Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TCLARK · 07-29-2010, 09:47 AM

What's the best way to take the slop out of the steering of a '72 with manual steering? A new steering box? I put a new ( rebuilt ) one on a few years ago, it still had slop in it, rag joint & tie rods were in pretty good shape!

Where can I find a good box ?

Thanx !

68Stepbed · 07-29-2010, 10:35 AM

You might want to check all your ball joints, tie rods, idler and pittman arms. A sway bar might tighten things up as well.

litebulblsc · 07-29-2010, 10:59 AM

If the slop is in the box, I believe you can adjust it to take it out.

rusty baker · 07-29-2010, 11:08 AM

You can loosen the lock nut and tighten the screw on the top of the sterring box to take out some of the slack. I was told it wasn't good for the box, but I did mine 10 years ago and it still works fine. I just wouldn't tighten it too tight.

litebulblsc · 07-29-2010, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty baker

You can loosen the lock nut and tighten the screw on the top of the sterring box to take out some of the slack. I was told it wasn't good for the box, but I did mine 10 years ago and it still works fine. I just wouldn't tighten it too tight.

How would it not be good for the box? It is there for a reason...

prostreetC-10 · 07-29-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

If the slop is in the box, I believe you can adjust it to take it out.

Given the title of this thread.....I could sure have fun with that comment.

rusty baker · 07-29-2010, 12:35 PM

If you get them too tight they can bind suddenly and you can't steer. That would probably not be a good thing.

TCLARK · 07-29-2010, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prostreetc-10

given the title of this thread.....i could sure have fun with that comment.

yeah............ I thought that would get attention ! ! I guess it was a crappy rebuilt gearbox from auto zone !

**70STOVEBOLT** · 07-29-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

If the slop is in the box, I believe you can adjust it to take it out.

LOL, prostreetC10 I wish that were true!!

*Shane* · 07-29-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

If the slop is in the box, I believe you can adjust it to take it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by litebulblsc

How would it not be good for the box? It is there for a reason...

sorry, but that's incorrect.

the screw in & lock nut on the top of the steering box is there in order to adjust out the backlash (on initial set up) that is inherit to any gear-to-gear interface.

it has absolutely NOTHING to do with adjusting "slop" ... slop is the result of worn components.

rusty baker · 07-29-2010, 01:18 PM

Whatever it does, when I tightened mine, it took play out of the wheel.

68Stepbed · 07-29-2010, 11:54 AM

It's not good for them because the gears develop a wear pattern. When you adjust them, they have to get new wear paterns, but sometimes get they out of sync.

tqlspec · 07-29-2010, 12:25 PM

You can install a steering stabilizer. Works pretty good. Basically it's a shock absorber system for steering components.

Bus Ted Knuckle · 07-29-2010, 01:22 PM

you need to find the worn components in your steering and/or suspension. Worn parts cause slop, new parts fix it.

**70STOVEBOLT** · 07-29-2010, 01:32 PM

My truck had a lot of slop, and replacing the ball joints, tie rods, idler arm, and pittman arm made a huge difference. Of course it has 195,000 miles on it so the gearbox has quite a bit of wear so there is still a little slop. But I agree, slop is caused by worn components.

TCLARK · 07-29-2010, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70STOVEBOLT

My truck had a lot of slop, and replacing the ball joints, tie rods, idler arm, and pittman arm made a huge difference. Of course it has 195,000 miles on it so the gearbox has quite a bit of wear so there is still a little slop. But I agree, slop is caused by worn components.

Mine is 95% Gearbox !

*Shane* · 07-29-2010, 03:15 PM

i love it when folks ask for advice and then get defensive when it isn't the advice they wanted to hear

vectorit · 07-29-2010, 04:07 PM

All these people that crank down on the internals of a worn out gear box, are just pulling the pin on a time bomb.

If the gear box is sloppy, be safe for yourself and others on the road with you and buy a replacement.

I am running a manual steering gear in my burb, and have been through a few replacements. My experience has been that, at their best there is some play. I personally have not experienced a manual gear, that feels as snug as a PS set up at the wheel.

Most of the vendors sell those replacements.

TCLARK · 07-29-2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane

i love it when folks ask for advice and then get defensive when it isn't the advice they wanted to hear

Did I miss something ? I said I think the slop is mostly in the gearbox ( tie rods & rag joint are in good shape ) & where to get a good one.

68Stepbed · 07-29-2010, 05:49 PM

OK you keep saying your tie rods and rag joint are good, but what about everything else? Hows your ball joints? What about the idler and pittman arms? What about the spindle bearings? Are they in good shape and greased well?

There are so many factors that come into play with steering "slop" or "play". If you changed the gear box and still have the same symptoms, it may be something else. Gear boxes, especially manual gearboxes, really take ALOT of abuse and a VERY long time to actually wear them out. I really don't think it's the problem.

prostreetC-10 · 07-30-2010, 09:47 AM

Just lightly throwing this out there........

how are you checking your parts for wear? It is easy to incorrectly check parts. I'm assuming your truck is in the air? If you have just 5% wear in each area....5%+5%+5%+5%+ a lot of wear. For me it always seems to be the darn idler that creates the most wear.

