Chevrolet Chevelle 1977 Repair Manual page 46

3B-4
W O R M
BEARING RACE
Fig. 3 B - 10— I nsta I li ng W o r m s h a f t Be a rin g Race-Typica l
3. Wash all parts in cleaning solvent and dry them
thoroughly with air. Using a magnifying glass inspect the
worm and nut grooves and the surface of all balls for signs
of indentation. Check ball guides for damage at ends where
they deflect or pick up the balls from the helical path. Any
parts that show signs of damage should be replaced.
All Except Corvette (fig. 3B -11):
4.
a. Place the wormshaft flat on the bench and slip the nut
over the worm with the ball guide holes up and the shallow
end of the ball nut teeth to the left from the steering wheel
position. Align the grooves in the worm and nut by sighting
through the ball guide holes.
b. Place two ball guide halves together and insert them
into the upper circuit in the ball nut. Place the remaining two
guides together and insert them in the lower circuit.
c. Count 24 balls into a suitable container. This is the
proper number of balls for one circuit.
d. Load the balls into one of the guide holes while
turning the wormshaft gradually away from that hole. When
all of the balls have been installed, the circuit is complete.
e. Fill the remaining ball circuit in the same m anner as
described for the first circuit in Steps c and d above.
Fig. 3B-1 1 ~ F i 1 1 i n g Ball C ircuits-E xcept Corvette
OVERHAUL MANUAL
Fig. 3B-1 2--F i llin g Ball C ir c u its -C o r v e tte
Corvette only (figs. 3B-12 and 3B-13):
5.
a. Place the wormshaft flat on the bench and slip the nut
over the worm with the ball guide holes up and the shallow
end of the rack teeth to the left from the steering wheel
position. Align the grooves in the worm and nut by sighting
through the ball guide holes.
b. Count 27 balls into a suitable container. This is the
proper num ber of balls for half the circuit. Place these balls
into one of the guide holes while turning the worm gradually
away from that hole.
c. Lay one-half of the ball guide, groove up, on the bench
and place the remaining balls from the count container in it.
d. Close this half of guide with the other half. Hold the
two halves together and plug each open end with petroleum
jelly so that balls will not drop out while installing the guide.
e. Push the guide into the guide holes of the nut. This
completes one circuit of balls. If the guide does not push all
the way down easily, tap it lightly into place with the wooden
handle of a screw driver.
f. Fill the second ball circuit in the same manner.
Continue until the ball circuit is full from the bottom of one
Fig. 3 B -13— Filling Ball G uides-C orvette