You know, Terry, I have never had that happen! (yet). I did discover that the half shafts on Ferrari 275 GTB's are not just splined to change length. They have jillions of ball bearings in half round splines that fly ALL OVER when one pulls them apar
t! LOTS of fun to reassemble! (Don't ask about the jillion of pins in the steering column lock
! {same car})
I wonder if the screw thread is like a recirculating ball type steering box? What kind of thread unscrewed? Was it a single lead or multiple lead thread? I suspect the balls go in the thread IF is is a half round thread. DID you find ALL your balls? You can stick them back in the thread with a thick assembly grease as you start threading it back together.
Like the Ferrari half shafts, let this be a lesson! Don't do that again
! Best!
Gordon Raymond