helped me swap out the bearings in the center steering arm. I used the bronze bushing supplied in the kit that I obtained from Russ Maas. Fortunately for me, the shaft itself was not worn and miked out at the same 1.000" as the replacement shaft so i didn't need to use the new shaft. Greased it up and took that car for a spin. Such an improvement. Happy Hudsoning to all out there!!
I had a similar problem with the Pacemaker recently. Took it for its WOF check and was advised there was too much up and down movement in the center arm.
I ordered a kit but before it had arrived I had a conversation with our guru Geoff Clark who suggested another washer to take up the slack. I got a suitable thin washer to act as a spacer and filed the hole so the shaft would fit through it. Took the nut and washer off, put the spacer washer on then replaced the original washer and nut. Tightened up and could feel the shaft go through the new spacer washer pulling the whole unit down snug. It did the job perfectly with now no slop or grabbing from doing this. As Michael said it transformed the steering.
I did replace the nut with a new one and have the new kit on the shelf for some time in the future if ever needed or to help someone else out .
My unsolicited opinion is that if the bearings/shaft are worn enough to cause excessive movement, taking up end-play will prove to be a temporary fix and the problem will soon return.
F
as Frank has described, this is only sandwiching the looseness, so to speak, and is not a good, long term fix, just depends on how far you drive your car. Replacing the shaft and bearings or Machining a solid sleeve, making the provisions for lubrication is the long term repair.
[quote="Frank Hughes" post=17277]My unsolicited opinion is that if the bearings/shaft are worn enough to cause excessive movement, taking up end-play will prove to be a temporary fix and the problem will soon return.
F
Thanks for your input Frank and Doug. I will keep a close eye on it and keep well greased. At least I have the kit on the shelf for when needed. My annual mileage it not great, maybe 3-5000 miles so will certainly do the replacement when movement shows again.
Thanks again
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