power steering head seal replacement now has slack.

[Dustytrix]

My power steering box was leaking , so I decided to replace all the seals. Got air out once I put it back on the truck. Everything seamed to be working great. I backed it back into shop and left it for a month. Now it has 1/4 turn of slack, I checked fluid, its full. Turned the set screw 1/4 turn on steering box , no change. All I did was replace seals, it didn't have slack before I replaced seals. Any ideas what I did wrong?

[franken]

Sorry, I don't know what a "power steering head seal" is (nor does the internet) but I'd ask what exactly was taken apart to replace it?

[Dustytrix]

Originally Posted by franken

Sorry, I don't know what a "power steering head seal" is (nor does the internet) but I'd ask what exactly was taken apart to replace it?

Power steering head / box, I replaced all the seals.

[v30crewcab]

did you unscrew the input seal area at all? thats what sets the internal backlash on the piston assembly. the top nut only sets the lash between the pinion and piston teeth.
theres a large metal nut on the outside of the input shaft area, you can loosen it, and turn the internal part tight and back off 1/4" and lock it back in place and that will take up the slack.

[Dustytrix]

Thanks V30, yes I did unscrew input nut, Thats where it was leaking. I called myself counting the threads as I disassembled, I will take your advice and try to tighten it up some. It seems like that will do what I need.

[Dustytrix]

Originally Posted by v30crewcab

did you unscrew the input seal area at all? thats what sets the internal backlash on the piston assembly. the top nut only sets the lash between the pinion and piston teeth.
theres a large metal nut on the outside of the input shaft area, you can loosen it, and turn the internal part tight and back off 1/4" and lock it back in place and that will take up the slack.

Thanks for the info V30, I followed your instructions and it worked great. No more slack, exactly what I wanted !

[v30crewcab]

nice!