5:1 Ratio Steering Kit

Post by **Vrayfoster** » Sat Oct 31, 2020 7:40 pm

First off, it works. The kit comes in a PVC tube capped at both ends. I took the steering shaft, pushed in the short pin, put the gears on the pins and installed the center gear. Instantly the gears locked up! The drop in parts didn't fit. I inspected the gears, they had burs on the teeth. I took every thing off, put one gear on and rotated it with the center gear. It turned but roughly. I put the second gear on, and it became difficult to turn. Out came the lapping compound and 3 hours later, the center gear would now freely turn the 3 outer gears and not lock up.

Now to slide the steering shaft into the steering gear head. That fit, but I couldn't put the three gears in. There was absolutely no clearance on any of the gear teeth to the steering box teeth. Two gears would barely fit but the center steering gear was difficult to turn, Using the center gear and 2 outer gears plus lapping compound I spun the gears until they turned. Installing the 3rd gear I repeated the process. 3 hours later the steering worked and no longer locked up. Carefully lapping and the gears finally fit.

Since I had everything apart, I polished the brass and inserted a shim in the fit up between the steering gear box to the steering housing then put in oversized rivets eliminating the slight wiggle in that assembly. I have an APCO bracket that fits onto my front wheel spindle that keeps the wheels from being turned over center to the point the steering locks up. Ergo I didn't worry about using the short pin.

Bottom line is the conversion kit works, but for my '15 Touring car it was an all day job making it fit.