steering box rebuild problems

I'm rebuilding the original steering box from my 71.  I had a machine shop install the Pitman Shaft bushings, races and seals from the rebuild kit.  I can't get the Pitman Shaft in (too tight).  I took some measurements:  Pitman Shaft OD is 1.122 in. and ID of the new bushings is 1.10 in.!  The supplier insists this is the correct bushing and they have not had anyone else reporting problems.  What The Heck!  Anyone else had problems like this?

sounds like machine shop has squashed them while putting them in.

Got this off a search on CF.  Contact this guy and he can probably help you, he is the best steering box re-builder in the country.   gary.ramadei@radiall.com

I saw your post over there as well.  I think he may be in your part of the country (NE).

edit:  I found his phone number on a Yahoo search, it's 202-776-2813.  He is in Hartford, CT.


|UPDATED|12/17/2014 5:52:11 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Wilcox has a tech video on how to rebuild steering box on their site.

I used this,pretty easy job.even putting in the bearings was ok to do.

if you need new bearings.Zip corvette do them for $28.50

I put them in with socket that was just ait smaller and gentle hammer taps.worked for me.

|UPDATED|12/17/2014 7:38:10 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Most likely mashed the end of the bushings, as Jack says. easy to do if you don't know what your doing, or have the proper equipment.Try sanding the ID of the bushings with some 80grit emory cloth, and then clean that up with a wheel cylinder hone....might take a few minutes, but unless they just totally destroyed the bushings, it should work.

Thanks for the input guys & gals.  It looks like the machine shop probably mashed the bushings.  Another guy reported similar problems with his.  His bushing OD was too big for the box bore.  I'm having the bushings re-cut or honed, by a different machinist to the proper tolerances.  Hope this works!

|UPDATED|12/18/2014 7:21:55 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

that will do the job