Steering gear box
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
From: TALLAHASSEE FL
Yes there is but you need be EXTREMELY careful in doing so. It can cause damage to the crush washer in the box and could destroy the box.
There is a link somewhere on the how to
But in a nutshell ....... get tires straight and on a level surface. on the top of the box is a 13mm (iirc) jam nut with a allen head screw inside. Hold the allen and loosen the jam nut. Then turn the allen ONLY 1/4 turn clock wise. Hold allen and tighten jam nut.
Test drive to ensure it returns back to straight after you turn and nothing is binding. If its not tighter than it was try another 1/4 turn on the allen.
But this is just a temporary fix. Mine normally lasts about a month then is right back where i started. Probably going to need a new box soon. REDHEAD STEERING GEARS !!!
There is a link somewhere on the how to
But in a nutshell ....... get tires straight and on a level surface. on the top of the box is a 13mm (iirc) jam nut with a allen head screw inside. Hold the allen and loosen the jam nut. Then turn the allen ONLY 1/4 turn clock wise. Hold allen and tighten jam nut.
Test drive to ensure it returns back to straight after you turn and nothing is binding. If its not tighter than it was try another 1/4 turn on the allen.
But this is just a temporary fix. Mine normally lasts about a month then is right back where i started. Probably going to need a new box soon. REDHEAD STEERING GEARS !!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,667
Likes: 5
Yes,look for a jam nut that will except a allen wrench in the center, on top side of gear box,make sure your front wheels are straight,loosen jam nut & turn allen screw in 1/8 to 1/4 turn in at a time to take slack up, if gear box has a lot of wear you can easily over tighten & cause steering to bind & not return straight after exiting a corner or even steer worse than with slack,I just adjust 1/8 turn & test drive & repeat until happy,or replace gearbox with the famous Red Head unit most of us like .
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
For what it's worth, I put a Readhead box on my truck trying to solve return to center issues. Turned out it was a sticky upper ball-joint. The truck steers straight (returns to center) at 65 but much slower - say around 50 and it keeps going where I point it.
The Readhead box is a bit too tight in my opinion (and the opinion of a diesel mechanic who works on and owns an F250) and I have actually backed off the screw 1/3 turn. This seemed to help.
To your original question, if the "play" is in the box, you'll need a new one. Does it need to be a Readhead?, not necessarily.
The Readhead box is a bit too tight in my opinion (and the opinion of a diesel mechanic who works on and owns an F250) and I have actually backed off the screw 1/3 turn. This seemed to help.
To your original question, if the "play" is in the box, you'll need a new one. Does it need to be a Readhead?, not necessarily.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
However, as a small shop with a reputation to lose, they seem to put more care and American pride into their product than do the "big boys", i.e. A1Cardone, etc.
They're kinda' like the BTS of steering boxes. You pay more, but you get more in return.
A steering box is something that I wouldn't want to replace more than once, and I CERTAINLY wouldn't trust my life to one with the typical "lifetime guarantee"!
YMMV.
Pop
They're kinda' like the BTS of steering boxes. You pay more, but you get more in return.
A steering box is something that I wouldn't want to replace more than once, and I CERTAINLY wouldn't trust my life to one with the typical "lifetime guarantee"!
YMMV.
Pop
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
From: Cato Arkansas
Wil slack In the steering box cause the tires to wear that's all I really worry about the truck has almost 400k miles and needs ball joints so I'm just wanting to fix whats needed to keep tires good
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
A Readhead box is good but not installing one won't ruin your life
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