7-I

STEERING

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The hydraulic eratton of the power steering
gear unit used oh 1955 Cadillac cars is identical
to that used on the 1954 series cars. Minor refine-
ments in lie pump reservoir and hydraulic hoses
do riot eftect service prccsiure.

A two piece steering shaft. Pig. 71. with a

flexible coupling above the valve body is used on
all 1955 series cars. The flexible cwpling, Fig.
7-2, acts as a ehk absorber between the steering
lii*age and the steering wheel. The transmission
of steering gear noises to the steering wheel is
virtually eliminated,

Die upper steering shaft is supported in lie

steering jacket by an upper and lower hearing.
The shaft is held up in position by a spring located
heLWeen the upper hearing in the directiunal signal
housing and the sEeering wheel.

Due to the flexibility of the new design, it is no

longer necessary to insert shims between the gear
housing anti frame for aligliment purposes. The
flexible coupling win compensate for any slight
misalignment that may be present due to pruduc-
don variables bet’seen the steering tL±t mounting
point on the instrument panel, steering gear hous
ing, and the frame side bar. Fig. /-2 FE.xiIe Sttring CoLipi ipig ssembISl

Upper Shaft
Nu

Ground Wire

Fl9. 7-I FleibIe 5tsmi.,g Coup’ n9 Faplodadi

 STEERING

The steering drag link has been modified to im wheels, has been reduced by this arrangement.
prove directional stability and obtain faster steer Servicemen should refer to the 1954 Shop Manual
ing response. This has been accomplished by for information pertaining to service operations
eliminating the inside spring at the pitman arm on the 1955 Cadillac Power Steering gear assem
end of the drag link. Lost motion of the pitman blies as only those operations affected by design
arm, before steering effort is transmitted to the changes are included in this section.

SERVICE INFORMATION
1 Steering Gear Adjustments 5. With engine idling, turn wheels from left to
right, recheck fluid level and fill as required.
a. Off-Center Preload Check 1/2" below top edge, at oil level mark.

1. Disconnect drag link at pitman arm. 6. Lower front end of car, turn wheels from left
to right, and inspect gear, pump, hoses, and con
2. Check for coupling distortion and correct as nections for leaks.
outlined in Note 6.
7. Stop engine, recheck oil level and install oil
3. Back off power rack and pitman shaft adjust tank gasket and cover.
ing screws at least 1/2 turn.
3 Removal and Installation of
4. Using Spring Scale, Tool No. J-544-A, check Steering Linkage
the "off-center" pull through at the rim of the
steering wheel. This should be between 3/8 and Follow procedure outlined in 1954 Shop Manual.
3/4 lbs. There is, however, no inside spring on the left side
of the drag link on the 1955 series. After assem
NOTE: If off-center pull is still greater or bly, adjust left end plug in drag link by turning
less than specified it will be necessary to re down tight and backing off 1/4 to 1/2 turn 1/2 turn
move the gear from the car to check thrust hear preferred. See Fig. 7-3.
ing lock nut torque. See Note 5. Also check for
binding or rough bearings in upper and lower 4 Removal of
thrust bearing retainers. Do not attempt tocom- Steering Gear Assembly
pensate for any variance from off-center pull
specifications by adjusting the pitrnan shaft end 1. Disconnect hydraulic hoses from valve body
play screw or the power rack screw. on gear housing. Cap ends of hoses to prevent
loss of oil.
b. Pitman Shaft End Play Adjustment
2. Remove return port large fitting from the
1. Refer to Section 7, Note 3b, of the 1954 Shop valve body.
Manual.
3. Raise front end of car and place stands near
c. Power Rack Guide Adjustment outer ends of lower suspension arms.

1. Refer to Section 7, Note 3c, of the 1954 Shop 4. Disconnect pitman arm from drag link.
Manual.
5. Remove lower flange to coupling screws.
2 Bleeding Hydraulic System
NOTE: Scribe marks on coupling and flange
1. Raise front end of car. to assure correct positioning of steering wheel
at assembly.
2. Remove tank cover hold-down screw and 6. Remove gear housing to frame side bar screws
remove tank cover and gasket. and remove gear housing.
3. Fill oil tank to proper level and turn steering 5 Disassembly and Assembly
wheel from left to right to expel air from all in
ternal circuits. Do not force wheel against stops.
of Steering Gear
1. Remove coupling flange to steering shaft
4. Start engine and run at 1500 R.P.M. for two dowel pin, supporting flange from below to pre
minutes. vent shock damage to thrust bearings, Fig. 7-4.
 ‘-3

