Steering Box Adjustment?

[moose60]

There seems to be excessive play in the steering gear box on my pickup. Is there any adjustment that can be made? I seem to dimly remember something like a gear lash adjustment on old Volkswagens, perhaps there is something similar. My truck is not equiped with power steering.
Thanks.

[asavage]

Yeah, there's an adjustment. Usually, you don't want to play with it. It's primary purpose is for initial adjustment after assembly, not for wear compensation.

The sector gear is ground in a smaller radius than it actually swings. That means that to a very limited extent, the lash at the center of the swing can be reduced -- but only a very small amount.

Are you certain that the slop is at the box? It's much more common for the slop to be at the idler arm .

If the box is loose, go directly to finding a replacment box. They're cheap & plentiful, because they rarely go bad. And the gasser one interchanges too.

[philip]

There seems to be excessive play in the steering gear box on my pickup. Is there any adjustment that can be made? SNIP Thanks.

Picking up from Al's post previous, the "sector gear" adjustment found next to the oil filler plug on top of the steering gearbox cannot compensate for worm gear wear.

Before you monkey with this adjustment in an attempt to cut down a bit on steering slop, make SURE the percieved slop is:

A) Not due to a worn out pitman arm joint. This is the ball joint on the end of the arm linking the gearbox to the drag link.

B) Not due to a steering box that is moving on the frame it is bolted to.

C) Not due to loosened couplers between the steering wheel shaft and the gearbox.

D) You are not comparing to a power steering box.

You can reduce the amount of "center/straight, back/forth" play by moving slightly the sector adjuster screw. Since your gear box is well used, do NOT attempt to remove nearly all play from the center/straight position from a well used gearbox. If you do, the result will be additional steering effort when the steering is moved more than 3/4 turn from center/straight. When overadjusted, this additional turning effort will slow the steering returning to center on its own after a turn.

Make a small adjustment (say 1/8 turn) and secure the lock nut. Test the results. Do not overdue it in search of perfection.

[moose60]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at the idler arm this weekend. I have already given it a cursory glance, but it looks like I may get a more accurate idea of it's condition with the front of the truck off of the ground.

[philip]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at the idler arm this weekend. I have already given it a cursory glance, but it looks like I may get a more accurate idea of it's condition with the front of the truck off of the ground.

Need a big pry bar for checking the idler arm pivot play.

For the rest, leave the truck on the ground and then watch for abnormal movement in the steering pivots while a 2nd person rapidly rotates the steering back and forth through the center/straight position.