1955 Thunderbird Steering Gearbox Rebuild

In this video I am going over the assembly and adjustment of a manual steering gearbox for a 1955 Ford Thunderbird. It was in decent shape for the most part, but needed fresh seals and adjustment after 61 years of use. The car steers much better since we rebuilt this gearbox. It was well worth the time spent to rebuild it.

[@ST-gp8jh]

Chip, thank you for posting this video 7 years ago. Watching this gave me the reference and courage to rebuild my 55 Bird steering box. It went without a hitch, including a new horn tube. Thanks again.

[@chipwright6193]

I'm glad it helped. That's why I put these videos up. Thanks

[@lilricky7166]

Great video! Daved me alot of time a 55 Fairlane I am working on! Hardly anything out there. Thanks again!

[@robertcroslin4028]

Chip, thanks for filming and posting this. I just rebuilt the SB for my '56 Thunderbird. I'd be redoing things for a month if not for your video.

[@chipwright6193]

Thank you, I'm glad it helped. That was my dad's first car! A white '56 T-bird with a black top. It had the 312 with automatic transmission. He loved that car and always regretted trading it in....

[@rodgerbarton9059]

Great instructional video with good clarity.

[@buick1955]

Thank you for the info . My 56 Merc has a steering box problem . I now have the info to check it out . Thank you !

[@chipwright6193]

Glad I could help! It should be very similar unless you have power steering.

[@buick1955]

I checked the steering box today and readjusted the screw on top . It was adjusted way to tight and was causing the binding problem . Greased the front end while I was working on it . Steers great now . Thanks again . Link to my Merc kzbin.info/www/bejne/l17doohpl9iKpMU .

[@kristenmurdola4646]

Thanks for the information. I was going to spend $500 on a rebuild I am going to rebuild it myself.

[@chipwright6193]

I am glad it helped. I always feel more at ease when I know what to expect before I take something apart.

[@theBike45]

Steering box the same for all years of classic Thunderbird - 55 thru 57, except that sector shaft gear and worm gear is either two tooth or three tooth - they are expensive. All of the parts he used , including the sector shaft bearings which he didn't replace, can be had for less than $140. They will sell you a rebuilt box for a lot more - well over $500. This rebuild is quite easy. Removing and replacing the box is the hardest part, and you have to do that regardless of whether you do the rebuild or pay for it to be rebuilt. I believe the factory spec calls for 2 thick and 4 thin adjustment gaskets : he put 3 thick gaskets in. But the shaft was tight, so the gasket set he used seem to be correct - the fewer the gaskets, the tighter the adjustment. He should have explained that when he set the steering shaft's missing spline to point up, he was setting it at the box's high point , which is where it must be when the wheels are pointed straight ahead. Sorry he didn't replace the sector shaft bearings. He should have, just to show you how it's done. That was the only thing he missed, I believe. All in all, a good video, better than most.

[@chipwright6193]

Col Mosby Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! It sounds like you are very knowledgeable about these old Thunderbirds! You are right, I should have changed those bearings for the sake of the video demonstration if nothing else. The shaft did feel nice with three thick gaskets. My reasoning on the gaskets comes from my Tool & Die background where I was taught that fewer thick shims is better than many thin shims. The car is my father's and the steering is much tighter now. It was well worth the time spent to rebuild the gearbox.

[@davidtreichelpppj5304]

Did fill it with oil ? Isn't that the fill plug I see on top ? Nice informative video. Wish I could have seen this 8 years ago . Thanks

[@chipwright6193]

Yes, that was the fill plug on top. I think we used sae 80w-90 gear oil in ours.

[@MrHuguesdesaintperier]

Hello Chip ! Thank you ! where can I buy a very good set of all I need to rebuild the steering gearbox ? Thanks. It is very very loose when I drive it (sorry for my poor english, I am french) !

[@chipwright6193]

We bought our parts through Classic Auto Supply Co. in Coshocton, Ohio. They only deal in 1955-57 Ford Thunderbirds though. They had every piece we needed to rebuild the gearbox. Their address is 795 High St. Coshocton, Ohio 43812 Phone #[phone]

[@davidtreichelpppj5304]

Hey Very Good , I payed " What" to have that done . Rebuild $900 8 years ago. I couldn't locate any parts .

[@chipwright6193]

We bought the parts from a company in Coshocton, Ohio that deals solely in 55-57 Thunderbirds called CASCO. Dad has another parts catalog call NPD that we use too. They've both been really helpful.

[@williamsanders5667]

How do you remove horn tube and needle bearings

[@dsrtrcr01]

Hi Chip- Thanks for making this... I have a 56 Mercury and the steering box looks identical. I am assuming the process is the same. I am not clear on one thing. Did you put in new gears along with the new bearings and seals? I have tried adjusting the adjustment screw and there is no change in my steering. The play at the wheel is a good 3 inches.

[@chipwright6193]

I only cleaned ours and replaced the seals. The original bearings looked like new still. The seals were completely shot and someone packed the gearbox full of grease. If you shimmed it with the paper gaskets so that the steering shaft was almost stiff to turn and you can't adjust any more play out with the adjustment screw, then there is either something else worn in the gearbox or something in the steering linkage that is worn. I hope you're able to find it.

[@mtpoland]

Thanks for the excellent tutorial. I've got a 1960 F100 with a very similar gear box in which the horn wire travels all the way through and out the bottom. And judging by pictures of the F100 rebuild kit, it looks like the same overall design. Two questions: did you replace a seal at the pitman end of the sector shaft? And did you fill, or how did you fill the steering box with oil or grease?

[@chipwright6193]

MT Poland Yes, that was the seal that I pressed in with the arbor press at around 3:20 in the video. To fill the gearbox there was a nice fill plug on the sector shaft cover right beside the adjusting screw for the sector shaft. I waited to fill it with oil until I had it back in the car. I just filled it close to the top with 80w90 gear oil. Thanks for watching and good luck with the gearbox in your F100!

[@mtpoland]

Guess I really wasn't paying attention to the seal install. Thanks again - I just ordered my rebuild kit.

[@chipwright6193]

It's a long video to catch every detail. Good luck with your rebuild. It will be well worth it for peace of mind if nothing else.

[@corygene6477]

What kind and where are you putting your gear oil?

[@chipwright6193]

I think we used sae 80w-90 gear oil. There was a plug on the top cover where you could fill it with oil.

[@russellfisher1514]

Can you please tell me where you bought the parts and was it a complete kit or all separate part numbers

[@chipwright6193]

Russell Fisher My father bought the parts we wanted individually from Casco in Coshocton, Ohio. They deal specifically in 55' 56' and 57' Thunderbirds. They do also offer a kit with everything needed to rebuild the gear box, but we decided that everything was so nice inside that replacing the bearings wasn't necessary. Classic Auto Supply Co., Inc. 795 High St. Coshocton, Ohio 43812 1-800-374-0914 E-mail: [e-mail] Website: www.classictbird.com