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Windsor de Luxe 1951 steering gear box.


Durkis

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Hi everybody.

I hav just tucked away my Windsor for the winter and I have a couple of questions about the steering.

Is it possible to get some sort of repair kit for the steering gear box?

Is it possible that there are some stores in the US that sells Steering gear boxes?

Is it a lot of work to repair it with a lot of pins and ball bearings?

The steering wheel is a bit "loose" I can turn it nearly 4 inches before the wheels start to move and I would like it if it was a bit firmer,

I have been driving it the whole summer and it is not a big problem, but if it is an "easy" fix...why not fix it.

Lars

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Lars, you need to get the repair manual for your car.they are available at automotive swap meets, on ebay, and through publications like hemmings. your steering box has adjustments that are easy to do, but may not make up for all the wear in the box. worm end play and rollerbearing adjustment are needed to find out if the box can be improved enough. I would think it would improve it well enough to make driving much better. how about the rest of the front end? the problem could be elsewhere. check hemmings for repair kits or rebuild services. also, try this site--- p15-d24. there are people on there who can be helpful, but this site you are on should get you the answers you need. nice car you have. I had one and the gyromatic is nice to drive.easy to work on, and not many others around. capt den

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Hi Skyler.

Well I grease all the joints and everything in the front end and it is not that bad actually...I mean the car is 63 years old.

I think it is the steering box that needs some new parts, but here in Sweden it is not easy. There are only four Windsors from 1951 and 2 from 1952 so parts is not the easiest thing to find here in Sweden.

i will try to get my hands on a repair manual.

Yes it is a very nice car to drive if you are not in a hurry, I have had it for a summer and it is good fun because it is so rare.

Thank you for the quick reply and I wish you a nice holiday and a happy new year.

Lars

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Hi everybody.

I hav just tucked away my Windsor for the winter and I have a couple of questions about the steering.

Is it possible to get some sort of repair kit for the steering gear box?

Is it possible that there are some stores in the US that sells Steering gear boxes?

Is it a lot of work to repair it with a lot of pins and ball bearings?

The steering wheel is a bit "loose" I can turn it nearly 4 inches before the wheels start to move and I would like it if it was a bit firmer,

I have been driving it the whole summer and it is not a big problem, but if it is an "easy" fix...why not fix it.

Lars

Sounds pretty normal, they were not very precise to begin with. If you examine the complicated mechanism you will see why. The giant steering wheel exaggerates any free play.

Suggest you examine all parts for wear. Do not overlook the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame, and the idler pivot in the middle of the front crossmember.

The steering box can be adjusted to take up wear. You MUST use the procedure from the factory repair manual. If this adjustment is done wrong you can wear out the steering box in a month or two.

So, inspect the front suspension and steering mechanism. Repair, replace, and adjust as necessary. Then replace all 4 shock absorbers, they are not expensive. And get a front end alignment.

You will think you are driving a new car. Not a new BMW but at least, a new Chrysler Windsor.

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Thanks Rusty.

I will replace the shocks next summer.

I have a 'guy' that is an old school mehcanic and he has been helpful, but if it can be better without spending hundreds of dollars why not try to do it.

thanks for the reply and I wish you a happy new year.

Lars

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If you lived in the US you could buy new shocks at any auto parts store for $15 to $25 each. As you are in Europe you may have to order them from a specialist Chrysler parts vendor like Andy Bernbaum. You could also try your local sources, it is possible Koni, Bilstein or some other European manufacturer makes suitable shocks.

Chrysler Oriflow shock absorbers were the best on the market in 1951 but they are sure to be worn out by now, even if they are not leaking. Stock shock absorbers have a life of 20,000 to 25,000 miles.

You may have to give the measurements of your shocks and match them up by size, to another vehicle that uses the same size. You will need length, fully extended: length, fully retracted: eyelet or stud, top and bottom: and diameter.

This is only if they do not have a listing for your car.

Edited by Rusty_OToole (see edit history)
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Having said all that, if your car is in good condition and the steering working right, might as well leave it alone. You will have to revise your thinking when driving the Chrysler. It was built for comfort, not for speed. Enjoy the room, the comfort, and the leisurely sense of relaxation you do not get in modern cars. Enjoy the passing scenery and the admiring glances of passers by. Accept the steering and performance for what it is, learn to anticipate and plan your actions a little in advance. With a little practice you will find driving your Chrysler an enjoyable and relaxing pastime. A change from the frantic pace of modern traffic. In other words, when you are behind the wheel relax and take it easy, get used to doing everything at a slower pace and you will enjoy your Chrysler for what it is.

Or just pretend you are chauffeuring the Queen of Sweden to the Royal Ball in her Chrysler Limousine ha ha.

Edited by Rusty_OToole (see edit history)
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Well, when I drive my Chrysler I do it like it is supposed to be done...around 50 mph max and just let the other traffic overtake me and realize that they dont have a clue how it is to travel with some class hahahaha.

And the looks from other people ahh they havent seen a car like this before and lots of people asks what it is and so on (there is only 4 of them here in Sweden). There is alot of late 40s Buicks and Chevys.

When we go to carmeetings I put up a flyer on the windscreen with a bit of history and some tech specs, and there is always someone standing and read.

Some younger people dont think it is fun because it is not a V8...I think it is more fun with straight 6 engines because it is what the car came with, altough I wouldnt mind a real automatic gearbox but what the hell the Fluid drive semi automatic is the original stuff.

I will check if I can get my hands on some new shocks, we have a pretty good store that have some parts for old cars and it is called Hansen Racing, they had the radiator cap and thermostat for like 10 bucks each.

Oh and sometimes I drive my queen (girlfriend and later on my wife and we celebrate 30 years togheter next summer) just downtown.

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