steering shaft and cam

[jagman2]

hello all
who is the current go to for a new steering shaft and cam for TC?

cheers
stu

[Steve Simmons]

If you mean the sector shaft there are several sellers. I would probably go with from the frame up simply because I feel confident he inspects his stock. There are no current suppliers for worm gears. I have a couple brand new worm gears available, but you have to match them to the proper peg, which is a slightly different taper than the factory peg.

[jagman2]

thank you for the reply.
i assume the cam is heat shrunk on the shaft. do you know what peg would work with your cam?
i have a new peg and sector installed. still way to much wandering even with all new kingpins tie rod ends and track rod ends,with new balls. all thats left to cause wandering is the cam. its the original one.
i have a 1946 TC1508.

cheers
stu

[Steve Simmons]

They sold a matching peg but I don't know where to get one now. The easiest thing would probably be to have a machinist make one. I don't have the exact angle for the peg, but it's a very simple piece. A photo from Moss Motors is attached.

The worm gear is pressed onto the shaft and then the end peened to prevent it from slipping off. To remove, you have to grind off the peened part, replace the worn and then peen again.

[jagman2]

well, i have to ask, how much were you yhinking for one of the cams. you can e-mail me if you wish at:
stuartclipson1944@gmail.com

[Steve Simmons]

I'll send you an email. Here is a comparison for anyone interested, of an original NOS worm gear and the aftermarket ones with a slightly different angle. You can't see the difference by eye. Although I don't recommend it, I've seen people run the stock peg on these worms without issue.

[jagman2]

is the cam case hardend or the peg hardend? is the cam keyed on the shaft?

cheers
stu

[cdrolshagen]

splines on the shaft

Carl

[Duncan M]

Stu-
Did you first adjust the front plate for nearly zero end play and then secondly adjust the top plate for some resistance at center steer? The front plate must be done first.
Duncan-

[jagman2]

yes on both counts

cheers
stu

[Duncan M]

Stu-
Have you tried doubling the toe in from the original setting called for? Many people say that cures the wandering problem when all else is as it should be.
Duncan-

[jagman2]

toe in set at 1/2"

[Duncan M]

TC front hubs are notorious for wearing out where the bearings fit in. The bearings will press in with normal resistance, but once they are in they can be a bit loose on a worn hub. No way to fix such worn hubs except to replace them with new hubs. Steering will never be right with worn hubs.

Alignment technique should always include sighting the rear wheels to the front. Like sighting a rifle. The Jim Buell article on the TC front end touches on this. If the front and rear do not sight spot-on on each side of the car, something is wrong.