Steering Gear Box explosion

Richard Vyse

Richard Vyse

Go figure this one. Got the Lifeliner back after having the steering gear box replaced. Now I have to get used to driving it again.
Just what could cause a cast iron gear box to split?

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splitting cast iron

Have you heard of metal fatigue? Or there is the possibility something inside was worn and out of alignment and putting pressure on the housing. The good thing is it happened when and where it did. You really don't want this kind of stuff happening on the hiway.
So now you have to learn how to drive this one all over again? My guess there was something wrong with the old one but it was just marked up to being one of the characteristics of the car.
Mike
 
that kind of thing doesn't happen to often. but that would be what is known as the heavy Iron parting. lookes like you got a car out of Ohio and it has been rusty for a few years, say 37
 
did you look

Richard,
Did you dry the cracked gear housing and inspect it? If you still have it do this. Don't scrap or clean it. Just dry the oil from it. Then inspect the inner areas of the crack. You may see light and dark areas. The dark areas would be what has been split for some time. The lighter areas would be what has recently given way. This will also tell you that something has been going to happen for quite a while.
Cast iron being a porus material can have sand holes that take a long time to rust or break before we see a problem.
Mike
 
Note that it split exactly where the snap ring end is. This would indicate that it is a stress related failure. I guess that one might consider a stress crack failure a result of stressful driving.... :D
 
Paul Steinberg said:
Note that it split exactly where the snap ring end is. This would indicate that it is a stress related failure. I guess that one might consider a stress crack failure a result of stressful driving.... :D
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I don't think so cause Richard always takes a chill-pill before driving.:):)
 
the first woman

Paul,
Was that ? for me or Richard? The first woman in my life I am keeping. I am too old to train a new one.
Yes, I have said that when she could hear it...and I am still alive.
46 years in Dec so at least one of us is doing something right.
Mike
 
Mike Stevens said:
Paul,
Was that ? for me or Richard? The first woman in my life I am keeping. I am too old to train a new one.
Yes, I have said that when she could hear it...and I am still alive.
46 years in Dec so at least one of us is doing something right.
Mike
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Mike........ your the one that asked if Terri had a sister... I assumed that you were asking for a reason.. :D
 
Mike Stevens said:
Paul,
Was that ? for me or Richard? The first woman in my life I am keeping. I am too old to train a new one.
Yes, I have said that when she could hear it...and I am still alive.
46 years in Dec so at least one of us is doing something right.
Mike
Click to expand...

If Paul means me, I am too old to be retrained with a new wife.:D
 
I asked...

I asked because my non procar/old car friends always ask where we find these women that understand the procar/old car syndrome we all suffer from.
They say the first thing to go is your memory. Why I put 46 years with Shelley in the previous post I wonder. It should have been 41. Maybe it only seems like...no maybe we had better not go there.
Mike
 
She is supportive but just last sunday while driving the Criterion she turns to me and says, "I just don't get it. I know you love these old ambulances and I get a thrill from them through you but they just don't do anything for me". You then have to remind them of the times when we used to actually drive them for real in real life situations. That's what it does for us. Just a drive down memory lane attempting to regain just a glimpse into our younger days doing things that made us happy. Plus, they get a TON of attention don't they?:D
 
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