Borgeson Dodge Box Adjustment????

[cumminbighorn06]

I've got about a 1/4" of play in my steering wheel, and I want to adjust the steering box if anyone knows the procedure?

 

[Bob4x4]

This is the oem way with the gear box removed from the truck.

1. Remove the steering gear from the vehicle (Refer to 19 - STEERING/GEAR - REMOVAL).
2. Mount the gear carefully into a soft-jawed vise.CAUTION: Do not overtighten the vise on the gear case. This may affect the adjustment
   
3. Hold the steering gear upside down over a drain pan and rotate the input shaft back and forth several times lock-to-lock to discharge the fluid from the steering gear
4. Rotate the input shaft to the left stop and then back-off approximately 45 degrees. Using an inch-pound torque wrench on the input shaft, record the peak torque required to slowly and evenly rotate the input shaft clockwise ½ turn (180 degrees) starting from the 45 degree position. This peak torque reading is the preload torque. The preload torque must be within 2 - 10 in-lbs.
5. Rotate the input shaft to its center of travel (approximately 1.5 turns from either stop). Place the torque wrench on the input shaft with the handle in the vertical position. Rotate the torque wrench slowly and evenly ¼ turn (90 degrees) each side of center and record the peak torque measure on or near center. This total on-center torque reading must be 5 - 9 in-lbs higher than the previously measured preload torque without exceeding a total of 17 in-lbs. The value of the total on-center minus the preload torque is defined as the meshload torque
6. If required, adjust the on-center torque by loosening the adjuster screw lock nut and turning the adjuster screw until the total on-center and meshload torque readings fall within the specified values. Turn the adjuster screw clockwise to increase and counterclockwise to decrease the torque reading. While holding the adjuster screw in place, tighten the lock nut to 34 N·m (25 ft. lbs.).
7. Re-check the preload and on-center torque readings.

You can also find many you tube diy videos

 

[Badunit]

Have you looked underneath while someone turns the wheel 1/4" each way? I never had a problem with play in my 2003's steering but the steering on my 2001 had a lot of play from day one due to side-to-side movement of the sector/pitman arm shaft. There is no adjustment for this and the two aftermarket gears I tried were the same way. This was before the aftermarket steering braces were available. I always thought one of them would have fixed it up because they place an additional bearing at the end of the shaft. I can't say for sure though because I got rid of the truck before the braces were available.

Regarding steering gear adjustment: If you are planning on winging it instead of going through the detailed off-the-truck procedure, it is awfully easy to over-tighten it, causing it to bind a little and not return to center. Not that I am against winging it; I am all for it. Just take good notes about the current position (mark it if you can) and be careful to keep track of and take notes on how many 1/4 (or 1/8 turns) you adjusted it from there. It will make it easier to go back to original if necessary.