My '63 B is, after nearly two years down, ON THE ROAD! New chrome all
around, paint that looks like you could dive into it, no filler, no rust,
and a strong 3-main engine...what more could you ask?
Well, last week I posted a question about collapsible steering racks.
When the answer came back "No, not on a '63" I assumed that the rack was
bent. Now I'm not so sure. I jacked up the front wheels and loosened
all four bolts. Voila! The wheels turn freely from side to side. I
noticed that the rack liked to be up a little from where it was before,
so I shimmed it and retightened the bolts. Steering tightened up again.
Loosened the bolts again -- steering fine. Then I watched the rack
carefully while turning the wheels and noticed that it moves up and down
rhythmically. My conclusion: the rack is fine, the COLUMN is bent
somewhere. How could that have happened, I ask? Then I remembered: back
when I wrecked the car by driving it into a cement wall (another story),
Mr. Tow Truck Man tried to unbend my bumper and fender before I could stop
him by turning the steering wheel REALLY REALLY hard.
My questions: a) how do I figure out which piece is bent (the coupling, the
top shaft, or the lower shaft that enters the rack; b) has anyone else ever
had this happen; c) if it's the lower shaft, do I need another rack or can
I replace just the shaft?
-- Marc
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