2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission TSB 19-10-97 (Steering Wander )

[BHaner]

I understand what the bearing preload adjustment does however I don't understand the over center adjustment... What is actually hapening when you change this? Does anyone have a pic of the inside of one of these gear boxes? Thanks!

 

[BHaner]

Anyone?

Back to the top.

 

[GMOSS]

I would also like to know?



Back to the top.

 

[shendren]

over center adjustment

don't know what it does, but it sure did help my steering. did it last weekend.....

 

[BHaner]

Over center.

I dont know for sure but from what I could tell the over center adjustment made the wheel return to the center easier. It makes it a little harder to turn the wheel as well.

 

[GMOSS]

My 02 truck has some steering wander. After 2 trips to the stealer they said it drives "Normal"... BS. The 02 drives considerably worse than my 95. After inspecting and grabbing all of the linkage it appears to me the steering gear is to blame. Should I do the over-center adjustment or bearing preload or both and in what order. TSB 19-10-97 states to do over-center and if no improvement do bearing preload. My service manual states to do the opposite.



Also, where can I get a spanner wrench?



TIA

Glen

 

[GSchneuer]

Steering wander

I have 29,889 miles on my >01< 4x4. The dealer has replaced my steering gearbox 3 times, the trac bar once, both tie rod ends and an intermediate shaft once. It finaly steers nice, it took many trips to the dealer, but they finaly got it right. Go find a good dealer. It does not state anywhere in the service manual to compare one truck againist another and call that a fix. Good luck.

 

[Tulsa618]

I was really disgusted with the way my '00 handled, more so when the dealer checked it out and reported - no surprise here - all was within spec. A quick trip to Tulsa Auto Spring, 15 minutes and $20 later I was driving a MUCH more civilized truck. Over center adjustment was all it took, and it's driven great for three years (the Beast's "birthday" was two days ago).

 

[Clinton]

I'm not sure, but...

Disclaimer: I am not a steering technician.



With that said here's what I've been thinking: I just replaced the shocks (Bilstein), the track bar (DT), and had a top quality alignment performed (Gene's in Knoxville). Although the steering is far better than it was, it could be better. I'd say about an 80% improvement. I've been studying this TSB and planning on doing it as well. In my truck I can feel what seems to be either a bearing out of adjustment or a bit of slop in the shaft. A bit of rotational play. At 90k miles I could believe either to be true. The TSB does state to do the Over the Center adjustment first, but that isn't really where I think my problem lies. I'm planning on adjusting the bearing and letting that tell me if the shaft has developed a little play. I've found the 'notes' at the bottom of the TSBs on Fritz's site (which have moved to a seperate technical site) to be quite informative. The first note at the bottom of this TSB says:



Take your time on the preload. When you snug the preload, mark with a pencil and then back off 3 to 5 mm. Don't mess with the overcenter (the nut on top of the box) unless you have to.



There are a couple of more notes on there that make me tend to only do the bearing adjustment. I can't get to this for a couple of weeks, so I won't have any info on what I found for a while. The spanner?? Let me know what you find. I may try to fab something or see if one of my bicycle spanners will work (doubtful).

 

[CFAR]

I found that I didn't need a spanner, small punch worked for me.



The dealer has done these alignments twice.



I have done the pre load once,(dealer had it about right) and the over center multiple times, if you get it to tight you will lose return to center(binding) you will need to back it off and start again. 1/8 of a turn works pretty good.



My truck is much better than when I recieved it(brand new) but still not good enough.



Eventually I would like an aftermarket gear and possibly a lukes link.



Woody

 

[BHaner]

Spanner Wrench

I just used a cheap old adjustable spanner wrench i had laying around. It was not that tight... you may be able to use a bent piece of welding rod (shaped like a spanner wrench) or something like that to move it.

 

[Steve Campbell]

Either adjustment is not that hard...

... it is more just the "getting the time and frame of mind" than anything else. My bearing preload was about right... . but my over-center adjustment has taken about 1/2 turn so far. It still does not seem "right", yet it is way better than it was before.



I could not see any side-to-side deflection in the "pitman shaft" as it comes out the bottom of the steering box, FWIW.

 

[moon]

steering wander

If one has some deflection on the pitman shaft how much is to much and will the bearing preload fix it. anybody got a breakdown of the steering box they could post.

 

[mschoenheider]

TTT



About two weeks ago I noticed play on the pitman arm shaft. I have completed the over-center adjustment, and it did improve the steering, but I still have play inside the box. Basically I turn the wheel, and see the input shaft to the steering box turn, but there is a bit of slop between the input and output from the box. Will the bearing preload adjustment the proper procedure to fix this? I tried tightening, and loosening the bearing preload collar by hand, with the end of a bungee cord hook, but I couldn't move it either way. I guess I need a spanner wrench, or the home made equivalent. Anyone have the dimension of how far apart the two "pegs" should be on the spanner wrench?

Thanks.

Mark