510 steering box bearings

[Legoman27]

pulled apart my steering box to reseal everything
glad I did since one of the bearing cages has completely come apart

Is there any easy source for these? I cant seem to find one
Nissan PN 48190-21000

or

NSK VTAA19Z-3

 

I've found several threads talking about them being hard to find 15 years ago, and cant imagine it's any easier today

[datzenmike]

Best bet for an exact match is so salvage a box from a 610, B210 or a 210. I think the B-210 box will swap and likely the 610 which went on the production line when the last 510 rolled off. The HL510 box might also fit the 510.

[iceman510]

10 hours ago, Legoman27 said:

Is there any easy source for these? I cant seem to find one
Nissan PN 48190-21000

or

NSK VTAA19Z-3

 

I've found several threads talking about them being hard to find 15 years ago, and cant imagine it's any easier today

 

Do you have a local industrial supply house that deals with bearings?  I know there is the internet, but a good parts counter guy can sometimes still do a good job of finding a cross reference for you.  I used to go visit my local Motion Industries to get wheel bearings or transmission bearings for typically less than the automotive world offered them.

[iceman510]

https://www.motion.com/products/sku/04124757?srsltid=AfmBOopqJsIaolodsXsRYAYJiZ8p4uLFxq_dvhiwJwziX4ziVj_9_Loo

 

https://bearingsize.info/catalogue-online/angular-contact-ball-bearings/bearing-vtaa19z-3a-nsk-obj151196.html

 

The -3 versus the -4 may just be a rating or quality difference, not 100% certain of that.  Might also be a size or thickness difference.

Edited September 27, 2024 by iceman510

[Legoman27]

37 minutes ago, iceman510 said:

The -3 versus the -4 may just be a rating or quality difference, not 100% certain of that.  Might also be a size or thickness difference.

 

From what I can find, the -3 is 9.5mm thickness vs 12mm for the -4

It may be my best bet for now though

 

I'll have to give my local motion industries a call

[Legoman27]

Looking at the bearing specs on these pages

It seems like the bearings/ cages should be the same even if the races are different

 

https://www.noc.ua/online-catalog-bearings/itemdescriptionopen.html?bearing=38113364784a05437b&title=VTAA19Z-4

 

https://www.noc.ua/online-catalog-bearings/itemdescriptionopen.html?bearing=38113364784a05437c&title=VTAA19Z-3

[Crashtd420]

https://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?t=16209

 

Might be worth the read....

 

[iceman510]

Another option I dd not think of earlier is contacting Redhead gear.  They rebuild these things and may sell parts to you.

 

https://www.redheadsteeringgears.com/

[nad015]

https://www.datsport.com/products/steering-box-rebuild-kit
 

Are these the ones you’re chasing?

[banzai510(hainz)]

I had a spare box years ago and gave it away then I think the dude got out of Datsuns

[docbainey]

 

 

Edited September 30, 2024 by docbainey

[Legoman27]

On 9/30/2024 at 12:12 PM, docbainey said:

 

 

 

Saw that post, it's where I got my part numbers from

Also saw those measurements on noc of the sf0454

The shaft diameter (Fw) in my box measures pretty close to ~19.1

Makes me think the 0454 wouldn't fit

Plus they seem just as hard to find

[docbainey]

19.1mm ~ 0.751"   You dont need the bearings with cages. It just helps in assembly. Measure one of the balls dia and see if you can find loose balls at a bearing distb/bike shop. Put some heavy grease in the bearing cup (the cup is in the piece that comes off) and start placing as many balls in as you can, usually 2 or 3 more than the cage bearing. The heavy grease will hold them in place. Carefully assemble. This is how big dollar bicycles where in the 70s/80s (Campagnola parts). More balls, allows more load, and while you're there check the other bearing. Don't forget to check for end play.   

 

 

[Legoman27]

So good news

The bearings & cages with the vtaa19z-4 are a match for the -3

The only difference between the two seems to be some added thickness to the race as a spacer or maybe protection for the bearings

 

Old ball

 

New ball

 

Old race

 

New race

 

If the old race was chewed up and you desperately needed a new one, you could probably have this new one ground down to size at a machine shop if it's even necessary

Either way if the race was chewed up, the one on the shaft probably would be too and you'd be looking for a new box then anyway

 

Seems like I may have a bit of end play in the shaft, need to double check with everything bolted together

there are a few shims under the lid here, so I'll clean things up and fiddle with it a bit to see what I can do

[Legoman27]

box is now back together
need to reclock the pitman arm, seems good otherwise

 

ended up leaving all the shims under the input shaft lid. end play was pretty much gone after tightening everything down

 

didn't have any abnormal wear that I could tell otherwise

 

 

so total materials

2x - 19.2x41x12 angular contact bearing - NSK VTAA19Z-4  - available at motion industries ~$25 each
                  NSK 19BSW02 seems to be the same dimensions, but with a plastic cage for the ball bearings

1x - 24x35x7 output shaft seal - available at motion industries ~$5 each

1x - 18x31x7 input shaft seal - available at motion industries ~$4 each

1x - 3/8 BSPT breather vent - available at mcmaster carr ~$4 each

1x - 62x2mm O ring - available at mcmaster carr ~$9 per pack of 25

                 (not entirely sure that this is the "right" size, but it seems to work so far on the bench)

                 so if anyone happens to need one, DM me and I'll send one 🤷‍♂️

some gear oil  - I went with Valvoline 75-90 $18

and a homemade gasket from blank sheet ~$10

 

all in all ~$100 to refresh things + another $20 or so in shipping
seems alright to me

[Legoman27]

new steering box vents are apparently still available
P/N: 48060-23100

~$15 here:
https://www.nissanparts.cc/oem-parts/nissan-steering-gear-plug-vent-510-s10-s110-720-d21-more-4806023100

[iceman510]

Yes they are.  I have purchased a couple over the last two or three years.  Just put one in my race car in August.

 

The bronze one like you have is nice too.

Edited October 22, 2024 by iceman510