I have a 99 F-250 super duty and I need to replace the aluminum cover on top of the steering box with the adjustment screw for the sector shaft. What is the general rule of thumb to adjust this screw as I don't want to overtighten it.

 

Why do you need to replace the top plate? I have never seen a gearbox that didn't have the sector shaft adjustment coming out of the top.

 

The sector shaft adjustment does come out of this top plate but the plate has a hairline crack in it and is leaking. I have unscrewed the plate off of the sector shaft adjustment screw but I just wanted to know how far to adjust it when I replace the plate.

 

I understand. Are you buying a new plate from Ford?....or are you getting one out of a junkyard? If you get a gearbox from a junkyard, just install the plate & sector shaft as an assembly and adjust as needed.

BTW, I would be wondering WHY the plate cracked to begin with. Was the truck in a wreck or something?

 

I will be installing a new plate from ford, the old plate cracked because I tried to remove the pitman arm without the proper puller. Thats what happens when you try to take a shortcut. Once I install the new plate would you happen to know the procedure for adjusting it.

 

I've done this job allot of times. I'll bet money the procedure (per the Ford shop manual) will say to remove the gearbox to do this job. This way after you bolt it together, you can "feel" what adjustment is needed while its on the bench. (I can't imagine trying to get this right in the truck) Make sure you get an upper seal kit to go back together. Good luck!

BTW, where do you live?

 

Thanks for your advice. The new plate will be here tomorrow so hopefully it won't be too big of a deal. I'm from Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada

 

Probably not a big deal. Get the new one as close as you can to the old one before you drop it in. Count threads, measure distances, etc. put them side by side and get them the same.

 

Well, if the adjustment is a half turn too much....either in or out, it'll bind.

 

He's gotta start somewhere (better than just throwing it in). I turned mine 2 turns total and it never bound so I put it back where it was. It has zero slop but I was just experimenting.

 

Well, I just did mine a month or so ago, and 1 turn was all it would take without binding(steering wheel won't recenter). I had it 1-1/2 turns and it felt great sitting in the driveway....until I test drove it. I came back and backed it off a half turn.

 

I put the steering box back together today and it seems ok. Might have a little slop in it still but I can just go in 1/4 turn at a time until I get about an inch of freeplay in the steering wheel. I just started with it backed off all the way and kept winding it in feeling the play between the steering shaft and the sector shaft. There is about 2 inches of freeplay in the steering wheel right now. I'll give it a final adjustment tommorrow and go for a test drive.