Rebuilding a stock steering box

[dubie]

I've got to remove my steering box tonight to rebuild it. The pitman arm bushing is sloppy and causing the box to leak. Can anyone lend some advice on rebuilding these? I've never opened on e up before.

[dwcsr]

Its fairly simple but when you unscrew the center clip that holds the two ball bearing channels do it over a pan of some sort. The bearings will go everywhere if your not careful.

If your pitman is worn you will have to replace it. there are some on ebay from time to time.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Manual or power?

[dubie]

manual

[Wrenchbender Ret]

Its pretty basic mechanical work. You can replace the bushing for the sector shaft. Check the ball bearings on the worm shaft. If the teeth on the gears are badly worn you will have to replace them. I don't take the ball nut apart like DW says unless it rolls rough. Adjust the worm bearings till yoi get a slight drag. Adjust the sector with it on center till it has a slight heavy drag.

[dsraven]

dissassemble, clean, check everything for wear, especially the gears, then decide what you will do. if the gears are worn then look for a replacement. the gears wear from lack of maintenance over the years and then after you have spent money you will find you just can't get it right because to adjust properly the gears are out of their previous wear zone. it will be sloppy, sloppy, sloppy, then suddenly tight. a god time to upgrade to power steering though.

[dubie]

we removed the box and took it apart. Everything looks good as far as the gears go. The sector shaft bushing was worn which I assume is what caused the seal to fail and leak oil. We hope to have it all back together tonight so we can hang it and paint everything before it goes back in the truck

[dubie]

i've been driving the truck a bit but noticed there is some play from side to side in the steering wheel. Is there any adjustment that can be made to tighten that up?

[OrrieG]

On the top of the box is a nut with a threaded flat blade screw in the middle. Jack up the front so both wheels are off the ground. Lossen the nut just enough so the screw will turn. Turn the screw (can't remember the direction) as someone slowly moves the steering wheel side to side, it should get tighter. At some point you will feel some resistance, back off a bit and tighten the big nut while holding the screw in place. While it is up check for loose pitman arm and tie rod ends that might also be the cause.

[dubie]

Everything else is good and tight, it's all brand new. I just noticed that it's got a bit of play in the side steering.
This nut is the one that is on the fornt end of the box right? The on that the lower bearing rides in?

[mongocanfly]

The nut and adjustment screw that orrieg is talking about will look like this..this is a little later model but will look the same...