STEERING

_-,--- Tie S ad

Adl,nI end pk’g by

down H t and L,adi g aff
174 to 1/2 par,, /3 turn preler’eJ I

itmdll Aa Idler Arm-s

Erg. 7-3
Steerinç Drag LInk
2. Remove flange from spiked shaft. Hook the Spring Scale, Tool No J-544-A, in the
end hole aid measure the poll Erceigli all arc not
3. Remove felt washer. exceedIng 3! a the bar reaches a venical posi..
loll, Fig. 7-s.
4, Proceed as ontlined in Notes ‘22 and 23, See-
UQo 7. or the i954 Shcr Mamial. 6 Iristallotion of
Steering Gear Assembly
NOTE; Use the flange and a suitable lever
to hold the shaft stationary when making he 1. Place steering gear ii, posidon on frame side
thrust bearing nut adjustment 30 ft-lbs., back bar, guiding the lower flange onto the coopling
off 1/4 turn during assetithly. arid Inetnu gear to frame screws.

For checking the rhrougbcenter sod off-center NOTE; Make certain that scrihe marks on
pull, a holding bar, Fig. 7_5, must Lie attached to cc.ipfing am] upper steering tube flange are
he coupling flange. aligued.

2. Install lower flange to coupling nuts.

NOTE: After installing the gear, check the

flexible ccjpling for distortion. The coupling
must rest in a flat plane with no visible bend or
twist. If It is distorted, remove thalower steer
ing column cover am] lower clamp to Jacket
screw. Then, loosen the steenng jacket clamp
screws at the iatnnucnt panel, and slide the

L
73/4*

7 STRAP STEEI-
T/8
s/ia" D!AM. HOLE

F!g’ 7-4 Remo,,i ng Dowel Pin Fig. 7_S Coepflng Flcngc HaIdIr w
 STEERING

8. Itemove steering tube jacket tensioner spring

and split ring.

9. Loosen lower steering Jacket clamp, pry

Holding lower hearing retainer out of steering jacket and
treino 5cc1. remove upper steering shaft through bxtom of
Tool No. J-544.A jacket.

B Removol and Installation of

Upper Steering Shaft
Lower Bearing
1. Remove upper steering shaft as outlined in
Note 7.
To Fnge
2. Using a soldering iron, remove the upper tip
on the horn contact wire and remove the plastic
Insulator.

3. Pull the wire down through the shaft ará out

of cilening at horn contact bushing.
FEg. 7-6 WerTrw Pull Throegh censor
complete steeling jacket aesemhly up or down 4. Remove bashing with wire from steering
as required. Redrill lower clamp and jacket If shaft.
nneessary to reinstall screw.
5. Slide bearing retainer from shaft and press
bearing front retainer.
3. Connect pitman arm to drag lii. See Ne 3
for eorrect adjustment. 6. To InstalL reverse ahuve procedure.

4. Install return port large fttting on valve

9 Installation of Upper Steering Shaft
5. Comiect hydraulic hoses to valve hody. 1. Slide upper shaft into steering jacket. insert
ing Lower hearing retainer into steering jacket
6. FiR sal bleed hydraulic system as outlined until retainer flange is tight against hctoin of
In Note 2. shaft, and temporarily tighten lower clanip.

7. Lower front end of car. 2. Install spilt ring and steering shaft tensioner
spring over end of steering shaft.

7 Removal of Upper Steering Shaft 3. Install steering wheel over splines on steer
ing shaft wub punch marks lined up.
1. Remove steeling gear assembly as outlined
in Nje 4. 4. Install horn ring retainer and horn ring In
position on steering wheeL
2. DIsconnect battery ground strap
5. Install steering wheel hub nut and tighten to
3. Remove neutral safety switch and horn cal 45-50 ft-Tha, torque.
tact.
6. Stake nut to steering shaft.
4. Remove horn ixitton and spring.
7. Install spring and horn bLatton.
S. Remove steering wheel hub nut.
8. I oosen lower steering jacket clomp and Work
6. Remove hen ring retainer and horn ring. lower hearing retainer flange down from end of
steering jacket until 3/i6’ clearance is obtained
7. Remove steering wheel using ecial Puller between the horn ring ond directional signalswitnh
. J-1859. canter.
 7-5

STEERING

NOTE: To obtain desired clearance, insert a. Removal

a screwdriver between the lower bearing re
tainer and the steering jacket. Twist the screw 1. Disconnect battery ground strap.
driver to move the retainer down.
2. Remove directional signal switch and horn
9. Hold the lower bearing retainer in position contact from lower steering jacket.
while tightening the lower steering jacket clamp,
making certain that the lower edge of the clamp 3. Remove brake pedal retaining screw.
is as close as possible to the lower end of the
steering jacket. 4. Raise car.

10 Removal and Installation of 5. Disconnect the manual control rod from the
Steering Shaft Upper Bearing lower shift lever.

