steering arm ball joint.

[Michael QLD OZ]

Ferguson TED20.
I see that a lot of people have had replaced the steering box oil seals on their Fergy.
Definately a job I would like to do, One question the first link on the steering arms looks like a standard ball joint to me. Can I use an auto motive ball joint separator to split the joint so that I can lift the steering box off.

 

[Richard L]

Yes you can use that tapered separator and get them apart, I used one on my F 40 worked great.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Depends on if you really need to lift the box off. Undoing the nut , placing a thin piece of ply behind and smacking the ball joint spindle with a block and hammer works well , they are not often on that tight . The seals can be replaced from the outside after grinding off the lugs on the outer elbows of the drop arms , the seals just slide on after this . The modification is not too noticeable and unless you are a purist or restoring your Fergie to concourse levels it is a repair I can recommend . Some Australian sourced Sparex seals are metric , they don't fit! Best to go to a bearing shop and get'' Seal no. TC12058,'' which is one and one quarter inches by one and seven eights by three eights .

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Took a photo to further clarify, the tops of the old seal can be cut off neatly and siliconed into place over the modern seal to give an authentic look.The remnants of the lug hole can just be seen at the elbow.

 

[Bob (Aust)]

Grind off the centering points and the new seals will slip right on.

However, they will only seal if the bushes are not excessively worn.

Bob in Oz

 

[samn40]

These steering boxes are child's play to rebuild, so why grind off the lug? I sell quite a number of steering drop arms every year to enthusiasts because someone has 'ruined' the steering arms in this way. Remove the box, take off the bottom plate, get rid of the sludge, then remove the clamp bolt from each arm(marking them left and right first) then pull out the shafts/drop arms. Fit the seals but do try to get as slim a seal as possible and as was suggested earlier, cut the metal outer bit off the old seal and glue over the new one.
Rebuilding the sector gears on the shafts takes a bit of fiddling to get on the correct spline but the bolt will not go back in the clamp if not aligned. fill the box with universal grease and fit the bottom plate. to get the steering back into sync, simply pull one lever fully forwards and the other back until they are both completely disengaged from the steering shaft gear, let them rest down on this gear and then push them down simultaneously with equal force. simples
To complete the rebuild a grease nipple/zerk can be tapped into the casing somewhere unseen like under the battery and topped up with grease when servicing. The original instruction was to drill and tap the oil filler bung and fit the greaser there but I like to do it the other way. It was recommended to pump until the grease came out the top bearing as this was the only way to properly lubricate it. ......Sam

 

[Michael QLD OZ]

Thanks for that info. There is not much original about my fergy but I will try removing the box as you said.

 

[John(UK)]

No need to use a separator, just strike the steering arm sharply with a hammer and it will pop out. This is the correct way to do it and is in the Ferguson Service manual...and it does work, every time.....John(UK)[email protected]

 

[Tony in Mass.]

LOL! Sorry, but I have a warped sense of humour- with a 'U'. That studded dog collar reminded me of a saying kids had when I was down under years ago...'CRANKY! THE BABY ATE MY DINGO!!'...

And what is the story of that sedan in the background? Ford? Looks to big to be an Austin. From the pixels I get it looks like it was target practice at one time...

 

[Bob (Aust)]

"just strike the steering arm sharply with a hammer and it will pop out."

Actually, I think the service manual says to strike with two hammers simultaneously from opposite sides? It's fine for old very experienced mechanical craftmen like John, but danged if I can hit a steering arm with two hammers, simultaneously! :?

Don't think that is a Ford in the background? Maybe an Austin from the 1930s?

Something odd about the Fergy rear wheel centers?

Bob in Oz
'53 TEA20