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Steering Problem

G GuitarsWeB
Wanted to pass my experience on to all. I have a CMC speedster. I am the third owner, from a New York built car. I was told the original car was a 1973 VW. My steering went out, broke at the steering column gear box connector. When makeing a speedster, from a VW Bug, the steering gear box MUST be realigned to the NEW steering column angle. Then, you must readjust the tow-in and wheel alignment. Apparently, this was not done on my car. All the builder did was bend the lower steering column section to match the original angle of the steering box. Over the years of turning the wheel, this put extra force on the coupling and it finally broke. I did notice the car was always hard to turn, especially right turns. You can remove the left wheel and take a look at the coupling and how things line up. This happened in St. George, Utah, 600 miles from my Arizona home. Chirco, in Tucson, fixed the steering properly last week and it drives like a dream now. Hope this might be of some help to anyone building a project car.
Paul McGuffin, Green Valley, Arizona

1957 CMC(Speedster)

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G GuitarsWeB
Wanted to pass my experience on to all. I have a CMC speedster. I am the third owner, from a New York built car. I was told the original car was a 1973 VW. My steering went out, broke at the steering column gear box connector. When makeing a speedster, from a VW Bug, the steering gear box MUST be realigned to the NEW steering column angle. Then, you must readjust the tow-in and wheel alignment. Apparently, this was not done on my car. All the builder did was bend the lower steering column section to match the original angle of the steering box. Over the years of turning the wheel, this put extra force on the coupling and it finally broke. I did notice the car was always hard to turn, especially right turns. You can remove the left wheel and take a look at the coupling and how things line up. This happened in St. George, Utah, 600 miles from my Arizona home. Chirco, in Tucson, fixed the steering properly last week and it drives like a dream now. Hope this might be of some help to anyone building a project car.
Paul McGuffin, Green Valley, Arizona
FM Former Member
I can relate to your problem. My JPS is only 3 years old and I had to move my steering wheel (and column) about 1.5 inches left, so I could see the speedo (944 instruments). I have been carefuly watching the coupling disc for wear. None to date, but how much distortion is too much? I see one can also buy a replacemnt eurothane coupling instead of the fiber ones. In the mean time steering is heavy, especially at parking speeds. I mainly attribute that condition to 2 inch front wheel spacers, but now that you mention the steering column . . . hmmm . . .
J jspbtown
When building an old Sterling kit car a few years back I adapted a Chevette tilt steering column to the VW steering box with a U joint from Borgenson (www.Borgenson.com). They were very friendly in helping me get the parts I needed. Now I understand the VW steering shaft is indeed different from the Chevette, I am sure something could be adapted. The Borgenson unit was smooth as silk and strong as could be. It made for a very positive, solid, and smooth steering system.
G GuitarsWeB
<<<>>> Yes, I replaced the fiber one with a red eurothane Part, from a Las Vegas off road shop. When Cherco, in Tucson, realigned the steering box, to match the column angle, they put another new one in. The part is only about $5.00. I really didn't get any warning, that the fiber coupling was about to break. It actually went all at once.
Paul McGuffin
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