'33 Steering Box

[Dennis Nicholas]

I had the problem once where steering would seize as I turned left off a roundabout....embarrassed as mounted pavement first time.  Forewarned was careful and slow round corners till could investigate!!  Box - late type with only 1/3 segment of teeth;  striped and found worm showing some wear - firm in Dorset built up worm and reground to correct profile also gear teeth.  Still had stiffness problems even though box set up on each full lock and aware that there is Austin factory set slack in strait ahead position to allow for taking up future wear (would be mostly wear in ahead position and very little progressively on either lock so if strait ahead wear was taken up then would lock up on either lock).  Thinking firm had done a bad job and used wrong build up metal/method I cursed them and striped box to find worm and teeth were showing NO sign of any wear or marking
Was doing some course work on marine engineering at a college and the Chief engineer said "try using Molyslip grease/ or in the grease".  Steering became delightfully light and easy....one finger steerable. (Big 7 front axle with BMC A heavier engine).  No further 'locking up' experienced thereafter. 

Dennis   (BM7(T) special).