Here’s the old catalog – and, a note from Ron about Gary’s webpage. He apparently wants to enable ordering online, but it looks like he’s not quite there yet:
No luck finding a rubber steering shaft insulator. I have tried:
Antique Desoto Plymouth (parts4u)
Andy Bernbaum, Newton, MA
Atlas Motor Parts, Carson, CA (number is disconnected)
Clester’s Auto Rubber Seals Inc, Cleveland, NC
Steel Rubber 800-544-8665
Lares Cor;
Kanter Auto Products, Boonton, NJ
Roberts Motor Parts, Westbury, MA
Spoke to allot of very nice people. Some even asked me to hold while they checked with other vendors.
I will keep trying. There has to be a few on a shelf somewhere.
Ken
Ken - Look at my post of 4/28, Gary Goers has them.
Dick.
Dick: Thank you for your diligence. I was looking at Gary’s catalog last night and didn’t see what I needed. Then earlier today I thought if anyone has it, he would. Sent him an e-mail this afternoon. Haven’t heard back. But you are correct, the only way I made contact in the past was to just send the order. Now with the P/N and cost I will do that.
Thanks again for taking on this challenge.
I will let you know the outcome.
Ken Morton
I see the item in discussion there in Gary’s catalog, however it doesnt’t "ring a bell " with me.
I do remember that, at the far end of the the steering shaft, there was a slot cut into it, which fits over a “tab” in the steering gear. There was also a strip of copper, and a rubber “sock”/ “boot”…whatever. This appears to be the item you all are seeking.
Am I correct? (Too bad it isnt mentioned in the 1959 Plymouth Parts Book!)
Yes Roger, you are almost there, the power steering box has a short shaft with a slot in it, the steering wheel shaft has a flatened end that fits into the slot, the rubber isolator (bushing) fits over the flatened end and into the slot as a vibration dampner (same as a Rag Joint), then the roll pin holds the two together, the sock you refer to fits over the hub on the steering box and inside the outer shaft cover, then the clamp is tightened over all this at the end of the cover, all of this besides reducing vibration has something to do with also insulating everything electrically (I think, not sure). The only thing shown in the parts book is the sock/rubber isolator, it’s very frustrating, also missing from the parts/service manuals is the sequence of how the parts are laid out at the steering wheel end of the column, i.e. snap rings, washers, springs, etc. etc. If anybody knows the sequence please let us know. I got to tell you guys a parts car is a wonderful thing. I’m continually amazed at how many parts were missing or were wrong on Reddie and the parts car has saved the day and saved a ton of money. I took the power steering setup out of my parts car and there was no isolators of any kind, although the rest was all there, go figure.
Dick.
That’s Weird! I just ordered one a couple of weeks ago from Andy Bernbaum! Did they say they’re out or didn’t they know what you’re talking about? It’s part # S141 it’s called a “Steering Gear Tube Insulator”
Heres a link http://www.oldmoparts.com/s.htm
I duno, I ordered all I needed from Gary Goers.
Dick.
re: Andy Bernbaum: I called and he just said he didn’t have it, as in a matter of fact and didn’t offer any explanation. Unlike some parts supply houses in the South that actually checked around. However, this may be the first for any of us, Gary Goers e-mailed me with the P/N and cost. I had already fax’d and mailed my order along with my check. Great people to do business with!
Hope he out lives me and my cars.
Thanks to everyone for all of your suggestions and PDFs ! That has been a great help.
Ken Morton
It would appear that ANdy Bernbaum and SMS are cut from the same cloth…both run hot or cold, inexplicably. Frustrating, to say the least. SEnd your business to the man who Delivers!
Yes Ken - I have found Andy Bernbaum to be short, abrupt and treat you as if you are an enemy not a customer. I hope you have kept tract of how the snaprings, washers, springs, etc. are arranged on the horn ring end of the steering wheel and are willing to share that info with us all.
Thanks,
Dick.
HALELUJA - I found the steering wheel, horn ring and directional signal controls or at least part of it. In the 1959 parts list book page 8AI. It still doesn’t show how the washers & snap rings go. Does a washer go on top of the bearing? There is a tapered spacer with a slit down the side, does that go first and then a washer? There are two grooves above the bearing for snap rings, which one takes a snap ring? Mine had no snap ring above the bearing but my parts car did. Mine had a washer below the snap ring groove that I had to force past the groove to get it off??? Any body help.
Dick.
What a bummer. No where in my literature (1957-8 Service Manual, 1959 Supplement, 1959 Parts List, and Vol.s 1, 2, and 3 of the 1957-9 Shop Manuals) is there a diagram of the steering tube assembly other than the one Dick found. Guess they figured it didn’t need to be taken apart.
I used to have a complete steering tube assembly here, but I sold it to John Fowlie last Fall, so I am no help.
Update: I sent Gary Goers a fax on a Friday and mailed a check the same day. Received a Steering Shaft Insulator and Steering Tube Insulator the following Wednesday! How is that for service. Got my car back last night. What an improvement. I can actually keep this car in a designated lane. It’s not rack & pinion but a tight as mopars of that era can be. After reading all the postings from the other members, I can’t help but wonder if I really needed a steering gear box in the first place. But the bottom line is, the car is now safe by 1959 standards.
Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.
Ken Morton
4 door hdtp.
Ken!
DId you take ANY pictures of this work, or was is done (as hinted by your post) by others?
TWO separate insulators now?
Well, my car’s steering is tolerable, so I don’t really have to know all about these insulators at this time.
roger
Gary Goers in Montana would be a good bet to check with. He is reproducing most rubber parts for the Forward Look era cars.
—John