tightening up steering

[cruiserboy14]

Hello all,
I have rebuilt my forward steering assembly but still have a lot of play from the steering wheel. Its a 77 with a Toyota mini truck power steering. I have looked for play in the system (there is a little bit) and the manual but am unsure where to start first. I know they are old and looseness is normal but I've heard of people on here that successfully tighten up their steering. any advice or pointers are greatly appreciated.

Seth

 

[RevISK]

What state are your knuckles in? Tie rods?
U-joints on the shaft? Even your u bolts?

Jack up the front by the frame and start wiggling stuff. Try disconnecting your steering damper if you have one as that may mask other issues.

 

[pb4ugo]

Yep, check all the components, make sure U bolts are tight, check the condition of the bushing and tightness, check tre's and center link by having someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth, check wheel bearings for slop, check for up and down and side to side movement of the knuckles at their pivot points. Tierods will rotate when changing direction which is normal, watch the ends for wobble. Once everything is determined ok, now check your steering geometry, caster and tow in. Bad steering geometry can cause wandering and give a feeling of twitchyness if the caster is off.

 

[cruiserboy14]

A friend and I checked the front suspension and steering column for play. We had to do an alignment as the tires were out of wack, and found a lot of play before the power steering box to the steering wheel. Could there be really loose/worn gears in there or is there some sort of adjustment for tension? Pictures show play. If that helps at all.

 

[Living in the Past]

Simple one to.check and would be sure to check is the rod from the steering box arm to the center arm. Steering box side has a spring inside. With some else steering watch how much movement it has. Simple fit for was just add a penny behind the spring. Personally would just replace the spring. Part number 90501-45114.

 

[cruiserboy14]

Do you have a picture or parts breakdown to show this, I can’t find it on my print outs.

 

[pb4ugo]

@Living in the Past is talking about the drag link that extends from the pitman arm to the center link. The end where it attaches to the pitman arm has a spring inside it. Check it for play in that joint.

 

[cruiserboy14]

I see!! It’s in the factory manual! I will check this next. Thank you for clarifying. Mine is solidly covered in grease so I assumed it was just like the tie rod ends.

 

[peesalot]

Alot of loose steering feel is shackle and bushing condition/tightness, this combined with knuckle bearing condition/tightness, center arm condition, wheel bearing condition , along with all the tre & dre ends condition, and if all thats good then I'd start fine tuning/adjusting the box, rag joint.

 

[45Dougal]

Alot of loose steering feel is shackle and bushing condition/tightness, this combined with knuckle bearing condition/tightness, center arm condition, wheel bearing condition , along with all the tre & dre ends condition, and if all thats good then I'd start fine tuning/adjusting the box, rag joint.

A lot of loose steering feel is purely expectation.
Iirc the manual says 10cm at the steering wheel is normal play.
After 50 years I'd think 15cm is probably reasonable??
If you've got half a turn on the wheel then it needs a look - check first that you don't have a landrover though

 

[samatulich]

How is the rag joint?

 

[cruiserboy14]

the rag joint is a bit warn but mostly solid. i still have a replacement that i will change out but most of my play now seems to be at the steering box there the rag joint attaches. not that the joint is moving but there is play in the shaft going into the steering box.

 

[65swb45]

A lot of loose steering feel is purely expectation.
Iirc the manual says 10cm at the steering wheel is normal play.
After 50 years I'd think 15cm is probably reasonable??
If you've got half a turn on the wheel then it needs a look - check first that you don't have a landrover though

10cm? That’s like FOUR INCHES! I ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE YOU that if these trucks had 4” of play when they were new, customers at the dealerships would have simply walked away at the end of their test drives.

I have been rebuilding Landcruiser steering boxes for over 35 years, and I have told people to consider moving on to another box if servicing the box will not yield freeplay of 2” or less. I have successfully rebuilt boxes with 1” of freeplay, though I will readily admit that the odds are going down as the decades pass.

POWER steering boxes are a special animal, because they require slightly more freeplay in the static adjustment to account for the pressurized fluid. If you adjust a PS to manual box tolerances, odds are that you will eventually break the adjuster cover from hydraulic pressure. That is why rebuilding houses routinely tag boxes with the disclaimer: ANY ADJUSTMENT VOIDS THE WARRANTY.