Sloppy Steering Help

[c130puke]

I have quite a bit of slop in my steering, even while sitting still. If I raise the hood and grab the 'bar' going from the steering wheel to the front wheels, the bar moves back and forth 2 - 3 clock positions. any suggestions?

 

[thesnake]

Replace the rag joint.<br><br>snake

 

[YOOPER67]

check yer u joint

 

[edjolly]

If you have manual steering and the rag joint is good, your problem may be in the box. Lucky for you, there is some adjustment in the worm gear.<br>Look on top of the box and you'll see a screw (maybe hex or slotted) with a lock nut. Loosen the locknut and tighten the screw. This will take out a limited amount of slop.<br><br>Ed<br><br>Oh, don't forget to retighten the locknut!<br>

 

[c130puke]

[quote author=edjolly link=board=5;threadid=12480;start=0#93165 date=1040369037]
If you have manual steering and the rag joint is good, your problem may be in the box. Lucky for you, there is some adjustment in the worm gear.
Look on top of the box and you'll see a screw (maybe hex or slotted) with a lock nut. Loosen the locknut and tighten the screw. This will take out a limited amount of slop.

Ed



Oh, don't forget to retighten the locknut!

[/quote]

thanks for the thorough answer. in addition to being a 'newbie', I am also not an experienced, master mechanic. so I really appreciate the details. thanks again

 

[Benzo]

When adjusting the steering box, just don't loosen the lock nut and tighten down. There is a procedure you need to follow or you can break some parts in the box. Raise the front wheels off the ground, turn the steering wheel to the far left. Then loosen the lock nut, screw down the adjusting screw, tighten lock nut. If you tighten the adjusting screw with the wheels straight forward, you may also bind up the steering box. The gears in the box are worm gears which have an hour glass shape. Make sure you tighten the box with the steering turned all the way left. Then you will be fine if the box is loose and that's your problem. Don't tighten the screw too tight. Snug should be fine.

 

[Hnrys69]

Your box is toast, time to get PS, or get a new PS box.

 

[BwoncoHowie]

That locknut and screw is for worm gear preload only and is used to set the drag resistance. The spanner and crown nut where the column shaft goes in may be loose. Also, you may want to check your track bar bushings, when they go bad, this can also make your steering feel sloppy.

BH

 

[leaded1825]

Also check your tie rod ends and the drag link comming down from the pitman arm. Play or worn out ends can give you sloppy steering also.PS is the way to go if it needs to be replaced.<br>My0.02$