Play in steering wheel

[Prostock]

My 94 has a lot of play in the steering wheel.



All of the front end parts are tight, and the shaft to the box seems ok.



Would it help to adjust the box at the nut on the top? How can I tell if the box is bad?



I've done some searches and wasn't able to find an answer.



This is a 2wd truck if that makes any difference.

 

[SLang]

Tighten your box first. Check out the procedure here.

 

[Prostock]

Can this be done without the spanner wrench? Can some other tool be used in it's place?



This looks much more involved than I imagined.

 

[SLang]

I have not done the dodge yet, but I've done several Chevy's. Truely what Dave Fritz shows is the correct way to do it. But I have adjusted them several time without taking it off the truck. In "Fig 10" notice the set screw with a nut on it. This is all that really needs adjusting.



1) Hold the set screw and loosen the nut.

2) Turn the set screw in a 1/4 turn and retighten the nut.

3) Test drive.

4) Repeat until it feel right.



Do not over tighten. It will break the steering gears. Take it slow and drive a day or so between adjustments. That way the 10 minute impulse run is not affecting your brian. Easy as that. Also if you have slop in the drag arm and you over tighten the truck will wonder. At least that's what happened to me. Good luck.

 

[Deezul1]

Make sure steering wheel and tires are straight ahead as there is a centering device that will cause trouble if adjustment is done with wheels turned