Manual Steering box

[Rannos]

i just installed a rebuilt steering box in my 64 and it still has a slight amount of play in it. I know the gear set is adjustable but have not adjusted one before. Is there a precedure for setting this adjustment correctly or do I just take up slack till there is no more play? Thanks for any help.

Jay

[awbrown]

If it were mine I would call the rebuilder .. sometimes if the gears were real worn and you adjust it to where there is no play in the middle , the box will drag when you turn it anywhere from the center ,if you get it too tight when adjusting it will feel twitchy driving because it will drag even while driving straight ... I am dealing with mine on this issue right now and I need to find a low milage box because mine still has some play but if I go any tighter on the adjust ment you can feel that the wheel drags and you are always chasing it while you drive .. it just drives like you have a kingpin that is tight....

[padresag]

you have to have some play in it
ron

[Stew64]

I am not an expert by no means but I am told if you decide to adjust the slack you must take the weight of the front end.

[Rannos]

Well my rebuilt box doesn't have much play in it. Maybe and 1/8th of a turn of the steering wheel. My concern is I have put a decent little SBC in it and will be adding NOS very soon. At the track I am likely to carry the front wheels a few feet when I launch on NOS and if there is to much play the chance of the wheels not setting down straight is there, or if it's a little squirrelly on the big end any play slows your ability to reel the truck back in. I don't want to kiss the side rail due to slow response of steering. This truck isn't going to be driven often as it is my 4th vehicle but I don't wanna tighten the box to the point it wears itself out either.

[kSStamp0182]

how are your tie rod ends? my '82's are shot and it was causing a good bit of play in the wheel..

[Rannos]

I am sure they could use replacing but the slack I am talking about is in the steering box it's self. With the front end jacked up i can reach in turn the steering shaft by hand and watch to see when the pitman arm reacts. i have to turn the shaft about 1/8th of a rotation before the pitman arm moves.

[padresag]

1/8 of the turn is right where the slack should be. it should not be any tighter than that. I would concentrate on repairing the rest of the components. when you had the box of did you check the frame in the str box area for cracks esp emanating from the mounting holes
ron

[kSStamp0182]

in that case i would def agree on getting in touch with the rebuilder.

[lmac1210]

1/8 is AWESOME!!! I have like 10 inches of play! Maybe I need a new gear? Yes guys that was retorical!

[padresag]

check the frame for cracks around the steering box and also perhaps a broken mounting bolt. they give the same feeling.
they sometimes crack right around the bolt holes and see hard to see, but you can feel the play quite readily
ron

[maxwoof]

You will always have some play over center. Check it somewhere between center and full right or left. Check at the pitman arm, to elimate play from the linkage. If you tighten the box so there is no play over center, chances are it will be to tight when turning, which can cause things to wear out fast. If the front end is in spec the truck will want to go straight on its own.
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