Power steering free play - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

toddtheodd · 09-03-2004, 10:41 PM

How do I get rid of the free play in the steering wheel? I have power steering and about 1 1/2 inches of freeplay in my steering. It is quite annoying on either a windy day or an uneven road.
I'm afraid that I'm going to get pulled over for drunk driving just because the road is $h*t and my steering sucks.
Todd

Tx Firefighter · 09-03-2004, 11:15 PM

Adjust the steering box. The adjuster is on top of the box.

Loosen the nut, tighten the screw, and retighten the nut.

toddtheodd · 09-04-2004, 06:55 AM

You wouldn't happen to have a pic of the correct nut would you? Isn't there 2 nuts on the top?

MOTHERTRUCKERS · 09-04-2004, 07:50 AM

The nut is the only one with a slotted stud for a screwdriver. Loosen the nut and screw the stud clockwise a quarter turn at a time until the slop is gone, be careful if you go to far it will damage the worm and sector.

toddtheodd · 09-04-2004, 08:19 AM

That doesn't sound so hard, which means that after I do that my hood will fly off and the truck will burst into flames.

I will try not to kill the worm.
Todd

Tx Firefighter · 09-04-2004, 08:36 AM

Be a lttle careful. I have a 3 inch scar on my hand where I was trying to loosen that nut with a wrench when it slipped off and my hand hit the fan blade. It cost me better than a dozen stitches and the pisser is that I had to drive the truck to the emergency room with a loose steering box because I didn't get it adjusted.

toddtheodd · 09-04-2004, 08:45 AM

Luckily I have electric fans so that shouldn't be the problem that I WILL have. I'll probably end up messing up the worm. I'll be extra careful though.

toddtheodd · 09-04-2004, 09:06 AM

OK, I went out to take a peak at it (I'm at work) and it looks more like a bolt with an allen wrench hole in it. Is that the one? Or is there a "screw" down inside of that "hexagonal" hole?

Tx Firefighter · 09-04-2004, 09:24 AM

That should be it.

Don't sweat messing it up too much. What Mothertruckers was saying is that if you get it too tight and drive it around awhile, it will damage the gear. Basically, just adjust it a little at a time until you get the play dialed out of it. Once you get it adjusted pretty close, lock it down and stop. Don't get greedy and try to take all of the slack out of it.

When you get done and go drive it, if you have a weird sensation through the wheel when steering directly off of center, loosen it a little till it goes away.

Rusty Rider · 09-04-2004, 03:42 PM

you found it . same as mine. i did this last week as well.

09-03-2004, 10:41 PM	#1
toddtheodd The oddest Todd around Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,418	Power steering free play How do I get rid of the free play in the steering wheel? I have power steering and about 1 1/2 inches of freeplay in my steering. It is quite annoying on either a windy day or an uneven road. I'm afraid that I'm going to get pulled over for drunk driving just because the road is $h*t and my steering sucks. Todd

09-03-2004, 11:15 PM	#2
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Adjust the steering box. The adjuster is on top of the box. Loosen the nut, tighten the screw, and retighten the nut. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

09-04-2004, 07:50 AM	#4
MOTHERTRUCKERS Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: BRADENTON FLA Posts: 3,269	The nut is the only one with a slotted stud for a screwdriver. Loosen the nut and screw the stud clockwise a quarter turn at a time until the slop is gone, be careful if you go to far it will damage the worm and sector. __________________ Rest in Peace Ed. Thanks for all the good times.

09-04-2004, 08:36 AM	#6
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Be a lttle careful. I have a 3 inch scar on my hand where I was trying to loosen that nut with a wrench when it slipped off and my hand hit the fan blade. It cost me better than a dozen stitches and the pisser is that I had to drive the truck to the emergency room with a loose steering box because I didn't get it adjusted. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

09-04-2004, 09:24 AM	#9
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	That should be it. Don't sweat messing it up too much. What Mothertruckers was saying is that if you get it too tight and drive it around awhile, it will damage the gear. Basically, just adjust it a little at a time until you get the play dialed out of it. Once you get it adjusted pretty close, lock it down and stop. Don't get greedy and try to take all of the slack out of it. When you get done and go drive it, if you have a weird sensation through the wheel when steering directly off of center, loosen it a little till it goes away. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

09-04-2004, 06:55 AM	#3
toddtheodd The oddest Todd around Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,418	You wouldn't happen to have a pic of the correct nut would you? Isn't there 2 nuts on the top?

09-04-2004, 08:19 AM	#5
toddtheodd The oddest Todd around Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,418	That doesn't sound so hard, which means that after I do that my hood will fly off and the truck will burst into flames. I will try not to kill the worm. Todd

09-04-2004, 08:45 AM	#7
toddtheodd The oddest Todd around Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,418	Luckily I have electric fans so that shouldn't be the problem that I WILL have. I'll probably end up messing up the worm. I'll be extra careful though.

09-04-2004, 09:06 AM	#8
toddtheodd The oddest Todd around Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,418	OK, I went out to take a peak at it (I'm at work) and it looks more like a bolt with an allen wrench hole in it. Is that the one? Or is there a "screw" down inside of that "hexagonal" hole?

09-04-2004, 03:42 PM	#10
Rusty Rider Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Martinsburg, W.V. Posts: 85	you found it . same as mine. i did this last week as well. __________________ 72 long fleet (WIP) 00 Astro every day

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