Rebuilt my steering box
 

I took my 124 apart to make a small weld a year ago, and it still sits. I needed to rebuild the steering box before I went further, so I actually got off my butt and did it. It was quite easy. I also did the modification I've read about here, with the thrust bearing. The only trouble I had was I couldn't find a locknut narrow enough to grab the threads once I put in the bearing and thrust washers, so I used a dab of Locktite red. I also noticed it wasn't quite as smooth as I felt it could be, I took it back apart and packed the thrust bearing with Phil Wood bicycle grease. Silky smooth now.
3 cans of Hogwash needed to clean out 40 years of cruddy grease. Now I need to dig out the soldering gun and terminals and make me up a new wiring harness.

Glad to here you are makeing progress oldrustycars.:ThumbsUp:
Wont be long now you will have it back in the yard.

On the Nut for the Lever Assembly, you can use either a double 5/8" NF Jam Nuts or a regular NyLock Nut.

Thats what I thought, R, but theres barely enough for just the one jam nut with the Nice 605 thrust bearing, and two proper thrust washers. Even with only one washer, not enough room. I went through the hardware stores large Hillman bolt bins, with my calipers, nothing thin enough. Nylock or Stover, the lock didn't reach the threads. Everything is cinched up real good, just not enough thread. Do you foresee a problem with the Loctite?

with that upgrade, you should only be using one nylock nut

I use this style thrust bearing.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#thrust-bearings/=24b0wk

Here is the the thrust bearing set up on my 70 steering:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...Dick/UD105.jpg
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...Dick/UD100.jpg

I had the same problem when I rebuilt my steering box. I took the nylon lock nut and put it in a vice then cut it in half with a reciipicating saw. It shortened it enough that I was able to thread it on and lock it tight.

http://www.kirkengines.com/Steering%20Upgrade.jpg
I used this setup. The bearing is thicker than the original jam nut. I used the correct Primer N along with Loctite Red to keep the nut on, it seems like it's on to stay. But I'm glad to see someone else had the same issue, I "almost" clamped a Stover nut in the vise and ground it to half thickness.

Merk do you have a part number for the needle bearing?


Scott

Murphy, Let us know how long that open bearing lasts. Please don't think this is a "dig" I am curious.