Loose steering, floating

[Spaz]

My truck is new to me an im still learning it. Now my question is, as im driving, and if i have to steer it takes at least 1/5-1/4 of a turn before the truck responds. It has a large what i can refer to as a floating area f its steering. The guy i bought it from said its the pitman arm. Is it the arm or is it the gearbox? Just curious. Thanx
Posted via Mobile Device

[yuccales]

That sounds like way to much free play to just be the pitman arm. If you look through the fender well and turn your steering wheel shaft back & forth, you can get an idea how much slop you have in your steering box.

[Spaz]

Ok thanx. Is there a wAy to adjust the steering box or wil it need to be replaced?
Posted via Mobile Device

[68gmsee]

Most gear boxes -manual or power- have some adjustment you can tighten but be careful because if you have to adjust a lot of play it's usually worn enough to be dangerous.

First thing I do is to have someone (wife in my case) wiggle the steering wheel while I view the shaft going into the gearbox.

If it looks like there isn't any loose movent there I look under the front end and see if I can detect any movement there.

Next is to grab the tie rod ends and rotate them. If they move easily, they're worn.

Last, if I can't determine where the slack is, I bite the bullet and take it to a front end shop for a thorough exam. They have the expertise and special tools to check for wear.

Regardless of what action you take, I'd be very careful about driving it. Life is too short as it is...

[Spaz]

Awesome. Thanx for the info. Imma look at it myself first to see and leant the steering and suspension. Not much i know about it. But ill probably take itto a shop anyways. Thanx alot man.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hayhauler71]

stearing box or the rag joint could be shot

[Spaz]

Thanx hay!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Lee H]

If the system is old or has not been maintained well there is probably wear in all the components. Have someone turn the wheel just a little as you watch all the joints. Any movement before the next joint moves is suspect. Just a small amount of looseness in all the joints adds up to a lot at the wheel.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Spaz]

Thanx lee. Will do pimpin'
Posted via Mobile Device

[slikside]

subscribed

[Sammy]

Do not take for granted the power steering box isn't worn out. I was very lucky and had one fail driving into a parking spot. I over looked the box since it was working and appeared in fine shape. When they fail they can lock up. No advance warning. At 5 MPH in my case. No longer will I have confidence in something designed to last 20 years that I cannot see the internals. Especially something that critical in maintaining control of a truck.

[xman]

I had the same problem on my 72 burb it turned out to be the pitman arm replaced it and all is good now
It was so bad that it actually came apart when I took it out

[Spaz]

Is the pitman arm mounted up with a bushing of some sort or something??
Posted via Mobile Device

[xman]

the pitman arm is mounted to the steering gear box with a nut/lock washer and the it is connected to the center link via ball joint where you get all the play from when that joint wears out like mine did
If you need to replace the pitman arm make sure you have pitman puller to break loose from gear box and pickle fork to break loose from the center link
I just rented the pitman arm puller from local parts store I had a pickle fork already

[Spaz]

Thanx. Woulda never thought of the puller lol
Posted via Mobile Device

[70STOVEBOLT]

I would check the ball joints as well. I had a lot of play in the steering like you are describing and I replaced the pittman arm, idler arm, and tie rod adjusting sleeves and I still had quite a bit of play until I replaced the ball joints. Now it has very little play.

[57larry]

you could rebuild the complete front end

[shok]

Found this thread while searching instead of just starting a new thread. On my 66 there is also a lot of play and I confirmed the play is in the box itself. Whats the procedure to adjust? Just turn in a screw until some resistance is felt?

[Lee H]

You should start a new thread. The screw your talking about is really not an adjustment screw to account for wear. It's really a preload screw. Some folks use it for an adjustment and most experts say not to turn it more th an 1/4 turn to take out the slack. if 1/4 turn does not help it's time for a swap.
Posted via Mobile Device

[PanelDeland]

I've also found that adjusting the preload screw will cause the box to wear quicker.It basically puts more preload on the internals cause more friction,so if you adjust it make sure to start saving pennies fr a new box.When the one I adjusted went it was a parking speed bump of a curb.I went from a couple inches of play to over half a rotation of the steering wheel in a couple of yards.

[shok]

Yeh I'm thinking I will leave it alone, I'm only driving it very locally and as soon as I get some other bills out of the way I'll just get a rebuilt one, or if I locate a kit and instructions rebuild it myself.
Posted via Mobile Device

[TheSeeker]

This is something I have been wondering about as well, I have a manual gearbox and would like to know how difficult it is to rebuild one. If it is even cost effective to try over buying a new/rebuilt one. I need to pull the front end apart and rebuild it anyway, but the box is the only puzzling part for me right now.

[sboris]

Originally Posted by TheSeeker

This is something I have been wondering about as well, I have a manual gearbox and would like to know how difficult it is to rebuild one. If it is even cost effective to try over buying a new/rebuilt one. I need to pull the front end apart and rebuild it anyway, but the box is the only puzzling part for me right now.

Seen this a while back..

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...ild/index.html
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device