Adjusting steering box
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Adjusting steering box
My 1956 F100 has some play in the steering box. By that I mean that the Pitman Arm moves back and forth a couple of degrees just by moving the steering linkage. I tried to tighten up the steering box by turning the bolt that sticks out of the side of the steering box toward the center of the truck, but that didn't seem to help. Is there another adjustment on the steering box that would reduce or eliminate the play? Thanks for your help.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 372
Likes: 1
From: Walnut Creek, CA
The only adjustment I am aware of is the screw on the side of the steering box which you use to limit the movement of the steering wheel and remove the play. If the worm gear is shot in the box it could be the cause of excess play.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: new jersey
M6EV139445, be very careful not to over adjust your steering box, i over adjusted my box years ago and a piece of the worm gear broke off while i was turning around a bend merging into traffic and it almost made me have a real bad accident, fortunetly for me i just bounced off the median and was just able enough to pull over and call for a tow.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
being able to move the pitman arm on the box may mean you arer past the range to adjust out that much freeplay. With the tires on the ground, how far does a point on the steering wheel move back and forth before the wheels move? If it's more than a couple inches best start looking for another box or saving up for a rebuild kit, or better still start collecting the parts for a Toyota power steering box swap. See https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...60_Trucks.html
Ford used a very low tech box that required frequent, but seldom performed maintainance to keep from wearing out. If in adjusting it, it gets tight, rough, or notchy around straight ahead before the freeplay disappears, it's risky to even drive it.
Ford used a very low tech box that required frequent, but seldom performed maintainance to keep from wearing out. If in adjusting it, it gets tight, rough, or notchy around straight ahead before the freeplay disappears, it's risky to even drive it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SoCalAngler
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
May 4, 2020 07:10 PM
FordStolz68
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Aug 27, 2016 02:05 AM
swolh
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Sep 15, 2015 12:45 PM
jdhudall
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
2
May 18, 2015 09:32 AM
