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I have a clunking in the front of my '37 115C. My mechanic buddy got underneath and had a look and diagnosed it as being the steering arm or the pitman arm bushing. I didn't have a shop manual with me at the car and I put it on the to do list. Can anyone tell me if this will be a big production or a fairly straight forward replacement? He is willing to help me but I am not set up with a lift or other more specialized equipment.

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/parts ... lateNumber=2432&partslist=1935-1941

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/1937-1938_ShopManual.pdf

The part plate and manual appear decent in terms of operations.

Trying to think of what bushing he is referring to?

The steering cross tube uses ball and sockets type connections where everything attached to it. If first make sure the end caps that cross tube are tightened properly. One side uses a cotterpin to retain the cap, and the orherside uses an odd u-shapped pin because off the grease fitting to retain the cap.

Inside that tube are the two pieces of each socket cup and spacer and springs. The end caps set the tension on all of that.

I'd check that center link (steering crank on the diagram) that attaches the steering cross tube to pivot on the front cross-member. The original style is an open-style "bicycle" bearing which would need to be replaced if haven't been already. A newer style sealed bearing is available. When that bearing fails, that add a lot play/clunk to the system as well.

You can grab that crank arm try pulling is side to side. If front end of it moves (vs turns), that bearing is toast.

Isn't there an actual bronze center bushing on some models at the crossmember location circled? I seem to recall several posts mentioning that due to a missed grease fitting and lack of lubrication there had been issues with a bushing wearing to the point the 15.100 arm would have substantial up and down movement.

Howard, the area you have circled in red originally used bicycle style bearings. When they fail, there is a lot of clunking and slop in the center steering arm.

CartRich, replacing the bearings requires nothing more than a floor jack and hand tools, although you do have to remove one coil spring. I've done it twice now, on the two '37s I've owned, and it's a weekend project.

If the bearings are bad, you can source modern replacements at Napa, etc. The PN I used (qty 2) was 6203-FFA.

If you decide to tackle the job, details are in my blog - post #55.

I had been able to show him the picture from the parts book that I pulled up on my phone and he had indicated that it was the bushing that HH56 has circled. My guy did indicate it moved up and down causing the clunk because of the shot bearing. I had seen a YouTube video a couple of years back where a shop was replacing some bushing in the steering of a '36 or '37 and it required a spring coming out that I'm pretty sure was on the passenger side. They also had indicated that they had had to have the bushing they were replacing machined for whatever reason. The repair seemed to have been a first time job for them. I do not think they were a Packard or even antique auto shop so they may have had to go the machining route because they didn't know where to source their bearing. The mechanic in the video was very cautious and dropped multiple warnings about that spring. Plus he had a heck of a hard time getting it back in place. He had it on a rack and was using spring compressors and a big pry bar. Of course, I can't find that video again. I was hoping it wouldn't be the same repair but I'm thinking it was. I will definitely look into Ken_P's blog of the repair and get all this info to my buddy. Assuming the repair on my car is the same as I had seen in the video, it is encouraging to know that it may not be as grim of a production as the shop had gone through as they appeared to have been reinventing the wheel. At this point, my biggest worry will be messing with the spring and getting it reinstalled.

If you can find the episodes of the 2005 show DIY Classic Car Restoration where Mark Lambert goes through a rolling Restoration on a 1938 Packard, he covers the replacement of that bearing.

They used to be posted on YouTube somewhere.

I found the YouTube videos I couldn't find. They are working on a '38 Super 8.

youtube.com/watch?v=CTG829Ac0-0&t=16s

youtube.com/watch?v=kc72Ll3g8Mw&t=488s

BigKev, I also found the video you referenced. Looks like it is on the MAX app. I don't have that.

youtube.com/watch?v=GZQa_6nkLGY