07-29-2010, 09:47 AM	#1
TCLARK Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: COOKEVILLE,TN Posts: 147	Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! What's the best way to take the slop out of the steering of a '72 with manual steering? A new steering box? I put a new ( rebuilt ) one on a few years ago, it still had slop in it, rag joint & tie rods were in pretty good shape! Where can I find a good box ? Thanx !

07-29-2010, 10:35 AM	#2
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! You might want to check all your ball joints, tie rods, idler and pittman arms. A sway bar might tighten things up as well. __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system

07-29-2010, 10:59 AM	#3
litebulblsc Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: LaSalle Mi Posts: 520	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! If the slop is in the box, I believe you can adjust it to take it out.

07-29-2010, 11:08 AM	#4
rusty baker '70 C-10 Primer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nevada,missouri Posts: 117	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! You can loosen the lock nut and tighten the screw on the top of the sterring box to take out some of the slack. I was told it wasn't good for the box, but I did mine 10 years ago and it still works fine. I just wouldn't tighten it too tight. __________________ "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein

07-29-2010, 12:35 PM	#7
rusty baker '70 C-10 Primer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nevada,missouri Posts: 117	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! If you get them too tight they can bind suddenly and you can't steer. That would probably not be a good thing. __________________ "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein

07-29-2010, 01:18 PM	#11
rusty baker '70 C-10 Primer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nevada,missouri Posts: 117	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! Whatever it does, when I tightened mine, it took play out of the wheel. __________________ "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein

07-29-2010, 11:54 AM	#12
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! It's not good for them because the gears develop a wear pattern. When you adjust them, they have to get new wear paterns, but sometimes get they out of sync. __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system

07-29-2010, 12:25 PM	#13
tqlspec Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Jackson, TN Posts: 99	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! You can install a steering stabilizer. Works pretty good. Basically it's a shock absorber system for steering components.

07-29-2010, 01:22 PM	#14
Bus Ted Knuckle Son of a gun Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas Posts: 1,636	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! you need to find the worn components in your steering and/or suspension. Worn parts cause slop, new parts fix it. __________________ Bill BEATERS ARE NEATER

07-29-2010, 01:32 PM	#15
70STOVEBOLT Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Winona Lake, IN Posts: 6,367	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! My truck had a lot of slop, and replacing the ball joints, tie rods, idler arm, and pittman arm made a huge difference. Of course it has 195,000 miles on it so the gearbox has quite a bit of wear so there is still a little slop. But I agree, slop is caused by worn components. __________________ 70 C/10 SWB 402/TH400/3.73 "The Needy Beast" 200,000 Mile Club Disc Brake Club Owner installed options: Front Sway Bar Power Steering Power Brakes Cigar Lighter Courtesy Lights Deluxe Side Markers Wiper Delay Sliding Rear Window Power Windows Power Locks Sniper EFI 2015 Silverado 1500 LS 4.3/6L80/3.23 lowered 2" front & rear

07-29-2010, 03:15 PM	#17
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! i love it when folks ask for advice and then get defensive when it isn't the advice they wanted to hear

07-29-2010, 04:07 PM	#18
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! All these people that crank down on the internals of a worn out gear box, are just pulling the pin on a time bomb. If the gear box is sloppy, be safe for yourself and others on the road with you and buy a replacement. I am running a manual steering gear in my burb, and have been through a few replacements. My experience has been that, at their best there is some play. I personally have not experienced a manual gear, that feels as snug as a PS set up at the wheel. Most of the vendors sell those replacements. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU Last edited by vectorit; 07-29-2010 at 04:36 PM.

07-29-2010, 05:49 PM	#20
68Stepbed Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 10-Uh-See Posts: 5,609	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! OK you keep saying your tie rods and rag joint are good, but what about everything else? Hows your ball joints? What about the idler and pittman arms? What about the spindle bearings? Are they in good shape and greased well? There are so many factors that come into play with steering "slop" or "play". If you changed the gear box and still have the same symptoms, it may be something else. Gear boxes, especially manual gearboxes, really take ALOT of abuse and a VERY long time to actually wear them out. I really don't think it's the problem. __________________ Matt 68 C10 stepside, LS1/700R4, TCI Engineering suspension system

07-30-2010, 09:47 AM	#21
prostreetC-10 My Carbon Footprint Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,527	Re: Sloppy seconds in Tennessee ! Just lightly throwing this out there........ how are you checking your parts for wear? It is easy to incorrectly check parts. I'm assuming your truck is in the air? If you have just 5% wear in each area....5%+5%+5%+5%+ a lot of wear. For me it always seems to be the darn idler that creates the most wear. __________________ A quick "pedalfest" *Still getting loose (carb test)* 496 Initial fire up video!



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