replacing steering gear box 54 dodge royal

[dodge59]

question :

I'm replacing  manual steering gear box in a 54 dodge royal .   I have a shop manual  but still confused on how to remove the box.. do I have to pull the steering shaft out  or can I just remove the box from the shaft in the engine compartment. maybe the shaft/column  will separate just above the gear box ?  any help would be appreciated.

Thanks !

Edited September 24, 2015 by dodge59

[martybose]

If the steering is the same as my 47 Plymouth, this is what I did:

 

1. Jacked the front of the car up and put some good jackstands on the frame sections behind the belhousing

2. Used an impact gun to remove the nut and steering arm from the steering box (just left them hanging)

3. Pulled off the steering wheel (after disconnecting the horn wire under the car and pulling it out from the top)

4. Backed off the bolt on the pinch clamp on the steering column tube right at the steering box

5. Put a jack under the inner pivot shaft of the left lower A-arm, then used an impact gun to take off the 4 nuts on the two clamps holding it on and dropped the A-arm down.

6. Used the impact gun to get the three bolts through the steering box mounts out and removed the insulators, spacers and other pieces

7. Slid the steering box out with the shaft intact.  I didn't even have to loosen the steering clamp under the dash or even disturb the shift linkage, they all stayed put.

 

In retrospect I should have found an easy way to disconnect the left A-Arm at the outside end, as it turned out to be an absolute bear to get the front suspension back together with the spring in the right place; it took three guys and a really big pry bar, and wasn't pretty; find a different way to do #5 above!  You need to get the left lower A-arm out of the way of the steering box as it comes out. 

 

The steering shaft is one piece from the inside of the box to the steering wheel; make it real fun to ship somewhere.  Getting the horn wire back in took a piece of welding rod and patience, but was easy.

 

Marty

[dodge59]

thanks Marty .......... appreciate  the info ..

I was hoping  I could separate down by the gear box and leave the shaft in the car .  but it does not appear  that way.

[dodge59]

after further observation on the steer box removal . It appears the other solution would be to remove the gear box thru the inside of car.  just pull the carpet back and take the foot  floor pan off to access the gear box thru the floor. . pull out the guts out of steering wheel and wires .

 

  Like you mentioned earlier . that gear box  will not clear the lower control arm   unless  you drop the spring out and move the lower control arm out of the way. that would intail a lot of work .

 

I think It would be easier to pull the whole set up thru the floor  and thru the  inside  of the car. ..  I'll keep you posted.

Edited October 4, 2015 by dodge59