If the gear box is tightened too much, the steering wheel will not return when turned and will have to be forced back to straight ahead. If the steering wheel is turned all the way both ways several times, it will loosen up; when it no longer loosens up, it is too tight.
What order do you adjust a power steering box?
Steering Gear Adjustments
Two adjustments should be checked and set to specifications if necessary. The first adjustment is the input shaft/worm gear thrust bearing preload. The term input shaft and worm shaft indicate the same part, just different names. The second adjustment is the sector lash adjustment.
Looseness in the steering box can cause handling issues as the wheels will drift left to right as you make steering corrections. If this is a used steering box it may need to be adjusted.
How do I adjust the play on my steering box? – Related Questions
How do you adjust a Ford steering box?
Can a steering box be adjusted?
The bearings should be adjusted to get a few inch-pounds of drag on the worm gear (steering wheel), but you can adjust it by tightening up to remove the play, then go just a smidgen tighter..and tigthen the locknut securely. Then, adjust the gear mesh, which is a slotted screw with a 5/8″ hex locknut.
How much play should be in a steering box?
Checking for wear
There is always more play in a steering-box system than in a rack-and-pinion system. Check for free play roughly by turning the steering wheel with the car stationary. You should not be able to turn it more than about 75mm, measured at the wheel rim, before the road wheels begin to turn.
What causes steering to feel loose?
Causes of loose steering
The most common reasons for free play in the steering are looseness in the steering gear itself or looseness in one or more of the steering linkage sockets. Steering box or rack and pinion that is connected to the steering wheel by the steering column.
How do I fix my steering slop?
Tighten steering gear mounting bolts/replace mounting bushes. Loose wheel bearings. Adjust or replace bearings. Worn idler arm or pitman arm (where fitted).
Start by jacking the car up and centering the steering wheel.
Next, find the steering box.
Fit your 5/8″ wrench on the nut and crack it loose.
Loosen the nut a few turns to allow the adjusting screw to be tightened.
Now slip your 3/16″ Allen into the adjusting screw and tighten it until snug.
How do I know if my steering gear box is bad?
Common signs include a very tight steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, grinding noises when steering, and a burning oil smell.
How do I adjust my steering shaft?
What is a sector shaft on steering box?
Abstract. The sector shaft is a critical component of an automotive power assisted recirculating ball steering gear and one that is vulnerable to fracture due to loads transmitted through the steering linkage under certain conditions.
What are the 2 types of steering boxes?
There are two basic types of steering control systems; those that have a pitman arm and a steering box, and those that use rack and pinion steering.
What causes the sector shaft to twist?
The teeth on the outside of the Rack Block also move up and down in the box and push or pull on the teeth of the Sector Shaft, causing it to rotate. The rotation of the Sector Shaft causes the Pitman Arm to move left and right in the car, moving the steering linkage with it.
What oil do you use in a steering box?
Today an 80 or 90 weight gear oil is recommended. It, too, is going to leak out all over the garage floor, but more slowly than a 30 weight engine oil. Ideally the best lubricant for a steering box is a special grease.
Do not use a liquid lubricant (such as 90w axle fluid) in a steering box. Liquid lubricants will settle in the box and not lubricate the upper portions of the gears. It will also seep through the bearings and leak out the bottom seal. Do not use wheel bearing grease inside the box.
Does a steering box need oil?
The steering box is filled with oil, and does not usually need regular topping up.
How do you grease a manual steering box?
What lube goes in a manual steering box?
Our advice–Use LITHIUM GREASE. Lithium grease has all of the properties of mixing 90WT oil with a quality chassis grease without the hassle of mixing.