Has anyone *ever* seen this before? Reman Saginaw p/s box

[Markuli]

Ever since I fitted my '67 for power steering, my box has had a leak near the input shaft. I finally got around to tearing it back down to get into the input shaft seals, but what I found left me dumbfounded - The box is leaking from the indexing pin thing... Tell me I'm not crazy here guys.

I guess it's pressed into the shaft with a bronze bushing at the reman facility. From the side, it looks as though the pin is pointed slightly downward versus the direction of the rest of the shaft.

Maybe it isn't fully seated? Should I try to tap it in further?

[kwmech]

It does look like it is not square in the hole. Also looks like it is not deep enough....That's a first for me. Who's the builder?

[Markuli]

Originally Posted by kwmech

It does look like it is not square in the hole. Also looks like it is not deep enough....That's a first for me. Who's the builder?

Lares, via Rock Auto.

[kwmech]

I'd return it while under warranty?? if not I'd try a plastic mallet and see if it will seat in a little further and maybe square up at the same time

[Markuli]

Originally Posted by kwmech

I'd return it while under warranty?? if not I'd try a plastic mallet and see if it will seat in a little further and maybe square up at the same time

The "warranty" they provide with power steering boxes lasts for two weeks I think. By the time I was able to get my system running it was already expired.

I just looked at it again and it seems like the pin was bent upon initial install, and cracked that little bushing as a result so now fluid leaks from it.. Oh well I guess I get to spend some more cash.

Edit: Going to try to contact Lares directly, we'll see how it goes.

[special-K]

yeah, that's a defect in the rebuild process that has nothing to do with time. It has been defective since before the rebuilt was completed. It shouldn't be a warranty problem. It should be a quality control reject

[Bigdav160]

That's a torsion bar. It's pinned to the input shaft. I've never seen one leak there. Might have been dropped?

[Markuli]

It could have been dropped, I'm pretty sure FedEx sent it so anything is possible...

[kwmech]

I believe it is an assembly issue, given that it is sticking out too far

[Bigdav160]

Posted in another forum:

The torsion bar (or T Bar) is within the gearbox input shaft and its thickness determines the amount of effort (torque in inch pounds) to turn the wheel. The thicker the bar, the more effort is required.
The torsion bar is also rated by Saginaw by its actual thickness. So when you see a .210 bar that is usually a 35# bar.
.204/.195 - 30#
.175 - 21#
.165 - 17#
The .165 which is the smallest and what is on the majority of boxes from the 1960/70s. "Finger Tip Steering" as advertised by GM then.

[Markuli]

That's the best diagram I've seen after looking into torsion bar info yesterday, Bigdav. Thanks for the breakdown. Definitely shows how fluid can creep through that bushing if it's cracked.

[HO455]

Great drawing BigDave! Thanks for posting and if I may where did you get it?

Has the OP contacted Lares directly? I've dealings with them in the past and they have always been great to work with.

[Markuli]

Originally Posted by HO455

Great drawing BigDave! Thanks for posting and if I may where did you get it?

Has the OP contacted Lares directly? I've dealings with them in the past and they have always been great to work with.

HO, I did contact Lares and got through to a rep, but she recommended I go through Rockauto. If Rockauto wasn't going to end up helping me, which they are, I would have tried Lares again. Like you said they were pleasant to deal with!

[Markuli]

So the official update is that Rockauto essentially told me to buy a new p/s box, send back the defective one as broken, and request a full refund. We'll see how that goes. I probably could have gotten away with that from the start but it seems a little shady.

[Jason Banks]

I have had great luck with RockAuto's customer service. Glad to hear they are helping you out.

[Bigdav160]

Originally Posted by HO455

Great drawing BigDave! Thanks for posting and if I may where did you get it?

Has the OP contacted Lares directly? I've dealings with them in the past and they have always been great to work with.

The pic looks to be from a GM training manual. I might have that one around here somewhere. I copied the post off a Pontiac forum.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

The pic looks to be from a GM training manual. I might have that one around here somewhere. I copied the post off a Pontiac forum.

Was it the PY board? I'll do some searching. I need me some of them training manuals.