Steering Gear Box Thingee
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Steering Gear Box Thingee
OK guys. . .silly question time (I should know this!).
I have a '78 F150 SC 4x4, 351M, C6, NP205. I have a little slop in the steering, but not too bad. A guy at work told me that I could tighten the play out of the gear box by loosening the lock nut on the box and turning the adjusting screw. Any truth to this? Which way should I turn it? How much adjustment should I expect to get out of this trick? Thanks in advance.
I have a '78 F150 SC 4x4, 351M, C6, NP205. I have a little slop in the steering, but not too bad. A guy at work told me that I could tighten the play out of the gear box by loosening the lock nut on the box and turning the adjusting screw. Any truth to this? Which way should I turn it? How much adjustment should I expect to get out of this trick? Thanks in advance.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Only for extreme cases.
If one does it *****-nilly it may lead to worse slop.
First thing I would check is all the steering components for being worn.
Plus the rag joint as they become worn & torn leading to steering slop.
If one does it *****-nilly it may lead to worse slop.
First thing I would check is all the steering components for being worn.
Plus the rag joint as they become worn & torn leading to steering slop.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 612
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Do you have a tilt wheel? if so there are 3 joints in the steering shaft to the box, rag joint (or slip joint in some models) at the box, then a u-joint at the column where it exits the cab, the last one is in the column where it tilts, the two lower ones (if worn) are normaly replaced with the shaft as a unit, the one on the column can be tightend after complete disassembly of the column,
I just fix up the steering in my supercab, all joints had slop, I replaced the lower shaft with a good spare I had laying around, then disassemble the column & tighted the one at the tilt section,
adjusting the gear box should be done as a last resort after averything else has be checked over & repaired,
I just fix up the steering in my supercab, all joints had slop, I replaced the lower shaft with a good spare I had laying around, then disassemble the column & tighted the one at the tilt section,
adjusting the gear box should be done as a last resort after averything else has be checked over & repaired,
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 424
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From: southern Indiana
My 78 repair manual describes using a torque wrench on the steering wheel nut. It should take a certain amount of torque before the steering wheel starts to turn.If you arent within the torque specs you adjust the gearbox adjusment screw untill you are at specs.I have never used this method.Maybe someone that has can shed some light on this.
Tim
Tim
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 169
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From: Kissimmee
The play in my steering was partially due to the gear box being loose on the frame. Simply have someone move the steering wheel while you look at it from the fenderwell. The other part was indeed the ragjoint. Look under the hood at the steering shaft. There is a joint there, have someone move the wheel. I am pretty sure you'll find you're troubles in the ragjoint. Due to it being made of rubber! I wouldn't mess with that nut on the steering gearbox. This is for fine tuning only!!!!!!! Believe me you will regret it.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 257
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From: Clermont county, Ohio
Check your suspension bushings too, my 74 has sloppy steering due to the radius arm bushings being bad.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Tri-Cities, TN
Also, check the bushings/bearings in the steering column itself. If worn, or if the bottom one has broken its plastic retainer, they can make the steering feel loose as well.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by JMarkle
I will look at everything else you mentioned first.
The last part I had play in was inside the power steering gear itself. Had fixed up everything else, no kidding and then noticed the sector shaft (pitman arm shaft) would move straight to the other side of the housing, before twisting.
I got a fix for that.
You find play by feeling for it, not just looking for it... while someone rocks the steering wheel for you. Might as well figure on getting greasy. Might want to take a rag with you? ;)
Alvin in AZ
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
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From: Tri-Cities, TN
This is probably not the cause of your problem, but My '79 150 4x4 had really loose steering when I bought it. I went over the front end and found nothing wrong, then took it to my mechanic who also couldn't find a problem. The previous owner had put on a set of what I consider to be worthless tires, so when I bought a new set of BFGs, I was suprised at just how much my steering improved. No more sawing back and forth on the wheel just to stay in my lane, no more mid corner corrections. Tires do make a huge difference sometimes.