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66 V6 Steering Shot

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by TechTchr, Oct 31, 2017.

  1. Oct 31, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2017
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    22
    so I tore into my steering in an attempt to figure out what parts I needed to replace. Everything is toast!

    When I grabbed a tire and wiggled it, the bell-crank moved up and down about 1 inch. The ball on it was severely worn. The drag link was loose also.

    I pulled out the ross steering box and opened it up, hoping I could rebuild it if I could track down the parts. No good. Not only are the pins on the sector shaft really worn down, but the worm gear is also damaged. There was no oil in it at all and the worm gear has rough spots on the edges of the gear in several places. The ball on the pitman arm is also severely worn almost oval in shape.

    I was hoping to get it up and running quickly. I bought it as a plow vehicle and to run around in. So now what to do? Track down a rebuildable ross system and replace the rest of the parts if I can even find them. Anyone know of a jeep boneyard in the NY -northeast area? Or should I upgrade to a Saginaw box? Really more work than I wanted to get into at this time.

    I looked in the builds section for information and found some. Can someone point me in the direction of comprehensive instructions including parts for a manual swap? This is a V6.

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Oct 31, 2017
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    TechTchr likes this.
  3. Nov 1, 2017
    maurywhurt

    maurywhurt Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Western North...
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    Dec 12, 2009
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    If you end up deciding to rebuild the Ross box, below are a couple of threads you may find helpful. The first would provide a solution to the worn sector shaft pins, and the second is a comprehensive guide to fully rebuilding the V6 box that I worked with Moses Ludel to develop:

    15/16" Sector Shaft For Ross Steering Box - V6 And M38a1 $150

    Rebuilding the Jeep Ross TL Cam and Lever Steering Gear

    Also, if you start a WTB listing in the Early CJ5 Classifieds forum, you may be able to find someone with an extra V6 steering shaft / worm gear in decent shape they'd be willing to sell.
     
    TechTchr likes this.
  4. Nov 1, 2017
    garage gnome

    garage gnome ECJ5 welder

    Western MA
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    Jun 19, 2009
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    3,083
    Member Mcruff and I are working on doing this mod to my bellcrank and I am in the process of rebuilding a V6 box to put in my 3A.

    Gary’s New Bell Crank
     
    TechTchr likes this.
  5. Nov 1, 2017
    Karl Childers

    Karl Childers Member

    Taos New Mexico
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    Sep 6, 2017
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    137
    All the parts are available for the Ross box. I just put a new worm shaft in mine and at a substantial saving over a new sector shaft had Tim E a member here replace the pins on my sector shaft. Check out his classisfied ad. When it was all done my steering was like new again.
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2017
    Beach66Bum likes this.
  6. Nov 1, 2017
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Oct 29, 2012
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    3,784
    You can only answer that question...............Plowing I would guess requires allot of mechanical force on the steering? So does oversized tires............and driving off road in soft materials.

    Power steering in an early Jeep is one of the highest rated improvements.
     
    fhoehle and TechTchr like this.
  7. Nov 1, 2017
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    Even a Manual Saginaw is a huge improvement over the Ross Box.
     
    fhoehle and Daryl like this.
  8. Nov 1, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
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    Oct 25, 2017
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    I’ll take some pictures when I get home, the sector shaft is worn and scored so I don’t think it’s worth trying to replace the pins. Then with the worm gear being messed up also, I figured it would be easier finding a better candidate for rebuilding.
     
  9. Nov 1, 2017
    fhoehle

    fhoehle Sponsor

    Harford Township, PA
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    Apr 11, 2012
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    I'd upgrade to a Saginaw setup with no questions asked. Manual Saginaw is still worlds bettter than Ross but power Saginaw is the Cadillac of all.
     
    Daryl likes this.
  10. Nov 1, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2017
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    8F952544-54B3-4973-9AB6-FF3365D1440F.jpeg C749B3BA-7171-4564-B42D-F7E94DED843D.jpeg E6EC67AB-527F-4402-9FDA-6F61ECB945C8.jpeg 898F6A7A-C390-4449-8DBB-BCF9E5FBA1FD.jpeg Here are some pictures of the damaged worm gear and scored sector shaft.
     
  11. Nov 1, 2017
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Nov 22, 2003
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    The worm & pitman arm are trash for sure.

