HI All,
Been a long time since I was here.
I have a VW paddock buggy that has been great around my property.Last week the steering just went.....steering one minute,nothing the next.I can turn the wheel & get no reaction from the tyres..
What parts of the steering box need to be investigated?
If required,I'll get some pics & info from it today.
As always,your help is appreciated.

Stenchy..

probably the coupling between steering box and column....just get underneath and look above the steering box, should be a round reinforced rubber disc ..might need a torch. easy fix if that the problem.

Thanks Cesiumfrog,
So will it be something like a busted pin or shattered disc...or has something displaced itself..?

hmmm...not what i thought..it looks ok in those pictures i was expecting the steering coupler to be fractured (~ centre vertically and ~ a quarter of the way in from left in first image)
maybe get someone to spin the steering wheel while you watch to see what dosn't move so you can localise the problem?

Surely it can't be more basic if the shaft is turning going into the box and the pitman isn;t moving -loose nut /stripped spline or if the pitman arm is moving at least one of the tie rods must move or the spline clamp on the universal is loose.

yeah but the splines have a safety notch cut out where the clamping bolt goes through. So if the splines do strip it will not fully lose coupling because the bolt inside the notch prevents this.

Same with the rubber disk, if it all crumbles its very unlikely to drop out of connection because of the 4 bolts and nuts prevent them dropping past each other.

vw safety design

I recon the problem would be inside the box itself.

Quote:

Originally posted by vlad01 yeah but the splines have a safety notch cut out where the clamping bolt goes through. So if the splines do strip it will not fully lose coupling because the bolt inside the notch prevents this. Same with the rubber disk, if it all crumbles its very unlikely to drop out of connection because of the 4 bolts and nuts prevent them dropping past each other. vw safety design

Whoops not sure how that came up as an edit but from the thumb on it should have been my post. Sorry vlad01



FIXED UP

LEE

Thanks for your input Fellas,
I've never been into a stering box before,so,instead of doing my usual bull-at-gate thing,thought I'd get some advice first.
Last night I checked & it all works down to the box.My problem is not having any idea what lies inside the steering box.
I thought there might be a common issue in there...
VWs are an alien life form to me!

Thanks..

Just to let you know thats an oval's steering box

Just to let you know the steering box that you have would be a waste of time repairing as parts have not been available for years, you will be able to source a second hand latter one easily complete with the pittman arm to replace the one you have.

I would be personally trying to find another oval style steering box if i were you as it looks to be fitted in a offroad style car which the LATER STEERING BOXS are rubbish for due to the poor week construction .
i would be suspecting what has happened to your current box is that either the pitman shaft (shaft attached to output / bottom arm ) has been pushed up and the worm ball has fallen out of it's correct position OR the cast leaver that follows that ball has snapped inside the box .
To check either of these items just pull the top aluminium plate of the steering box preferbly with no steering load being projected back from the wheels ie the wheels arn't going to try and turn as soon as the lid is removed .

Andrew

Thanks lads,
Any thoughts of a particular box as a replacement?
Also,will the current box be of use as spares to someone..or does everybody just upgrade.?

Thanks...

Thanks Andrew,
I'll look at it tomorrow . At least I have some idea of what I'm dealing with.

Ok Guys,
Pulled the lid today.I have not touched the adjuster screw on top.
The worm is in one piece,the pitman arm is functional (I moved the steering by holding the tyre).
I'm thinking that piece that sits atop or meshed with the worm is broken or unmeshed...
What next??

Also,what is the best lube for the box.?

Thanks...

I always fill the steering boxes with lithium based MOLY grease..
the later boxes were filled with it..

earlier boxes had oil in them...

[talking about NON SUPER beetle boxes...]

LEE

Thanks 68AB,
An old book suggests 90 Gear Oil for old units.

Here's that ball that sits atop the worm.I would get one made up if I knew the specs.
I suppose my other option is another box..
Any opinions here,for replacement.??

I remember a several weeks ago,the steering suddenly got hard,so I put oil in it,thinking it had run dry.
It then went to a situation of going all over the road at any speed above first gear.

Thanks again.

Stenchy , ihave 2 good oval steering boxs here which i will no longer be using as i have gone to rack and pinion , give me a ring on 0411556744 and we'll discuss a deal

Thanks for all the help on this issue.
Trevor@ Volksplace had a box for $45..he was quite helpful to me.
In the lead up to the failure of the "ball bearing",I had noticed the steering was erratic at any speed.Previously it was quite tight.
Got the replacement box on last week & she's off again...

Like all good farm weapons , she'll be good for another 10'000 klm's , hour's, minutes or seconds all depending on the size of the pot hole , ditch , trench or river .
But all in all a great little rig back in use .

Andrew

Andrew,
The old girl only does a few KLMs a week.She has a lotta life remaining & I'm thinking of selling her,as I really need a heavier ute for my property.
I'm currently doing up an 87 Courier..