Power Steering Preload
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 144
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From: Kansas
Power Steering Preload
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE PRE LOAD SETTING ON POWER STEERING. Can any one tell me if I can get close enough on the adjustment without taking the unit out of my truck. I had alot of loose play in my steering wheel,and my truck would wander from side to side. I replaced all the ball joints and steering joints because they were all loose. 247,000 miles. Any way this helped alot but it did not totaly fix the wander. So I adjusted the preload one full turn tighter (clockwise). This made a world of differance. I would like to turn it a little more but I dont know how much is to much. Any sugestions THANKS
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
If it's a Ford - say 70's - there's a worm gear that can become worn in the middle section. Tightening it up to remove play in that area may make it harder to turn further up or down the shaft (right or left steering). You would need to put the front axles on stands and see if it will lock up or not. It could be dangerous to tighten too much.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
Orn is correct in taking wear into account. I've seen methods involving raising the vehicle, tightening the box a bit, and checking the torque (with a wrench) required to move the steering wheel a determined amount.
On the other hand, the way I do it is to keep adjusting the box in 1/4 - 1/8 turn increments until it reaches a point that the steering wheel will not readily "unwind" and return to center in a slow turn. I do road tests at about 20MPH to establish this. Then I back it off in small increments until the wheel unwinds freely when turning in each direction. Once that point is found, I then back off the adjustment about 1/8 - 1/6 of a turn and do what Orn said concerning putting it on stands and checking for any binding when steering.
On the other hand, the way I do it is to keep adjusting the box in 1/4 - 1/8 turn increments until it reaches a point that the steering wheel will not readily "unwind" and return to center in a slow turn. I do road tests at about 20MPH to establish this. Then I back it off in small increments until the wheel unwinds freely when turning in each direction. Once that point is found, I then back off the adjustment about 1/8 - 1/6 of a turn and do what Orn said concerning putting it on stands and checking for any binding when steering.
