Any thoughts on how to tighten my steering. Everything is new accept the steering box
1978 FJ40 loose steering… lots of play
- Thread starter Landlover12
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Slop should be evident! Have you done the "wiggle test".. have someone rock the steering back and forth and get under the vehicle, using a torch follow out the entire route of steering - from the steering shaft turning to the wheels moving - tiny amounts of slop add up! Look closely at the input to the steering box and output and if you havent moved to some kind of power steering also pay close attention to the "idler" (image below) at the front of the vehicle that translates your steering direction.. swivel hubs and wheel bearings may need attention as well.
The steering box can be adjusted, but its rarely the problem and dicking about with its adjustment can dramatically shorten its service life.
The steering box can be adjusted, but its rarely the problem and dicking about with its adjustment can dramatically shorten its service life.
diesellibrarian
SILVER Star
Respectfully, I don't think one can say that the steering box is "rarely" the problem. While the steering boxes are pretty heavy-duty, many of them have been in service for 50 years and are certainly wearing out by now.
I've been looking into this too as I have easily more than 4 inches of play in the steering wheel. I can see that most if not all of that play is in the steering box: the pitman arm doesn't even start to move until I've turned the wheel quite a ways. There are many pages of the factory service manual devoted to rebuilding/refurbishing the steering box, but I would be surprised if any of the necessary parts are available anymore. Plus a lot of the operations seem to require specialty tools. Plus it just looks really confusing.
Anyway, the earlier non-power-steering boxes aren't really adjustable, from what I've read. The sector shaft thrust preload is the only adjustment you can make without opening the box, and unless your sector shaft preload is way out of spec, tightening it won't remove slop. The only way to "adjust" the steering is to add or remove shims from in front of the sector shaft or get it rebuilt. I think there might be one person on here who rebuilds steering boxes, and he may well correct everything I've said above. I believe his handle is @65swb45.
The alternative appears to be to move to a power steering setup.
This video is worth watching, if only for a glimpse of what's going on inside the steering box.
I've been looking into this too as I have easily more than 4 inches of play in the steering wheel. I can see that most if not all of that play is in the steering box: the pitman arm doesn't even start to move until I've turned the wheel quite a ways. There are many pages of the factory service manual devoted to rebuilding/refurbishing the steering box, but I would be surprised if any of the necessary parts are available anymore. Plus a lot of the operations seem to require specialty tools. Plus it just looks really confusing.
Anyway, the earlier non-power-steering boxes aren't really adjustable, from what I've read. The sector shaft thrust preload is the only adjustment you can make without opening the box, and unless your sector shaft preload is way out of spec, tightening it won't remove slop. The only way to "adjust" the steering is to add or remove shims from in front of the sector shaft or get it rebuilt. I think there might be one person on here who rebuilds steering boxes, and he may well correct everything I've said above. I believe his handle is @65swb45.
The alternative appears to be to move to a power steering setup.
This video is worth watching, if only for a glimpse of what's going on inside the steering box.
South Texas 97
GOLD Star
Find a local power steering rebuild company. for me in South Texas it was Adco Power Steering. I called them and they said sure, we can rebuild your manual steering box for you - they are an old school shop. Did a good job. Your Milage May Vary, but it's worth a shot, unless you want to buy some extra tools......grin.
What parts, exactly, are new? I would start by raising each front wheel to see if there’s any wobble there that would indicate loose wheel bearings.
rex in bama
SILVER Star
Yes, please state what is new
Just because parts are new doesn't mean they are good. Next on the list is properly installed. The center arm is a poor design IMHO and you will never get rack and pinion steering preciseness with it in place.
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Whether you rebuild it yourself or send it out, I strongly recommend a full disassembly and cleaning. There is likely rust inside the box from 40 years of condensation. And the rust eventually chews into irreplaceable parts.
Also, take a hard look at the bushing in the side cover that supports the sector shaft. As time goes on and the shaft gets moved further and further away from the cover, there is less and less bushing supporting the resistance load, and the bushing wears down. The production rebuilders don’t replace that bushing because they can’t; the bushings are NLA.
I stocked up on them a long time ago…for in-house rebuilds.
www.marksoffroad.net
Also, take a hard look at the bushing in the side cover that supports the sector shaft. As time goes on and the shaft gets moved further and further away from the cover, there is less and less bushing supporting the resistance load, and the bushing wears down. The production rebuilders don’t replace that bushing because they can’t; the bushings are NLA.
I stocked up on them a long time ago…for in-house rebuilds.
www.marksoffroad.net
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