Hi guys any old schoolers out there to know how to adjust the Bendix power steering box that has the big slotted screw on the bottom and then has the other adjustment screw on the top??

With this type of power steering box it is my understanding that you cannot just adjust the top screw alone it will throw everything else off as well so would you adjust both of them in the same increments to take play out of the box?

Or is there a procedure that you need to do like say turn the top one in four turns and then turn the bottom one in six turns or some kind of procedure that I can do I know that this box is not like the later models where it just has the one screw on the top I have the big locking ring with that big slotted screw at the bottom of the gearbox and the adjustment screw on the top of the gearbox it's a Bendix not a Ford any help would be appreciated...

 

Never touched one, so can’t help. But I’m subscribing to see what others have to say about it.
Good luck!

 

I have a '71 F250 CS with PS that's overly touchy. I adjusted the screw on top just a hair, 1/4 turn total in 3 tries, but it didn't change anything. I guess I'll need to see if there's anything on the bottom like yours.
Also subscribed..

 

That screw adjusts backlash. It should never need to be adjusted just like rear end gears.
If box is sloppy the sector bearing is probably shot.

 

I bought it rebuilt it cost me $450 bucks it has 0 miles on it I also have a brand new rag joint that I just put on at the same time, I took it to a alignment shop at one time and the guy said that he used to work for Ford in the 70s and he said that if you had just just the top screw by itself you're actually making it worse because you're putting the gear farther away from the other one they both have to be adjusted at the same time and they did it at the time. Although there was a certain way that they did it you have to loosen the top nut and screw down the upper adjuster all the way down and then you undo the locking ring and turn the slotted screw a certain amount of turns it's a procedure.

My truck only has 3,000 miles and everything under there is brand new at a complete stop you can turn the steering wheel back and forth way more than what you should be able to so in other words if you have that type of power steering box with that slotted screw on the bottom if you just turn the upper part you're not helping it in any way shape and form it's making it worse.

 

Who did the rebuild on the box? Ebay? Most likely it is just a reseal job. Ship it off to Redhead or Blue Top Steering to get a professional blueprinted box that will last.

 

You have a Saginaw box which is totally different from a Bendix.

 

Yes I should have known better I knew about redhead although prices have gone up on everything but then again it would probably be the last box I bought being that I'm 53.
It wasn't eBay it was a company called American something but more than likely they got it from somewhere else I jumped on it for the price although my first drive was no better than the old box that I gave them as a core.

If it comes down to it I might have to just break down and buy the redhead I just took it to a shop to check the toe and they told me the same thing that the adjustment is on the top but there was a couple of old mechanics that used to work for Ford and they told me no that box with the slotted screw in the lock ring at the bottom that is an adjustment screw this guy at the alignment shop said that that's just it that's just a hole to replace the gears and how you get to the the gears inside the only adjustment on that box is on the top now, I remember adjusting my old box but I'm thinking that it was a counterclockwise thread and that's why it made it worse because I tightened it clockwise my original problem was it probably was a counterclockwise thread to make it tighter in counterclockwise was a looser .

We'll see how it comes out of the shop better or worse they're going to check my toe and I doubt if they will even mess with the Box sometimes they say that they did things and they didn't.

 

There are two adjustments on that box. Sector and rack. Your shop manual details how to adjust the box. But if you do not own a high-quality inch pound torque wrench that will measure as low as 1 inch lb. and don't follow the instructions in the manual exactly you can end up with your steering box locking up unexpectedly.
The manual says 1/4-inch or less play in the steering wheel is acceptable. If it cannot be adjusted to achieve that then something is worn in the box, and it needs overhauled.

 

1/4 INCH steering wheel play?! Is that a THING? That would be amazing

 

Someone posted the adjustment procedure from the shop manual it's three pages long 😳.
it requires removal of the pitman arm to do it properly with three adjustments on the box screws not single screw the big one with lock ring at the end and one on the left side by the " B " Bendix logo and then the one on top all in a specific order way over engineered.