steering questions.....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: gainesville florida
steering questions.....
I have a 71 coupe, and have rebuilt the entire suspension, front and rear, with composite springs, poly bushings, new tires and wheels, rebuilt steering box, new rag joint, and have just now had my steering coloumn rebuilt.
drove it home and noticed I still had a 1/2 to 3/4 of play in the steering wheel.
Upon farther exaimnation, I turned the steering wheel and the rag joint moved, [ yes my arms are that long].....very responsive, just a touch of the wheel and I can see the joint move, so guess it has to be in the box.....Only gussing here, hoping someone smarter than me will educate me to the "adjusting the box " that I have read about, or advise as to what else it may be.....
BTW, it does have PS, and all that is new as well....
Can't believe that this is as good as that original system can be.....
Thinking about the "jeep" box conversion, gotta be better than this.
Thanks for all your help....
Jw
drove it home and noticed I still had a 1/2 to 3/4 of play in the steering wheel.
Upon farther exaimnation, I turned the steering wheel and the rag joint moved, [ yes my arms are that long].....very responsive, just a touch of the wheel and I can see the joint move, so guess it has to be in the box.....Only gussing here, hoping someone smarter than me will educate me to the "adjusting the box " that I have read about, or advise as to what else it may be.....
BTW, it does have PS, and all that is new as well....
Can't believe that this is as good as that original system can be.....
Thinking about the "jeep" box conversion, gotta be better than this.
Thanks for all your help....
Jw
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 1
Others know more than me.. but I will tell you what I would try if you have not done it already.
I had ~2" of play and this fided the problem. However, I am upgrading to steeroids now because my box is shot. Anyways, on the top of your steering box is a lash nut and a screw. Use a flathead screwdriver and loosing that nut. Turn the screw a little bit and tighten the nut. Test your steering... I think the haynes repair manual (which is pretty much useless) has a paragraph about doing that too. Best of luck
I had ~2" of play and this fided the problem. However, I am upgrading to steeroids now because my box is shot. Anyways, on the top of your steering box is a lash nut and a screw. Use a flathead screwdriver and loosing that nut. Turn the screw a little bit and tighten the nut. Test your steering... I think the haynes repair manual (which is pretty much useless) has a paragraph about doing that too. Best of luck
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I have a 71 coupe, and have rebuilt the entire suspension, front and rear, with composite springs, poly bushings, new tires and wheels, rebuilt steering box, new rag joint, and have just now had my steering coloumn rebuilt.
drove it home and noticed I still had a 1/2 to 3/4 of play in the steering wheel.
Upon farther exaimnation, I turned the steering wheel and the rag joint moved, [ yes my arms are that long].....very responsive, just a touch of the wheel and I can see the joint move, so guess it has to be in the box.....Only gussing here, hoping someone smarter than me will educate me to the "adjusting the box " that I have read about, or advise as to what else it may be.....
BTW, it does have PS, and all that is new as well....
Can't believe that this is as good as that original system can be.....
Thinking about the "jeep" box conversion, gotta be better than this.
Thanks for all your help....
Jw
drove it home and noticed I still had a 1/2 to 3/4 of play in the steering wheel.
Upon farther exaimnation, I turned the steering wheel and the rag joint moved, [ yes my arms are that long].....very responsive, just a touch of the wheel and I can see the joint move, so guess it has to be in the box.....Only gussing here, hoping someone smarter than me will educate me to the "adjusting the box " that I have read about, or advise as to what else it may be.....
BTW, it does have PS, and all that is new as well....
Can't believe that this is as good as that original system can be.....
Thinking about the "jeep" box conversion, gotta be better than this.
Thanks for all your help....
Jw
That screw on top of the steering box is a great temptation, but it has limited adjustment and if you do it wrong you can damage the box.
If you are thinking about the Jeep conversion check out the Borgeson box. It's the same Saginaw box that Jeep uses, machined to fit on the C3 frame. They also have an adapter that replaces the PS control valve so you don't have to buy a manual steering connecting rod. I have this conversion on my list of things to do.
There is a guy in New Haven, Conn. who does great rebuilds on C3 steering boxes.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: gainesville florida
Thanks for your replys....
Yes I replaced ALL the front end......ball joints, tie rod ends, new calipers and rotors, ect....
Have resisted the temptation to adjust the nut on top of the box, as I don't want to screw it up.....I think that box came from ecklers, not sure who does their work.
Just real dissapointed in what I have per the dollars invested.
Yes I replaced ALL the front end......ball joints, tie rod ends, new calipers and rotors, ect....
Have resisted the temptation to adjust the nut on top of the box, as I don't want to screw it up.....I think that box came from ecklers, not sure who does their work.
Just real dissapointed in what I have per the dollars invested.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,874
Likes: 7
From: l In
Ikerds, rebuilt boxes are great. I replaced everything in mine and still had the same problem that you are having, replaced the box and now everything works like new. Ikerds sells the boxes on that auction site
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Why guess? Why not go down the chain until you can SEE and FEEL the slop? Adjusting the box lash at this point is just a shot in the dark. You've eliminated the rag joint, so move on down and check the box. Grab the input and output shafts and have someone twitch the wheel. Feel any play? No? Ok then slide under there and check the arms again while someone plays with the wheel, then the tie rod ends. If still nothing, then you've got something amiss in your wheels/hubs.
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