1958 Rambler American Steering Box Same as Metro??
Printed From: TheAMCForum.com
Category: The Garage
Forum Name: Suspension, Steering, Brakes & Wheels
Forum Description: What makes it stop, turn, and smooths the ride
URL: https://theamcforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=90264
Printed Date: Apr/19/2024 at 3:53am
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Topic: 1958 Rambler American Steering Box Same as Metro??
Posted By: andyleonard
Subject: 1958 Rambler American Steering Box Same as Metro??
Date Posted: Oct/11/2017 at 7:52pm
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Anyone know if a 1958 American steering box will interchange with a 1958 Metropolitan? I know the American box is mounted upside down but...the American was made form the parts bin. Metro parts? I need a spare box.
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Replies:
Posted By: ramblinrev
Date Posted: Oct/11/2017 at 8:30pm
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No go, sorry! BUT, I think an American box up to '63 will interchange. ------------- 74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977) 62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981) |
Posted By: tomj
Date Posted: Oct/11/2017 at 8:57pm
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metropolitans don't have much Nash DNA imported from the two chassis lines. the American's box isn't a borrow, upside down. i would guess -- not having and Nash tech data -- it came from a previous Nash car (certainly the '56 the AMericans essentially are). it's not upside down, the arm comes out the top by design. it's the best thing about that box -- the seal is at the top, and doesn't have oil sitting on it. other than the crappy ratio (20000000000:1 or something) it's not a bad thing. i've rebuilt one. decently made. i run 50 weight in mine, replaced the bushing and seal, it's quite fine. but yeah, it's an oddball, and very, very tiny, ain't nothing else gonna fit in that hole. the Ackermann stuff in the front end requires that tiny pitman arm swing and the peculiar steering linkage. it's all Nash all the way. it's entirely old-world, not modern at all! ------------- 1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto 1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
Posted By: andyleonard
Date Posted: Oct/11/2017 at 9:09pm
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Poop! This one had water in it when I got it (48K miles) and it's notchy and won't adjust. Hopefully it just has bad bearings and bushing but I have my fears about the heavy metal, based on how it feels. It's giving me a weird shimmy on slight turns over 45 mph, both ways. Feels like bad wheel balance but isn't. Nothing at all if pointed straight ahead. I guess it could be soggy control arm bushings but the box needs sorting in any case so it goes first.
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Posted By: tomj
Date Posted: Oct/11/2017 at 9:16pm
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there is no adjustment in this (or any) steering box... that's the end play adjustment. and it's gotta be set with the box out of the car or at least with the pitman arm not connected to the steering link. most boxes the sector engagement is a shim or cover plate thing. it's an easy rebuild. the kits are NOS, but likely available as no one ever rebuilds them! lol. though the ratio is terrible and it's a spear'o'death, mine's thoroughly pleasant to drive, no slop, etc. and gear oil instead of grease works great. ------------- 1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto 1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
Posted By: tomj
Date Posted: Oct/11/2017 at 9:20pm
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oh, the wear mode of mine was that the pitman arm shaft rocked in its worn bushing. it was barely visible but that's enough to make it very sloppy. i wonder though if it woudl cause a shimmy. pretty much all these boxes, the backlash is very low when the box is correctly centered, but a substantial amount of play/backlash off center. this is intentional, i forget the reason. the sector gear is cut that way. the point is, the box must be exactly centered when the play is set (by preload with a spring scale, if i remember, but hmmm id have to RTFM). steering wheel centered, qhich requires good tie rod ends and good lower trunnions. and in the early americans, the steering linkage balls and sockets all OK. (that thing is weird. i think i know why it is like it is.) ------------- 1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto 1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
Posted By: andyleonard
Date Posted: Oct/12/2017 at 11:55am
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I'm going to pull it today. For experimentation sake I overtightened both the sector adjustment and the endplay to see if the slop left the building, with no joy. So it's either the bearings or the bushing and probably both. With everything overtightened I'm not sure there's enough play to make the wobble in turns....but maybe. Otherwise it's bushing time. Alignment is done and good and tires are new and balanced. New front bearings too. No play in front parts anywhere. Idler arm busing new. Everything centered and lubed.
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Posted By: andyleonard
Date Posted: Oct/12/2017 at 4:12pm
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OK. As feared, it's the everything causing the problem. Bushing is a little loose, bearings are junk, both heavy gears are pitted and, oddly, the small 2 tooth gear is loose on its roller pin. Net result - adding up all the small errors - is no good. How do I find a spare box?
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Posted By: tomj
Date Posted: Oct/12/2017 at 11:38pm
oopsie. water is a bad lubricant! ------------- 1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto 1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
andyleonard wrote:Posted By: tomj
Date Posted: Oct/12/2017 at 11:43pm
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i have one! for you! $1000! but with your AMCForum discount... 10 easy payments! umm, it's yours for shipping or whatever. i have two. grubby used, i'll peek inside to make sure its not full of water. you going to Boulder City in Nov? shipping would be a PITA due to the ridiculuous Spear'O'Death, but it can be done. i'm in Los Angeles. ------------- 1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto 1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5 http://www.ramblerLore.com |
Posted By: andyleonard
Date Posted: Oct/13/2017 at 10:15am
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Send you a PM. Cool. I'm here too, in Topanga. I'll come get the boxes. There's got to be a good one out of 3 sets of parts.
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Posted By: CamJam
Date Posted: Oct/13/2017 at 5:34pm
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I love a happy ending! ------------- '73 Javelin 360 (current project) '72 Baja Bronze Javelin SST '69 Big Bad Orange AMX (2018 Teague Heritage Award) SOLD  |
Posted By: andyleonard
Date Posted: Oct/14/2017 at 3:13pm
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Tom saves the day! I love this forum.
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