    The sector shaft is probably salvageable by rotating the pins & polishing the shaft- the replacement shaft bushings need to be honed for a proper fit anyhow.

    If you can score a replacement worm shaft cheap & you have the skills to rotate the pins a Ross rebuild is probably your fastest cheapest route but if you plan on using this for a while as a snow plow then the saggy swap may be the better route for you.
     
  12. Nov 1, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
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    Oct 25, 2017
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    Thanks, I have read and looked at that rebuild. That’s what made me think it’s not all that difficult. But since my worm gear is shot too, I’ll first try to get a good or rebuildable unit before I start replacing the worm shaft.
     
  13. Nov 1, 2017
    homersdog

    homersdog Tulsa, Ok 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Tulsa, OK
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    I rebuilt my Ross a few years ago, but I'll tell you I think the Ross steering is the Achilles heel of the early Jeeps. I am in the process of collecting parts to do the saggy swap. I can see it now as being the best upgrade for early jeeps.

    You might consider fixing up the Ross steering good enough to keep your jeep drivable, but start planning the Saginaw upgrade.
     
  14. Nov 1, 2017
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    Mar 2, 2017
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    I think bowbender (member here) has a complete low-mileage Ross V6 steering set-up, he may PM you.

    Agree with Howard, sector shaft is salvageable. Also, Debellas Jeep has NOS worm/shafts for $80 I believe if you want to go the rebuild route.
     
  15. Nov 1, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2017
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    That’s the plan right now. I don’t have the time or ambition to engineer a swap right now. Need it drivable/plowable for winter (or wife will kill me for buying a plow vehicle that can’t plow! I sold my j3000 plow truck this summer, it was too difficult to maneuver around all my stuff. Retirement in 3 years, then I should have time for such pursuits.
     
  16. Nov 1, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
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    Thanks, We are in contact with one another as we speak.
     
  17. Nov 1, 2017
    sfrans

    sfrans AAGG

    East Wenatchee, WA
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    Ha, retirement and get time to work on your hobbies? I retired a year ago and haven't had a chance to touch my 66. It was going to be the first thing on my list. When I haven't been doing things for parents and kids ham radio buddies have had me climbing towers. Winter is coming and no one wants to come see us or expects us to help them once it starts snowing. We're supposed to get snow Friday. Wife has said the winter is my time on the Jeep, her time on stained glass and quilts. Darn good woman.
    Good luck on the rebuild. I'm planning to do the Saginaw power steering swap with a narrow track open knuckle D30 front end. I do have right hand D27 knuckle with 2 holes if you want to eliminate the center bellcrank
     
  18. Nov 19, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
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    Oct 25, 2017
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    Update on the steering.

    I bought Bowbenders ross steering setup and was getting ready to put it in but first I figured I would pull apart the knuckles. What a mess! After removing the tie rods, when I moved the drums back and forth the passenger side was crunchy, the driver side felt like it had detents that it snapped into. I guess the kingpin bearings are shot!
    The hubs were packed with grease, the spindle nuts were all chewed up from people removing them with chisels. After getting the knuckles open, at least they were packed with grease, lots of grease. The top king pin bearings were both shot. One was just about seized up and the other fell apart.. next I looked down the axle tubes after pulling out the shafts, they were full of gear oil the color and consistency of chocolate pudding. Awesome, need new inner oil seals! So next I pulled the differential cover off expecting the worst, but it was actually pretty clean in there, the fluid not too bad, gears look good. So I pulled the carrier out, the bearings look ok. Going to leave them for now. So after lots of cleanup and another $175 parts order Im on hold again.
     
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  19. Nov 19, 2017
    TIm E

    TIm E Aggressively average

    NW Arkansas
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    Bummer, but good to find that before a safety issue happened. Should have much better steering once that is all addressed.

    Brian Hainer (look up "metalshaper" on youtube) has some great videos on how to rebuild and set-up the from axle. He also has specially formulated lubes for the knuckles and steering box.
     
    TechTchr likes this.
  20. Nov 20, 2017
    TechTchr

    TechTchr New Member

    Hudson Valley NY
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    Oct 25, 2017
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    Yeah I binge watched a bunch of his videos the other day, great information,very informative. That’s what helped make me feel like I could do it myself.
     
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