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Steering box adjustment

FM Former Member
Fellow Listers,
I was wondering if anyone could help me regarding a steering box problem: the wheel that came with the replica was small and it felt precise and very responsive.
Later, I replaced it with a VDM wheel and correspondant steering column. This wheel is much bigger (16" diameter). The steering started feeeling very 'vague', it seemed to be a lot of free play (1" up and 1" down) and turning the steering wheel a lot meant turning the wheels much less. Yesterday, I checked this problem with more attention and saw that there's no free play (1/4" up and 1/4" down, max). It seems obvious that the reason is the increase in diameter, right?
The steering box has this references - TRW 3444 2GG. I assume this is a normal steering box for a '67 1500 beetle. But the beetle had a big wheel, right? Why does this wheel feel so inadequate then?
Last, is there a way to adjust the responsiveness of wheel (ie, making the wheels turn more I turn the steering wheel) or are there other steering boxes prepared to bigger wheels that can be adapted?
Thanks in advance and sorry to bother.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
Original Post

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FM Former Member
Fellow Listers,
I was wondering if anyone could help me regarding a steering box problem: the wheel that came with the replica was small and it felt precise and very responsive.
Later, I replaced it with a VDM wheel and correspondant steering column. This wheel is much bigger (16" diameter). The steering started feeeling very 'vague', it seemed to be a lot of free play (1" up and 1" down) and turning the steering wheel a lot meant turning the wheels much less. Yesterday, I checked this problem with more attention and saw that there's no free play (1/4" up and 1/4" down, max). It seems obvious that the reason is the increase in diameter, right?
The steering box has this references - TRW 3444 2GG. I assume this is a normal steering box for a '67 1500 beetle. But the beetle had a big wheel, right? Why does this wheel feel so inadequate then?
Last, is there a way to adjust the responsiveness of wheel (ie, making the wheels turn more I turn the steering wheel) or are there other steering boxes prepared to bigger wheels that can be adapted?
Thanks in advance and sorry to bother.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
Ron ORon O1984/2010 IM, B.C. Canada
Have you tried adjusting your steering box? (hopefully, there is a cutout in your trunk for easy access).
Also, as far as I know there is nothing you can do with the standard beetle steering box to improve ratios etc.(short of going to a custom rack and pinion steering box)
Ron
(Message Edited 7/15/2003 1:48:22 PM)
FM Former Member
Ron, thanks for your reply.
Yes, my replica has cutout in the trunk to access the steering box.
Please tell me, what kind of adjustment are you talking about? My mechanic told me that the only adjustment I could do in the steering box is 'tightening' it, but the result he said I would get there is removing the free play. Is this true?
My steering box has a very small free play, if at all. The problem it has is that for each inch of turning the steering wheel the wheels now turn much less than they did with the previous steering wheel (that was much smaller). Is this adjustable or is this the ratio problem you wrote about?
Sorry to bother and thanks.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
FM Former Member
Miguel: I have never seen different gear ratios offered for the steering box but there may be different boxes with quicker ratios in some other VW. You could also try looking for a longer steering arm, which would be an easier swap. Ask these questions on the Cal look forum, someone there will know (www.cal-look.com/).

I was in Lisboa last summer for a holiday, if I had known I would have looked you up.
FM Former Member
Alittle play in the steering wheel in a recirculating ball steering box is pretty normal but to be safe start at the wheels and check the play in the wheel bearings, then the ball joints or if you have king & link pin check the play there then to the tie rods inner & outter then the coupler.
FM Former Member
Actually I think there is an "adjustment" with a lock nut but also a "plug" in the end? If so, the end plug kind of adjusts the worm gear "slop" in the steering box housing?

You want minimum "slop" and also correct "adjustment", and of course as already mentioned make sure ball joints, etc., are not excessively worn.
FM Former Member
Ed,
Sorry for not replying sooner.
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I understand the principle that a bigger wheel turns less than a smaller one. I was hoping there could be some adjustment that could increase this ratio of turning steering wheel / turning wheels (gear ratio?).
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
FM Former Member
Bruce,
Thanks for your reply. When I return to Lisbon, I'll do as you're telling me and ask the same question in www.cal-look.com.
Hope you had a nice vacation when you were here, by the way :-)
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
FM Former Member
John Steele and George Brown,
Thank you for your replies. I would like to discuss this matter a little more in order to understand if there's any possibility of adjusting the gear ratio to make the wheels turn more. However, I won't be in Lisbon until the middle of August and I don't want to leave your kind help unanswered for such a long period. I'll bother you again later. Thank you.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
Lisboa - Portugal
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
FM Former Member
The old VW boxes definately have a screw and locknut adjuster, you just can't take out all the play or usually the box gets too tight as you turn to lock. I guess that's because the most wear takes place at the center. I used to work in VW parts back in 1965 and I remember that we looked at the VW and Porsche steering boxes and the part numbers were identical, at least the case. Of course the Porsche was much more expensive. I had a 57 356 then and I think i just put on the VW box and it worked fine. It may be that the Porsche had different ratios and it might do the trick. Probably be pricey tho.

I see they make R and P for buggies, does anyone know of one that fits in the speedsters?
FM Former Member
Aloha,

Do the Speedster front-ends use the same tie-rods as a normal Beetle front-end? If so, there might be bumpsteer problems with R&P, right? I've just been discussing this over at Shoptalkforums.com. Also, all the steering geometry would just turn into a mess trying to route everything past all the bodywork and such.

I'm no expert, just relating a few of the problems that regular Beetles/Ghias would have trying to adapt R&P. Although, I think it would definitely give better road control than a steering knuckle, so perhaps its worth a try. Anyone?

aloha,
Joel
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