steering stops

1950 - 1952, M38, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38.
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JMZ421
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steering stops

Post by JMZ421 » Mon Feb 08, 2021 8:35 am

I had to rephrase a question. Would the steering knuckle steering stops prevent me from having an equal amount of steering wheel revolutions?
Rebuilt box is centered, pittman as close to 90 degrees as I could get, and drag link connected. wheels straight except for some toe-in that will have to be corrected. The steering wheel has maybe half turn more to the left than to the right. It was probably like that before but I wanted to check. If the stops cause the issue then me being off a spline on the pittman would not cause this, correct? Drag link moves freely, John


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dpcd67
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Re: steering stops

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Feb 08, 2021 9:00 am

Maybe, and maybe not; the entire system has to be in sync; only after you center the shaft, pitman arm, then adjust the toe in, would the stops come into the equation. Then if you do not have the specified turn angle, adjust the stops.
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JMZ421
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Re: steering stops

Post by JMZ421 » Mon Feb 08, 2021 9:49 am

That makes perfect sense. Adjusting toe, which does need done as you can tell the right front tire is toe-out currently. Front driver side appears to be pretty straight. Getting that toe adjusted will then allow the wheel to be turned more on the right, hopefully correcting my issue.

My concern was being off a spline on the centered box but I am getting full range of motion on the pittman, way more than the "stops" on each side so your explanation makes total sense to me. Thank you, John

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Re: steering stops

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Feb 08, 2021 12:36 pm

The Bell Crank must be at right angles to the cross member. Why not use the TM or factory manuals and make it easy for yourself?
The CJ and M-38/M-38A1 TM's will make this job very easy. I usually copy the indexing mark on the original sector shaft using s file.
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JMZ421
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Re: steering stops

Post by JMZ421 » Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:35 pm

I know about the bellcrank, the right angle issue, M38 TM9 -8012 does not explain as well as the TM 9 8014, I just found that in the M38A1 manual. TM 91804B, not too good. That being said, I probably missed it. Just a little hiccup, will get it resolved.

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Re: steering stops

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Feb 08, 2021 1:40 pm

I realize the misprint in the M-38 Ordinance manual, but it is still a help. Beed doing straight and tight Jeep steering gears many, many years following the JEEP manuals.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
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Re: steering stops

Post by JMZ421 » Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:59 pm

Ok, I am becoming an expert installing and removing M38 steering boxes. I think I may have found what is going on. I found an old post where the gentleman did not have a "matched" sector and pittman arm even though both pieces were marked for centering. I have a NOS sector and a Jeep brand 804535 pittman arm NOS and when I line the matched marks up AFTER centering my steering the ball is about 1.5 inches to the left of the shaft as I am looking up at the shaft from underneath the Jeep.

Does this make sense for me to index that pittman arm one click to the left so the ball sits directly under the sector shaft? Apparently this "mismatached sector and pittman" language is in the M38A1 manual and to make sure that ball is directly under the shaft.

Does this make sense? Thanks, John

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Re: steering stops

Post by mdainsd » Wed Feb 10, 2021 5:55 am

Makes perfect sense. Count the revolutions of the steering wheel, put it in the center then put the arm on with the ball as directly under the shaft as the nearest spline will allow. You will be good to go.
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Re: steering stops

Post by JMZ421 » Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:39 am

Much appreciated, John


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