steering play
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Joined: Oct 2003
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steering play
mY 78 has a little steering play that I would like to correct. I would like to know the easiest way to correct?How do I find the root???My dad said something like probly 60-70% of it is in the steering box.How much will it cost to have the box rebuilt??? It is a 250 if that matters much?
thanks
Dustin
thanks
Dustin
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 495
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Too many times people try and fix a loose steering problem by tightening the mesh load in the steering gear. Before making any adjustments to the steering gear be absolutely certain that the play isn't because of worn ball joints/king pins, tie rod ends,pitman arm, etc. If all of these are OK you can adjust the mesh load in the steering gear by loosening the locknut on top of the gear and turning the center adjustment screw 1/8 of a turn and see if that clears up the problem. Don't overtighten the setscrew or you can damage your steering gear. I would turn the screw no more than a half turn. I prefer to set the mesh load by using an inch pound torque wrench and disconnecting the pitman arm from the tie rods or drag link and using the torque wrench on the center nut of the steering wheel make the adjustment to 13 inch pounds turning the steering wheel over center. Be sure that before you make the adjustment that you turn the wheel from stop to stop a couple of times and then make the adjustment at center. You do this with the engine off. While holding the setscrew so it can't turn you lock down the adjustment by tightening the locknut.
John
John
