I was just chatting with a car guy friend (also a mechanical engineer) and mentioned that I tightened up the steering on my Scursion - he panicked and reacted like I was going to kill myself quickly by doing this.

I loosened the lock nut and screwed in the bolt 1/4 turn - then test drove. There was still significant slack so I added another 1/4 turn. There is now no slack. He insists that having no slack in the steering means that I have over tightened the box and it will now die quickly.

To quote one of his texts "Steering boxes are expensive and not fun. Feeling like a proper vehicle usually means self machining, too tight. It's American. Supposed to feel like *****."

The steering is much better than it was, it doesn't wander on the freeway any more and there is no slack. When I nudge the steering wheel I can see the wheels react.

Do I need to back the box out some???

thanks, C

 

Not in my opinion, ran mine tightened for more than a year until I saved funds for a RedHead.

 

Agree.

Tightening helped mine significantly, and the Redhead fixed it.

 

Absolutely not.

From the very first post recommending this maintenance, literally for as many years as this procedure has been passed on by people posting on FTE, there have been naysayers with doom and gloom saying it shouldn't be done due to premature wear of the gear box, or for safety reasons.

Bunch of BS malarkey is all it is.

As long as you've followed the directions posted here, and the results are within the acceptable norms, ignore him.

Stewart

 

Over a 3 year period, I adjusted my OEM steering gear 4 times to keep it on the road before I got a Redhead. Problem solved! Also, if you are running load range E tires probably want to check your normal tire pressure to be approximately 65 PSI.

DSMMH

 

the problem comes when it gets overtightened. it will prevent the wheel from returning to center.

but really, if its sloppy, and "needs" adjusted, ithe box should just be replaced.
that nut isnt there to adjust out the slop, its there for setting up the gears inside the box. similar to setting up a differential. once its set, thats where it goes.

it does work to take out the slop, but thats not its design.

 

Adjust away!

In my non-expert opinion, the boxes need tightening because they're starting to wear. But why not tighten it if you can get years more use out of it before replacing?

 

I have had mine tightened up since 17k miles, I now have 71k and no issues. Yes the issue is if it is overtightened. You will know if you overtightened it because the steering wheel will not return after making a turn. you will have to fight it back. leave it and enjoy the better behaving X.

 

I assume just pull the airbag (after disconnecting the battery), then tighten, then reinstall airbag and enjoy?

 

I'm confused.

 

I'm on my 7th steering gear box that PSC has worked on for me. I tried a handful of Hummer quick variable ratio reverse rotation boxes and boy did they have great quick turning. But we couldn't get them to last at all. PSC had built me adapters to make it all go together. I still have the whole setup. I'm now running a 2006 box that I also had PSC check out before installation.

I've always had 1" of movement in the steering wheel before the box moves anything else. It drives me nuts. When I bought the truck the steering gear had terrible slack and every time I tightened it the improvement was short lived and kept getting worse. I am definitely no expert on how a steering box is built but I've had bad luck trying to adjust them myself.

Last time I discussed adjust slop out of a box with PSC they told me after the lock nut is loose to tighten the screw in all the way, then back off something like a 1/4 turn at a time. With my experience I was too hesitant to try it but my steering feels a little looser these days so I may have to give it a try.

For those with a Redhead, is there zero play? I'm wondering if those units are tough enough for my setup. My rig is so heavy the steering almost won't turn without the hydraulic ram assist. Do they do porting for rams?

 

No. It's actually easier than that. Look at the other end of the steer shaft. As you peek under the hood and look down at the steering gear box, there is a nut with a bolt that has an allen head hole staring back at you. Hold the shaft still with an allen wrench and loosen the nut. Tighten the shaft 1/4 turn, re-tighten the nut while holding the shaft still, and test drive.

There are better instructions with pictures floating around on FTE. You can search for those.

 

Just to back up Chris' post, here's the steering box gear tightening info.

Locate the allen bolt and locknut on top of the steering box. The steering box is close to the radiator. The locknut should be a 5/8".

Mark the allen bolt so you’re oriented and know where the starting point is, then loosen the locknut. Turn the allen bolt clockwise a quarter turn to tighten the gear mesh. Tighten the locknut and road test your vehicle.

Be careful not to over-tighten the allen bolt. If you do, the steering may become tight and stiff during a turn with a noticeable lack of a return-to-center feel, possibly causing you to drive off the roadway.

Keep repeating the sequence, turning the allen bolt a ¼ turn at a time, followed by a test drive, until you're satisfied with the performance. If you over-tighten the allen bolt, turn the allen bolt back a quarter turn, counter-clockwise.

There is a risk of over tightening the box and causing it to wear out prematurely, so I suggest you tighten it to the point where the slop is gone, and no further.

Most people will turn the allen bolt three-quarters of a rotation to one-and-one-half rotations before they’re happy with the results.

Stewart

 

Engineers are weird. I know a few as well. Many of them think they are above everyone and everything that falls out of their mouth is exact. I soon realized many of them have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.