I was inspecting my front linkage and found that there is some slop in the steering box (About 1/10 -1/16 inch side to side play in the shaft where the pitman arm attaches). All the rest were pretty tight except the centerlink end at the pitman arm.

I was talking to a tech from Harry's (http://www.steeringgearrebuilders.com/) here in MI, and he said some play in the shaft in normal.

I also have noise transferring thru the box to the frame out to the bumper on that end (yes, real strange) when I shimmy the steering wheel.

60K miles, steering is somewhat sloppy over bumps (clunks thru the column), and I get some wheel shimmy when I get a little air under them at 50-70 mph.

My questions are:

Is this normal slop for a 60K steering box?
An if so, what is causing the sloppy/shimmy steering?
Also, would a new gear box possibly fix the symptoms?

I'm really dumb about these and just looking for any insight you guys might have smile.gif

Thanks,

You should have very little noticeable slop between the pitman shaft and the gear housing. From what you are describing, I think a new box or a rebuild of your current box is definately in order.

Although, 60,000 miles is really not all that much useage. You don't indicate how old the car is. 35 years and 60,000 miles can still result in a lot external as well as internal corrosion which could affect gear performance as well.

How is your flexible coupling? Heat and age can take its toll on the rubber coupling disc.

Sorry Jim, the car's in my sig graemlins/clonk.gif

The coupling (rag joint?) seems to be in good shape, no visual disintegration/cracking of the rubber anywhere on the car. The car was garaged it's entire life. Southern lady's grocery getter first 30K, and Michigan's pothole pavement the last 30K.

When I think about it, it seems that it has always been a tad sloppy over the bumps. I never really inspected it until now (always figured is was just wheel bearings or tie rod ends :rolleyes: ), but if it was loose, my abuse didn't help it any ;)

Some guys are suggesting an adjustment may take the side to side play out of the pitman arm shaft. If so, I'm not sure how long it's good for or if that's just for the steering wheel play.

Dummy me went and got linkage parts, only to find the box may be bad :rolleyes: So now I don't know weather to forgo the linkage and just get a new box, or not eat for a couple weeks and replace the whole kitten caboodle, or just the box :confused: .

Any insight on how these things go bad, or adjustments that can be made, or even if the pump can effect the box, would be greatly appreciated.

smile.gif

I agree with Jim, replace the gear or have it rebuilt. graemlins/thumbsup.gif You probably have too much play in your sector shaft. DO NOT ADJUST THE GEAR. This will probably cause you more problems later. The pump has nothing to do with the problems that you are describing. Be sure to get your gear from a reputable company and be wary of the "NEW" gear that requires a core return. Good Luck

I just got done adjusting it, with the instruction of another member, and it seems to have tighten it up to where the noise is gone and the play at the pitman arm is hardly felt. Haven't road tested it yet, but it seems to have worked.

geister2, I'm curious to your defintion of "more problems later on". Am I going to effect other components? I know I probably didn't "fix" it, but if I can get another season or two out of it, I'll be happy.

And thanks for the tip on the so-called NEW. I always wondered what they want with a core if you're getting a NEW one :confused:

As it stands now, I'm a pretty happy camper if this rides like I think it will. But I'm always looking to increase my knowledge and diversity of opinions :D

The adjuster nut is used to adjust the over center preload and nothing else (over center preload is a bench - torque spec. which should never need adjusting under normal circumstances and shold not be adjusted on the vahicle). If you adjust the nut to get the "play" out of your sector shaft, basically all you have done is pushed your sector shaft farther into your gear box making the teeth of sector shaft mesh tighter with the teeth of the piston. Yes it will feel tighter, but it will be too tight and cause wear. If driven this way you will wear out these teeth and possibly your housing, thus making your gear not rebuildable. smile.gif

giester2, I beg to differ with you, I have adjusted many steering boxes while still attached to vehicles, if the adjuster screw is flush with the nut, the box is shot, but if there is some screw above the nut, adjustment is just fine and has almost always taken care of the free play in the box for me. I know for a fact that front end mechanics adjust the steering box on vehicles while they have them on the front end machine.

How long will the play be gone? When it comes back do you adjust it again? Just take care of the problem now and not worry about it anymore smile.gif

I see giester's point, does sound like it will wear aggressivly. But isn't wear acceptable at this point, especially if you were all ready to get a new/rebuilt one anyways.

If you can get more miles out of the original part through adjusting it, I say run it till it spews pieces. Now if that original part was a rare part, then it's a whole different story and giester's concerns would be valid. You wouldn't want to drive on it too long where you just trashed the original for the sake of a few more miles.

Definately something to think about ;)

Originally posted by giester2:
How long will the play be gone? When it comes back do you adjust it again? Just take care of the problem now and not worry about it anymore smile.gif It doesn't matter when you work at a fleet, they want the vehicle back in operation, RIGHT NOW. smile.gif