Adjusting/ tightening steering box/ wheel play

[JAG1]

I think I remembered about certain things you when adjusting steering play. Don't bear down hard on the adjustment screw, turn wheel back and forth making very small adjustments each time, raise the front off the ground....... That sort of thing?

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

BTW, My truck knows the way to these kinds of places

 

 

[dripley]

All I have ever done is tighten it up. No lifting, jacking, steering nothing. First time I only did 1/8 of a turn and had to do it twice to get results. This last time I did a 1/4 turn and need to do it again. I guess with 422k on it small adjustments dont work anymore. If you overtighten it you wil know. The steering wont return.

 Pretty sure there is a much more involved way to do it. Read it somewhere on a thread here a while back. I have just never done it that way personally.

[Mopar1973Man]

Typically all I do is loosen the lock nut run the sector adjustment all the way in till it seats. Double check your not seating against the lock nut. Once you hit bottom then loosen 1.5 turns then hold the adjustment with your Allen wrench then tighten the lock nut again. You are done. Much fast than turning a 1/8 turn, test drive, turn again 1/8 turn, test... Etc...

[dripley]

3 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Typically all I do is loosen the lock nut run the sector adjustment all the way in till it seats. Double check your not seating against the lock nut. Once you hit bottom then loosen 1.5 turns then hold the adjustment with your Allen wrench then tighten the lock nut again. You are done. Much fast than turning a 1/8 turn, test drive, turn again 1/8 turn, test... Etc...

I gave up on the 1/8th turn a while. Tried the quarter turn this time. might have to give that up too. 

[Mopar1973Man]

You'll be surprised I've seen some boxes where I turn 3 to 4 turn just to find bottom again. Then loosen 1.5 turns. That means if you doing 1/8 turns that would be 12 times of adjusting and test driving. If your doing 1/4 turns that still 6 times of adjusting and test driving. Or my way and do it once. 

[dripley]

I guess I have to base mine on my past experience with a S-10 Chevy. Cranked way down on it and it turned like a dream in the parking lot. Jumped it out on the road and when I went for second the truck went on with the left turn I started. Did a real nice 180 in the road. Just did not want to see that happen to anyone.Just for you @Mopar1973Man 

 

 

love ya, mean it. Ahhhh ha haaaaa!

[Mopar1973Man]

1 hour ago, Mopar1973Man said:

Then loosen 1.5 turns.

 

Hence why you loosen after hitting bottom. Kind of like doing band adjustments on 47RE transmission you torque to 72 inch/pounds and the loose a number of turns. Samee thing here bottom out the gear and loosen so to add slack back from bottom.

[JAG1]

So you know its time to adjust the screw when everything else tight, but find yourself over compensating the wheel to keep her straight down the road

 

Dripley Thank you for the 180 warning I appreciate that. 

 

Edited October 12, 2017 by JAG1

[Mopar1973Man]

Well you could go the extra step and just rebuild the box and reseal everything. During your re-assembly process you'll be readjusting the sector adjustment again. Which you'll do it the same way I just stated. Just got to make sure to add the slack back in.

[LorenS]

For anyone reading this in the future, my truck (likely stock steering gear) required a 3/16" hex key and 5/8" wrench.

 

Either a stubby or ratchet-wrench would've made this project super easy.

Edited March 5, 2022 by LorenS

[Stanley]

I have never done this! Maybe I need to give it a try and see what happens.