Hmm, might want to post this in the suspension forum, I am not sure. I think if you overtighten that screw you might do damage to the gear box.

 

be really carefull doing this as ranger said you can do damage, i dont know exactly how to adjust it, but ive done it on a 70 ranchero once that had alot of slack and it helped, but it changed how much i could turn in one direction, id definitly seek a professional opinion, THIS JUST IN!!! i just now read how to adjust the messload of your steering box with that screw, its compilcated so i suggest that you buy the chilton book for 76-86 Ford pickups and broncos, thats what i have and its very detailed on how to adjust the messload. you definitly DONT just turn it till u feel tension, the book says nothing of that method.

 

Humm...is it turn the screw "in" or "out"? I thought I had heard that you turn it "out"...

Can anyone help clear this confusion?

 

thank you all i will look it up before i do anything more

 

The set screw adjusts the sector shaft in relation to the worm shaft. The gear teeth on the sector shaft(the shaft pitman arm attaches to) are tapered so as you screw in or out on the set screw(depending on type of box) it moves the tapered teeth tighter agains the teeth on the worm shaft(the shaft that the steering column attaches to) and takes up slack in the box. Steering boxes have a high spot built in that you should be able to feel it get tighter as you turn the steering wheel over center. This makes it so you dont have to constantly try to steer the vehicle when you are going in a straight line and so the steering returns to center. To adjust this properly, disconnect the steering linkage from the pitman arm and remove the cover on the center of the steering wheel exposing the nut. Use a socket on the nut and a dial type inch pounds torque wrench and measure the rotating torque adn the torque going over the hi spot and refer that to spec. Adjust screw accordingly. NOW for the way 99% of mechanics do it. Turn screw in till it bottoms out, back off 1 turn. test and make sure there is no binding. Test drive and see if you are happy wiht the reslults, if no change to suit you taste. To see how much play you have, just open the window and stand beside your truck, turn the steerng wheel back and forth just untill you see the front wheels start to move, if it turns one turn each way before they move thats probably too much. The wheel should move about 1" each way before the wheels actually turn. This is dependant on steering linkage condition as well. Good luck.

 

Hotrodder , ur saying to loosen the lock nut and tighten the set screw till it stops then back it out one turn than tighten the lock nut again????? just wanna double check what you mean before i do it let me know if this is right. thanks , mike

 

Thanks for making sense of it! I have some sloppy steering with my truck and am going to try your method.

 

When you use the "99% of mechanics" method to adjust your steering box, make sure you have the steering wheel centered in between the steering stops. You find this center by steering the wheel from one stop all the way over to the other stop and counting the number of turns (and partial turns) from stop to stop. Divide that number by 2 and turn the steering wheel that many turns from one stop. The steering wheel will now be centered. If you don't do this, you might end up with binding in the steering box after you adjust it.

Also, with that set screw, I have always used 1/2 turn out after resistiance instead of 1 full turn. The mechanics I talked with told me to go 1/2 turn. I guess everybody has their own variation of this method but, it does work and I have never ruined a steering box after I adjusted it with this method.