(This is in the tech section but thought i'd also post it here in case ppl don't look there.)

Hey there ppl, hoping someone could help me with this!!??

I have a Manx buggy on a '68 type 1. The steering has a lot of free play about 4cm with a very small steering wheel.

Now i've checked to see if the play is in the tie rods etc and everything either side of the steering box is fine. The steering shaft moves as one unit with no play in were it bolts to the steering box. So i'm thinking the box needs to be adjusted??? (only place it can be!!!??)

So last weekend i loosened the lock nut that adjusts the worm and roller (exactly as described in http://www.vw-resource.com )(What exactly is the worm and roller?). Anyway did nothing, absolutely NO change in the play, but seemed to make the steering heavier (whilst front jacked up?)

Should i pull the steering box and take it apart or buy a newie? Is this a big job on a buggy? Can the box be taken out without removing the entire steering shaft/column? etc etc

Any opinions and/or help would be appreciated (lots of questions i know, but i'm the enquisitive type!!!).

Marty

Are you measuring the freeplay with the wheels pointing straight ahead? I know it sounds obvious but it stuffed me up once.

Sandy,
Thanks for the reply, the free-play is the same where ever the wheels are pointing.

Does that change anything? How did that stuff you up before?

Marty

Dude
Have you checked carefully undernbeath the steering box where the pitman arm attaches to the steering box output shaft itself?

The pitman arm engages on a spline and the arm uses a pinch-bolt to tighten it up on the shaft.

If that pinch bolt has loosened over time the shaft may be flogging there giving you movement. Only a poofteenth of movement there means a heap of movement at the steering wheel.
Same goes for the steering box bount nuts.

It that is all tight then you could reasonably assume that the box itself has slogged out.

Changing the box should be a straightforward affair.
The steering shaft is engaged to the box via a splined slip joint with 1 pinch bolt. Remove the pinchbolt entirely and tap the steering shaft up and off the box.

Unbolt and remove the 2 steering arms off the pitman arm.

The steering box is simply clamped to the beam and there are 2 nuts to remove. Thos nuts are retained by tab lock washers and you need to get a screwdriver under the tabs and bend them out of the way so you can get you spanner onto the nuts.

The box should fall off onto you head now!

Have fun!

L8tr
E

Have you tried adjusting the wormshaft end play?

Loosen the lock nut & sector shaft adjusting screw.
( on the lid of the box )

loosen the adjusting sleeve clamping bolt, (on the top where the coupling goes into the box)
and tighten the adjusting sleeve ( the round piece with the slots for a large spanner ) clockwise until nearly all the slack is taken up ( about .008" )

Tighten the adjusting sleeve clamping bolt.

Tighten the sector shaft adjusting screw , & then back it off 1/8 of a turn. Then tighten the lock nut.

Worked for me. John