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Posted by Keith in Washington [24.41.41.111] on Monday, August 23, 2010 at 17:50:16 :
In Reply to: Re: 1964 W200 Steering Gear Adjustment posted by w200tim [99.146.153.230] on Monday, August 23, 2010 at 13:38:27 :
Slop in the steering system can either be in the steering box or the other linkages. Yes it is common to find wear in both the steering box and the other steering components. First check to see how much movement it takes of the steering wheel to get the pitman arm to start moving (you will need a helper to do this). It should be very little. If that is nice and tight look at the rest of the system for where the slop is coming from. If there is slop in the steering box, which is common, adjust it first (see below). Once the steering box it adjusted properly check the rest of the steering system for worn parts. Especially check the ball joints for movement when you turn the steering wheel back and forth a couple of inches (need two people for this).
Adjusting the Steering box:
If you do not understand the following or are not familiar with adjusting the steering box, I would suggest you find a shop with an old crusty guy in it who has experience and cut his teeth doing this. Most shops today will see the slop and tell you to replace everything as they have no clue how do adjust them and they do not want to face any liability if you have have any problems with your steering box in the future (lawyers win).
I would strongly suggest that you get a manual for your truck which will have the adjusting procedure in it. The following is a general method for adjusting manual steering boxes. Check your manual for specific information on you truck.
The adjusting crew and it's locking nut are usually located on the inside face of the steering box facing the engine.
Make sure that the steering wheel is centered and that the wheels are pointed straight forward. This will locate the steering gear it's high point. The center of the gear is always highest as it gets the greatest wear since the truck is assumed to be going straight or slightly turned most of the time.
To adjust, get a box end wrench on the locking nut and a screw driver into the slotted adjustment screw inside the nut. Loosen the nut keeping the adjustment screw from moving with the screw driver. Adjust (tighten in most cases) the adjusting screw 1/2 turn and tighten the locking nut slightly holding the adjusting screw from turning with the screw driver. Keep track of how much you have turned the adjusting screw. Now move the steering wheel back a forth a full turn or so. Do this a couple of times. Then recenter the steering wheel. Now see how much slop is still in the steering box. It is often easiest to have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth slightly increasing its movement until you (who is looking at the pitman arm on the steering box under the fender) see the first movement of the arm. It should be a maximum of 1/2" of movement of the outer edge of the steering wheel. If more than that, loosen the nut on the adjusting screw again and adjust/tighten the adjusting screw 1/2 turn more then tighten the nut and check the amount of movement of the steering wheel it takes to move the pitman arm as above. Keep doing this until you have very little movement of the steering wheel to get the pitman arm to move. WHEN THE STEERING BOX HAS BEEN ADJUSTED, MAKE SURE THAT YOU TIGHTEN THE ADJUSTING SCREW LOCKING NUT. Go for a short test drive checking the slop. Then when you get home center the steering wheel and tires one more time and check the slop in the steering box. If there is still too much or it it is too tight, adjust it again. Keep doing this until you are happy.
Do not adjust the screw all at once. It often will end up being too tight and you will mar the soft steering gear and you will always feel it. Do not ask how I know this!!!!! The same will happen if you do not have the steering box centered when you do an adjustment. Do not ask me how I know this!!!