Fellow Rodders;

I have a 41 Willys coupe with a Mustang II Rack & Pinion. The car steers VERY well (no power steering) when I first drive it, BUT the steering gets VERY "stiff" the longer I drive (when everything warms up). After I let it sit for a while the steering is again fine. ANY IDEAS---Do I need a "NEW" rack and pinion?? Everything that I can lubricate I've done at least once!!

Thanks
Rick Dolinar

Sounds like something is getting hot and binding, not necessarily the gear itself. How tortuous is the linkage? Do you have more than one U-joint? Are there any severe angles in the U-joints? Did you design in a slip joint? This is a very important component to prevent expansion binding of the shafts. Would take a little work but can you drive it to stiff stage then put it on a hoist. Take each component lose and twist it by hand until you identify the bad boy.

THANKS for your reply. I'll try your suggestion of getting it HOT, and checking everything on a lift. As you imply, it has to be something expanding when it gets hot.

THANKS AGAIN

Rick Dolinar