Steering Box Gear Backlash?

[KOG]

OK, here you go again.

You don't set it by backlash. You set it by torque. Take the gear out of the truck (or remove steering shaft and disconnect pitman arm from drag link). Loosen the output shaft adjustment screw a turn or two. Remove input shaft lock nut. Tighten adjuster plug on input shaft until it bottoms the bearings (20 ft lbs tightness). Mark the gear housing next to one of the spanner wrench holes in the adjuster plug. Make a second mark . 050" from your first mark and move spanner hole back (loosen) to that mark. Tighten lock nut on adjust making certina that adjuster doesn't move. Center the gear (half way between left and right lock positions). Attach an inch lb torque wrench to the input shaft and rotate shaft 45 degrees either side of center. Record highest torque reading in that range. Turn output shaft adjuster in until the torque reading increases by 6 to 10 in lbs over center from the previous reading. Tighten lock nut to 20 ft lbs.

That's it. That's all there is to it and there's no other way to really get it right.

 

[Greenleaf]

Now we are cooking. Thank you.

 

[KOG]

Oh yeah, the cheap trick way to adapt your torque wrench to the input shaft without the high dollar special tools. Pick a socket the same OD as the input shaft. Use a piece of rubber tubing that will slip over both the socket and the input shaft. Apply hose clamps to both ends of hose. Voila, the special tool for about zero $. You do need something like a 50 or 100 inlb wrench though and it must be a beam type not a click type.

 

[Greenleaf]

Yes. beam. I have one. Like when you adjust the preload of a set of pinion bearings. You have to turn the pinion shaft and read the beam at the same time.



Thank-you.

 

[91W350]

My 93 started acting up today. It feels like there may be some foreign object in one of the valves in the box. It wants to wander left and steering gently right sometimes does not correct it, then it makes a big correction.



Everything seems tight, I parked it and had my son work the wheel back and forth. I cannot see anything flexing. The frame is not cracked either and the box bolts are tight. I never have added fluid to it.



Sometimes it will do it multiple times in one block, then not again for a few miles. Any ideas? Could the pressure hose be deteriorating and polluting my fluid? No leaks, yet... ... Thanks, Glen

 

[JLEONARD]

Could the pressure hose be deteriorating and polluting my fluid

You could take a sample of the fluid from the resevoir and see what it looks like.

 

[Moab4x4]

I think the Dodge ones are internally identical to Chevy. May have different splines on input and output shafts.

Kelvin at PSC tells me that the internals are standard, but the Dodge input shaft is different and can be a little hard to get so he wanted my core to rebuild.



Should be here tomorrow with the hydroboost ram. Oo. Oo.



Oh Yeah, I am going to have to find another way workout all those shoulder muscles after I finish this. Hmmmm

Ken

 

[DValentine]

Glen, my truck has developed the same mannerisms. I can't figure it out. I don't feel any binding, but it acts like something holds and then releases... . as you described. I don't have any ideas.

Dave

 

[91W350]

I found my left front spring hanger has an oblong hole where the bolt goes through, but that is not the cause of my problem. I think I will replace all of the hoses and try to get in contact with DPuckett's friends and get my box rebuilt. Hopefully I can get away with removing my pump and flushing it. I really think the problem is in the box itself. It sure gets squirrely at times. It almost feels like it decides to turn gently into the left lane. It always sticks to the left. A gentle steer to the right and it straighten right up. It is definitely a stange deal. Glen

 

[KOG]

The sticking and releasing is often in the gearbox. But bad bushings or ball joints can do some strange stuff too. If you know the suspension parts are good it's about got to be the gear.

I had a full hydraulic steering valve doing that to me on the backhoe.

 

[91W350]

Mine is a 4x4, the steering knuckles seem to be good and the tires are wearing great for a 4x4. All the steering parts are really tight, I suspect somebody has been there before. Anyway, twisting, prying, jacking and moving parts around reveals nothing loose. It did not wander at all before, it is a little wild right now though. Sometimes it has no problems, which leads me back to thinking the steering box or fluid being polluted. Glen

 

[Greenleaf]

I just completed the task of replacing all the strut rod and anti-say bar bushings and links. Still to early to say if that has helped the situation. However, I was shocked to find the strut rod rubber bushings were pounded out, resulted in the strut rods being loose.

 

[dpuckett]

Loose strut rods can cause wander, as it essentially lets the truck alignment vary with every bump in the road.



DP

 

[91W350]

I drove about 50 miles today, perfect! I am sure it did not fix itself though and will appear again another day. :-laf Glen

 

[Greenleaf]

I just got the 92 back from the alignment shop. The guy couldn't believe everything was replaced. I suspect the strut rod bushings were loose causing the wondering effect. It drives like a new 1st gen now.

 

[DBohl]

Greenleaf, where did you buy the the strut rod bushings from ? may need to get some myself. Doug

 

[Greenleaf]

Most all the items from NAPA. The strut rod bushing kit is 274-9144 You need to kits. The inboard washer will not work. The ID hole isn't big enough. Have to use the original washer there. Outside of that, the parts fit and tightened down real well.

 

[Jet Tech]

In my experience, the "sticking and releasing" or the "under/overcorrecting" on the 4x4's has been the front axle u-joint. The originals on my 93 did not have grease fittings. Make sure your replacements do and stick it in four wheel drive to excercise the stuff every once in a while.

 

[DValentine]

I had the front axle shaft u joints replaced. The were in bad shape. No more steering problems. Prior to fixing, I put the hubs in and drove around a parking lot..... problem was worse..... Then I tried to spin the front drivers side axle, with the hubs unlocked, by hand with a screwdriver. I could not spin by hand with the steering straight ahead. So the u joints were suspect. All is better now.





Dave

 

[91W350]

It has been about 2500 miles now since mine acted up, I am sure when the cold weather returns, so will my problem. I'll have to open the :{ billfold and empty it out. :-laf