Steering lash adjustment
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Steering lash adjustment
As I understand it there are two adjustments I can make on my steering sector. The screw on the bottom first (after you back out the top one about 3 turns) and then the one on the top. The Haynes manual gives a lengthy decription involving pulling the pitman arm, disconnecting the steering shaft, and using a torque wrench that is much more sensitive than mine. On my old truck the adjustment is to simply bottom out the screw and back it off about 1/4 or 1/2 turn. Would something like this work on these two adjusters or 
? Thanks!
? Thanks!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Hamilton, ON, Canada
If you don't want to go by the book method, the specified preload is obtained roughly by just snugging up the adjusting nut & screw until light resistance is felt. That should put you pretty close.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Originally Posted by jdmick
As I understand it there are two adjustments I can make on my steering sector.
I thought Jim Shea had an article on how to make the adjustment but can't find it.
EDIT: Yep, its all there on corvettefaq.com I guess the second adjustment is the worm gear adjustment on the steering column side. This one i have never messed with.
Last edited by turtlevette; Nov 7, 2004 at 11:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
I can't find the bottom one either! The manual talks about one for the "early models" for which they show a box that looks like mine on the top. It says "the worm bearing adjuster is the large lock nut and hex located at the bottom of the steering box". It doesn't make mention of this for the "later models" so I'm not sure when the cutoff is. For the later models it talks about adjusting the "thrust bearing preload" first and then the "over center preload". So it would seem that either gearbox should have two adjustments 
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
This paper covers both adjustments. If you are carefull, you can make the adjustments with the gear still in the car.
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/GearAd...-Rev21FE04.doc
http://www.corvettefaq.com/c3/GearAd...-Rev21FE04.doc
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
I found the article by Jim Shea too. Looks like exactly what I needed. Who would guess that big nut around the steering column is an adjustment. Sounds like he really knows his steering! Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
The big nut is a lock nut the large cast hex is tightened the thin big nut is the lock. It is adjusted like a front wheel bearing. If the bearings or races are worn would be the only time an adjustment is needed.
