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Steering Box question

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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 09:26 PM
  #1  
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BC66
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From: beverly ma,
Default Steering Box question

Since at least a couple of you guys recently rblt your steering boxes I figured I'd run this by you. I had mine done last spring and finally put it on last week .Today when instaling the pitman arm I noticed that it seems to bind in the middle . There is no steering colum attached yet or anything else so it is in the box for sure. I hav'nt had a chance to reaserch it in the manual yet but will go there next. Any ideas?
Thanks, Bruce :confused:
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Old Feb 3, 2002 | 01:55 AM
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Default Re: Steering Box question (Patrick Tighe)

The gears are designed to have a bit less lash at the "high point" dead center between the stops, so the steering is tight on center.

If you set up the worm bearing preload and total preload IAW the shop manual overhaul specifications, you're okay. If not, you should do it properly before you install the steering gear in the car.

Duke
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Old Feb 3, 2002 | 08:32 PM
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BC66
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From: beverly ma,
Default Re: Steering Box question (SWCDuke)

Thanks for The Reply Guys
That explained it perfectly. But Patrick on the first part about the tapered shaft how do you get the arm to go all the way on? I socked mine on with my 1/2 impact gun and it stopped about 1/2 way on . My gun is a brand X ,so maybe with a better one I might get it. I don't really want pipe and breaker bar routine as I am nervous about destroying my box.
Thanks again for the help. Bruce :smash:
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Old Feb 3, 2002 | 10:42 PM
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From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Default Re: Steering Box question (Patrick Tighe)

Bruce, I agree with Patrick about not pounding on the gear.

But, something smells in Denmark. My service manual says the pitman shaft nut torque is supposed to be 140 IN-LBS. That just under 12 ft-lbs...next to nothing. If that is the correct torque number, I suspect something is out of whack. Did you mark the position of the pitman arm before you removed it?
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Old Feb 4, 2002 | 10:26 AM
  #5  
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Default Re: Steering Box question (Chuck Sangerhausen)

Thanks and yes I marked it , so its in the exact same place. I did look up the torque specs and they were 185 ftlbs. My wrench does'nt go that high. So I'm going to give it one last pull a 1/2 drive breaker bar with a pipe on the handle.
Also as soon as the car is drivable I'm going to bring it to a local guy that is top notch with front ends to check it over and fine tune the alignment.
Thanks Again , Bruce
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Old Feb 4, 2002 | 11:09 AM
  #6  
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From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
Default Re: Steering Box question (BC66)

Bruce, further checking shows that 140 in-lb is either a misprint or my misunderstanding of what the pitman shaft nut represents. My apologies.

The overhaul manual shows "pitman arm to sector shaft nut" torques for various steering gears from 90 ft-lbs to 200 ft-lbs depending on whether its a passenger car or large truck. Good luck.
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Old Feb 4, 2002 | 05:31 PM
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Default Re: Steering Box question (Chuck Sangerhausen)

The pitman arm won't go "all the way on"; the tapered splines in both parts are designed so that at the specified torque, you should have two or three threads showing past the end of the nut. You probably noticed that it only goes on one way - there's a "blind spline" in each part that have to be aligned or the parts will "jam" and won't pull up to design position.
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