00 Nav--4x4 with 71K on it. Put on new tires and still have a very slight steering wheel nibble under various conditions. I attend a car class at local tech. school so I have access to a professional mechanic. We were checking ball joints/tie rod ends and have found that with the front end up I can move the tire about 3/4in back and forth---most of this slop is in the gear box. So we are going to adjust the mesh I think they call it. Adjustment screw and lock nut is on the top of the steering box. Has anyone done this? Did you follow service manual procedures (inch lb torque on the steering wheel nut after removing air bag and pitman arm) or did you just tighten the adjustment til the slop is gone.

Advice anyone?

 

I used to adjust my steering boxes this way. The Ford tech told me you cannot really reduce the slop by adjusting the sector gear. Instead they just replaced the box under warranty.

What I have been told and it makes sense to me is that if you snug up the secTor gear when the tires are pointing straight, you'll have a bind when turned hard left/right.

 

Replace it, not a good thing to mess with

 

Thanks for the replies---it would have to get much worse before I replace it. Hkiefus thank you, I certainly respect your view--you have contributed much to this forum!--- I don't know who is right, but my instructor says this has to be done with the wheels straight ahead---he says if I adjust it tighter with the wheels turned any amount then it will bind when you move off center. That would imply it gets looser at the extremes. In any case, if it does bind at the extremes I should certainly be able to tell that it's binding and put it back. If I were still under warantee I would be at the dealer. But I'm beyond that at 71K

Well we are going to try this on Saturday. I'll mark it so I can put it back where it was should it not eliminate the looseness. If I can't adjust it out then I'll replace when it gets worse which it will I'm sure.

I figure I have nothing to lose by trying before considering replacement

I will let you all know what happens Saturday--thanks again

 

I wanted to report back my experience on adjusting the gear box. We adjusted the sector shaft bolt about 1/4 Turn in. What a difference. I haven't had the truck on the highway but if the difference is half as much as it is at 35MPH I'm a happy Nav owner. The steering is much smoother and solid. The really big difference is going over pot holes--I didn't realize how much the S. Wheel shuddered and move around on a rough road--now very solid. So it was worth the effort.

If anyone is interested I can post what we did.

Also due to my ignorance I was incorrect when I said this must be adjusted with the wheels straight ahead as it will tighten up when moved off center. My instructor clearly says the mesh tightness increases when over center. As you turn left or right it loosens slightly. Therefore if you were to adjust it tighter off center, then when you bring it to the center it could bind.

We confirmed this after adjusting it tighter by 1/4 turn when centered. Then turning the wheels to lock there is a very slight looseness that is not apparent with the wheels straight ahead.

We marked the adjustment bolt so we knew where we started. The instructor was surprised we had to go 1/4 T---he expected we wouldn't have to go beyond 1/8Turn.

But she sure drives better now.

 

Your "steering wheel nibble" is caused by a tire issue, not slack in the steering gear box. Think about it. If I understand your complaint correctlly, the steering wheel jerks slightly when the vehicle is rolling. Every time the low or high spot on the tire comes around and makes contact with the ground, it pulls the steering wheel slightly through the steering linkage and steering gearbox.

 

Trucker22, I am interested can you post what you did?

 

Shawn---I have had my truck at high speeds and the steering box adjustment did the trick. No more steering wheel shake or nibble if that is the correct term. In my case it's not a tire problem---I have Michelin LTX brand new tires--they were purchased at a well respected tire dealer who believes in "shaving" new expensive tires on a lathe for roundness. So they are round and he also moves the tire on the wheel for optimum balance before he places lead.

The steering box was adjusted only after checking all front suspension components by a master degreed 30yr experienced automotive instructor. His recommendation was to adjust the steering box.

In my case it solved my problem---what a huge difference one quarter turn made---I had no idea how "loose" the wheel was---going over bumps at speed would start the thing shaking (almost like harmonic motion)--not terrible--but enough to notice--I've been living with this for 6yrs---

Basically you must have the wheels perfectly straight ahead---mark the threaded shaft on top of the gear box; hold the shaft still with an allen wrench; then loosen the lock nut---then move the threaded shaft an eighth or quarter turn clockwise.

Also if you have the wheels up---you can move the left wheel in and out very slightly and reach up and hold the steering wheel shaft with your other hand and if you are careful you can feel some play in the steering box between the wheel and the shaft.

Be sure to mark the threaded shaft---if tightening it doesn't help they you can put it back where it was and not harm a thing---there is some downside--if you tighten it then the adjustment can result in a tight steering box--not a good thing--you will wear it out prematurely.

I figured I had nothing to loose especially since it's easy to put it back where it was if it doesn't help.

 

I know that tires are part of the problem..just rotating mine helped the nibble a little. But there is definitely a mechanical issue involved as well. I had been very suspcious about my steering box already....had been thinking about replacing it. I may give this a try.Thanks

 

I think I am ready to go after the steering box on my 99 XLT. 5000 miles ago I got both upper and lower ball joints replaced and tires RF balanced and rotated. That pretty much solved the problem.

Had the dealership look at the front end last week (I asked them to look at Pitman and Idler Arms & steering box) and they replaced the idler arm and did an alignment.

Result: The shaky steering wheel is back between about 50 and 65 mph.

I'm going to rotate the tires again, since there is obviously a tire component to this issue, but has anybody else tried the steering box tightening routine in the months since this thread was active? Can I reach it without having to jack up/hoist the front end of the beast?