Steering Wheel Play
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Vancouver, WA
Steering Wheel Play
Hello! Please be patient with me as I really don't know too much about the steering. 
This is what is going on. My boyfriend's truck ('86 6.9L Dually) has way too much play in the steering wheel. Now, I've heard that there is a way to adjust this. If there is how? Is near/related to the power steering pump?
Any help would be appreciated! I would realy like to help him out.
This is what is going on. My boyfriend's truck ('86 6.9L Dually) has way too much play in the steering wheel. Now, I've heard that there is a way to adjust this. If there is how? Is near/related to the power steering pump? Any help would be appreciated! I would realy like to help him out.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Monroe, WA
You need to first figure out where the play is. Have someone turn the play in the wheel back and forth and then look around at the linkage under the truck. Look for any joints that are wiggling up and down as the linkage moves left and right. If that all looks good, move to under the hood and check the shaft that goes down to the steering box. There is a slip spline section in that shaft that takes up any motion between the cab and the frame. This part of the shaft is prone to wearing out and giving lots of play in the steering wheel. If you can't find anything loose in either of these areas I would than take the truck to a good shop and have the steering box checked out. The play adjustment on the steering box itself is very important and shouldn't be changed unless you really know what you are doing. You don't want to take off down the road and have the steering lock up.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Vancouver, WA
Well I crawled under my BF's truck and found that indeed he had bad inner and outer tie rod ends. They turn very nice and easily. 
World of difference compared to mine. (I should have thought to check this as I've had to replace mine on my truck.) Also the shaft that runs from the steering wheel to the box will turn as the steering wheel turns very freely until the end of the play then its like the tires catch and they turn as well.
Do you think the play is caused by the bad tie rods? Or could there be more potential problems?
Thanks for every ones help!!
World of difference compared to mine. (I should have thought to check this as I've had to replace mine on my truck.) Also the shaft that runs from the steering wheel to the box will turn as the steering wheel turns very freely until the end of the play then its like the tires catch and they turn as well. Do you think the play is caused by the bad tie rods? Or could there be more potential problems?
Thanks for every ones help!!
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Joined: Feb 2004
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i had a simular problem and i found the coupler was loose at the steering box.the bolt that secures the shaft from the steering wheel to the stub shaft on the steering box.it was really loose .i tightened it up and no more play.just a thing to check
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Vancouver, WA
Spectramac,
Let me see if I can explain this well. On the outer tie rod ends, when I grabed the tie rod and tried wiggling it, it would pivot very freely. Also the "boot" that sits on the end is blown.
I compared this to the tie rods on my '88 (replaced about a year ago) and mine are very tight with clean intact "boots".
I apologize that this isn't very exact. but it was the best way I could think of to describe it. Thanks!
Kitsapcountychopper,
Thanks for the idea I will check that out too.
Let me see if I can explain this well. On the outer tie rod ends, when I grabed the tie rod and tried wiggling it, it would pivot very freely. Also the "boot" that sits on the end is blown.
I compared this to the tie rods on my '88 (replaced about a year ago) and mine are very tight with clean intact "boots".
I apologize that this isn't very exact. but it was the best way I could think of to describe it. Thanks!
Kitsapcountychopper,
Thanks for the idea I will check that out too.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: France
Tie rods
Hi, I changed my tie rods last year after I had dropped one while backing up on a parking lot,the front left wheel was almost at a 90° angle !
Imagine at high speed what it can do,whew, I don't want to even think bout it!!
Imagine at high speed what it can do,whew, I don't want to even think bout it!!
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Vancouver, WA
Wow, I bet that was little eye opening. Ya, I've been tring to tell my boyfriend that they look pretty bad to me and he she change them out or have some one change them but I think he has a hard time hearing about it from a girl He'll get over it.
Ya, I've been tring to tell my boyfriend that they look pretty bad to me and he she change them out or have some one change them but I think he has a hard time hearing about it from a girl He'll get over it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Monroe, WA
Checking the steering play is really a two person job. You need to have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch under the front end. That's when you'll see what's loose.
I know how it feels to loose a tie rod end. We went on a 3000 mi trip in 2002. My left outer end popped off right as we pulled back in our driveway!
I know how it feels to loose a tie rod end. We went on a 3000 mi trip in 2002. My left outer end popped off right as we pulled back in our driveway!
Tie rods
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 409
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From: New York
ussually but not alwasy. i was driving my tractor down the road at a whopping 19mph when teh elft outer tie rod left and the next thing i no iam making a 90degrea rite hand turn into the corn field. luckily tractors have diffrential barkes were ya can lock just one back wheel to make them turn sharper by locking the left wheel i was able to keep the tractor from rolling over. now i alwasy check all tie rod ends evry 6 months on evry piece of equipment that i own.
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