1. Remove neutral safety switch and horn con 6. Scribe marks on couplingand flange, toassure
tact from lower steering column. correct positioning on assembly, then remove
coupling to lower flange nuts.
2. Remove cotter key, dust shield and horse
shoe retainer at lower shift lever on steering 7. Remove brake pedal.
jacket and then disengage shift lever from shifter
tube. 8. Loosen carpet on left front side and pull back
from steering column toe plate.
3. Remove horn button and spring.
9. Remove seven toe plate tofloor board screws.
4. Remove steering wheel hub nut.
NOTE: It is not necessary to remove the
S. Remove horn ring retainer and horn ring. screw just below the steering jacket which holds
the small cover plate and the brake pedal shaft
6. Remove steering wheel using Special Puller, seal to the toe plate.
Tool No. J-l859.
10. Remove the stop light switch to toe plate
7. Remove steering shaft tensioner spring and screws.
split ring.
11. Remove steering jacket lower cover and re
8. Remove directional signal switch. move the Hydra-Matic shift indicator pointer.

9. Remove cap screws holding upper bearing 12. Disconnect directional signal switch wires
retainer to steering jacket. at connector.

10. Remove steering column lower cover. 13. Remove the small screw at the bottom of
the steering jacket to instrument -panel -clamp
- - -

11. Remove Hydra-Matic shift dial pointer. and remove the two steering column to instrument
panel clamp nuts.
12. Pull shifter tube up out of steering jacket
until shift detent on bearing retainer clears the 14. Remove steering column assembly fromcar.
jacket and then unscrew bearing retainer from
shifter tube. b. Installation

13. Press upper bearing from retainer. 1. Position steering gear assembly in car and
install steering jacket to instrument panel clamp
14. To install, reverse above procedure. and install nuts loosely.

Ii Removal and Installation of 2. Install coupling to lower steering flange nuts.

Be certain scribe marks are lined up.
Steering Column Assembly
NOTE: Removal of the complete steering 3. PosItion the steering jacket assembly in the
column assembly, as explained in the following clamp so that the hole in the steering jacket is
procedure, is necessary only when both the lined up with the hole at the bottom side of the
upper and lower bearings must be replaced or steering clamp and install the clamp to steering
if the lower shift lever must be removed. jacket screw, then tighten clamp nuts.
7-6

STEERING

4. Position stop light switch on toe plate and in 8. Connect throttle rod to lower shift lever.
stall screws.
9. Lower car.
5. Position toe plate and insulator on floor board
and install screws. Be certain stop light switch 10. Be sure that the coupling is in a flat plane.
arm is in position between the brake arm and the If not, loosen lower steering jacket to bearing re
floor board. tainer clamp screw and adjust the shaft up or down
to align flexible coupling.
6. Install brake pedal, guiding the rod through
the upper seal, toe board, and the grommet under 11. Install brake pedal rod retaining screw.
neath the floor board. Be certain that upper seal
does not restrict the movement of the pedal rod. 12. Install horn contact and neutral safety switch.

7. Install the carpet and connect directional 13. Connect battery ground strap and adjust
signal switch wire at connector. safety switch.

TORQUE TIGHTNESS

Ft. Lbs. Ft. Lbs.

Application Size Mm. Max.

Steering gear to frame 7/16-14 40 45

Tie rod pivots to steering arms 1/2 -20 50 55
Tie rod adjuster clamp nuts 5/16-24 20 25
Idler arm threaded bushings Special 110 115
Pitman arm nut 7/8 -16 100 125
Steering wheel nut Special 45 50
Idler arm support to frame. 3/8-24 30 35
Lower end cover 3/8-16 25 29
Side cover plate 3/8-16 25 29
Valve cover to housing 3/8-16 15 20
Power cylinder to housing 3/8-16 25 29
Pump tank cover 3/8-16 25 29
Pump cover to body 3/8-16 25 29
Flexible coupling nut Special 20 25
P1w-ian rack adjuster lock nut Special 75 125

SPECIFICATIONS

Steering Ratio
Gear 19.1 to 1
Overall 21.3 to 1

Hydraulic Pump Pressure

Steering wheel against stop 900 to 1000 psi.

Relief valve opens above 900 psi.

Tread 62, 605, 75 86 Comm.

Front 60" 60"
Rear 63.10" 65.12"
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STEERING

SPECIAL TOOLS

Fig. 7-7 Special Tools

Key Tool No. Name

A j-5648 Power Rack Adjusting Wrench

B j-5176 Pressure Testing Gage
C 3-1859 Steering Wheel Puller
0 J-2162 Pitman Arm Puller
E J-544A 4fc Spring Scale
F 3-5188 Seal Installer
C j-5189 Bearing and Seal Installer
H j-519l Bearing installer
j-5680 Bearing Adjusting Wrench
K 3-5190 Bearing Puller
L 3-5193 Piston Rod Inserter
M 3-5186 Piston Ring Compressor
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STEERING

OTHER NOTES AND REFERENCES