Steering help needed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
Steering help needed
I have a 69 with power steering. I have this dead spot on center in the steering. There is major slop, about 25 degrees on both sides of center before there is resistance and the wheels turn. What is the most likely cause of this? Should I look at the steering gear box first or the power steering ram. Off center the steering works as it should, its just when you try to hold a straight line the wheel takes a lot of movement to correct the wheels.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
I tightened up the lash adjustment on top of the steering box, I was able to take out most of the slop. The steering is a little tight but for now thats ok. The problem that I am having now is that the power steering pump is squeeling, real bad, even when I am going straight. It had not been doing this before. Why would adjusting the lash make the power steering pump squeel?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,118
Likes: 3,914
From: Connecticut, USA
Be careful here. I don't know how you adjusted the lash but if you just tightened it up until the play was gone you're going to wreck what ever is left of the gears very quickly. To correctly set lash you have to have the box out or at least disconnected from the ball stud and follow the procedure for in car adjusting. I always pull them out and go over them. You may be loading the pump if you haven't changed anything but the lash.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo NY
I adjusted the lash by screwing in the adjustment screw. With the wheels off the ground I tightened it until most of the slop was out. Before I could grab the steering rod and move it back and forth a lot from the engine bay. After tightening it up I could move it just a little. How would the pump be loaded in the straight ahead position?
