'81 Steering Box Adjustment
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
'81 Steering Box Adjustment
Thinking that since I have some play in the steering wheel and the rag joint is tight, suspension all replaced....that I should do the adjustments on the steering gear.
Read the manual and does not sound to difficult...but any words of wisdom out there to pass along before I do this? Have to get a pitman arm puller before I can do anything first. I was thinking Harbor Freight for this one time usage.
Thanks
Read the manual and does not sound to difficult...but any words of wisdom out there to pass along before I do this? Have to get a pitman arm puller before I can do anything first. I was thinking Harbor Freight for this one time usage.
Thanks
Navigator
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Steering gear
First of all - please chceck if You have oil inside ... it is common problem that the steering gears are dry.
After this .. the best way to do the adjustments is to disconnect it from both sides and feel the play with the hand. It schoud be (if You turn from the side of the stering wheel) going wihout any difference if You hve it stright and full turn to the sides .. if You are not abble to set it this way correctly You will have to rebuild the do the steering box.
i hope this help
Adam
After this .. the best way to do the adjustments is to disconnect it from both sides and feel the play with the hand. It schoud be (if You turn from the side of the stering wheel) going wihout any difference if You hve it stright and full turn to the sides .. if You are not abble to set it this way correctly You will have to rebuild the do the steering box.
i hope this help
Adam
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
For making a 'casual' adjustment for slop, you really don't need to disconnect everything. What you have to be careful of is to make small adjustments at the beginning and only turn the screw until meeting some resistance...then lock it down.
With any adjustment to that box while in-the-car, you need to test the system with every "tweak". That means to get it out on the street or in a parking lot and, while driving slowly [5 mph], turn the wheel lock-to-lock in both directions, feeling for any binding/grabbing of the steering box. The wheel should always return to center on its own at normal speeds, too. If not, the box is too tight.
So, tighten the screw easily and slowly till you feel resistance, then lock it. Try it out. Then make 1/4 turn incremental changes during testing until the box still feels smooth, it doesn't bind anywhere in the steering travel, and most of the slop is gone.
Lastly, if you find that there are 'loose' spots AND "tight" spots in the range of steering, your steering box really does need to be rebuilt. It isn't "dangerous" to use as-is, but plan on getting it done in the near future.
With any adjustment to that box while in-the-car, you need to test the system with every "tweak". That means to get it out on the street or in a parking lot and, while driving slowly [5 mph], turn the wheel lock-to-lock in both directions, feeling for any binding/grabbing of the steering box. The wheel should always return to center on its own at normal speeds, too. If not, the box is too tight.
So, tighten the screw easily and slowly till you feel resistance, then lock it. Try it out. Then make 1/4 turn incremental changes during testing until the box still feels smooth, it doesn't bind anywhere in the steering travel, and most of the slop is gone.
Lastly, if you find that there are 'loose' spots AND "tight" spots in the range of steering, your steering box really does need to be rebuilt. It isn't "dangerous" to use as-is, but plan on getting it done in the near future.
Navigator
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
7T1vette
Yes .. Youare 100% correct ... i just dont use englisch that well then You :-) it is the simple way to adjus it .. just dont forget ... the Power Steering "like" to make 'loose' spots AND "tight" spots in the range of steering hard to feel if You dont have experience with.
First of all .. before You make adjustment .. check if it is oil inside the steering box.
First of all .. before You make adjustment .. check if it is oil inside the steering box.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,379
Likes: 6,390
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Jim Shea, former engineer with Saginaw Gear, has written a detailed and comprehensive paper on in-vehicle steering gear adjustment. No adjustment should be attampted until you've read this factual paper. If you don't have it, you can drop me an e-mail request for it.
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Jim Shea, former engineer with Saginaw Gear, has written a detailed and comprehensive paper on in-vehicle steering gear adjustment. No adjustment should be attampted until you've read this factual paper. If you don't have it, you can drop me an e-mail request for it.
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Rick B.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 339
Likes: 4
From: Northwest CT
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