do steering gear boxes have any adjustment???

[85crownHPP]

the 91 has some slop in the steering, from all I can see its got to be in the gear box. A guy at work tells me there's something you can "tighten" to take out the play like a wheel bearing.
I think he's crazy. But at the sae time I hope he's not....??

[drock96marquis]

The steering gear does have a gear mesh preload adjustment screw.

IMO - Don't mess with it. Improper adjustment will cause the steering to bind when turned. Steering binds, the wheels can't steer. Wheels can't steer, you got yourself a problem. How big a problem depends on what you crash into.


Those who have properly adjusted the -96 gear's preload found it to only be a temporary fix, and caused premature steering gear wear.

YMMV

[mrltd]

98-02 steering box time!

[gadget73]

Yup, when you need to fiddle with the screw, the box is already shot. You can try tightening it maybe 1/4 turn but more likely its going to just eat the box up. There is actually this specialized procedure in the service manual for setting that involving using an inch-pound torque wrench on the nut holding the steering wheel down to determine the drag on the steering, and adjusting the meshload accordingly but usually its set from the factory, and unless someone has fiddled with it, you probably need a new one if its loose.

[85crownHPP]

PI steering gear time eh??? hhmmmm

[gadget73]

I think your 91 has the correct type coupler already, so it should make it extra easy.

[85crownHPP]

ya thats what scott said, the 90-91's should have the aero steering shaft... and that you can mate the 2 fluid lines with a good double flare and a union.
Im not supposed to be working on two boxes!!!!!!! but hey, this is something it needs right?? Im allowed to!!! and if i get the hose ready in advance, this could be done within a couple hours - after hours at the shop type stuff??

My only question now is... how do I make sure not to completly skrew my wheel alignmnent?????

[1987cp]

My only question now is... how do I make sure not to completly skrew my wheel alignmnent?????

I'm not well-versed in steering hardware, but I'd think the only thing you can mess up, provided you just swap the steering box and don't touch anything else, is the steering wheel being on-center. My steering box has been experiencing stickiness lately, so I'd better start looking into this swap myself.

Question for other folks, though: how does the steering shaft differ on the pre-'90 models, and how hard is that to change?

[85crownHPP]

another question - do symptoms of a failing gearbox also include a "binding" sensation when trying to turn fast while stopped or under 5mph????

[gadget73]

Binding usually is from someone playing with the screw and getting it too tight. Most of the time simple wear shows up as moving the wheel and nothing happens. Binding is from stuff being too tight inside.

1987cp: You have to cut the rivets out of the rag joint so the upper shaft stays stock, and you use the new style coupler to hook to the steering gear. The difference is that the old style coupler has a single flat, so it looks like a D pretty much. The new style has 2 flats, so its got a corner and the rest is a circle if that makes sense. The upper part of the steering shaft is also totally different on the box so you can't just slide the new shaft up inside the old steering column.

[Southern_Pride]

My steering gear box was readjusted 3 years ago and still works fine. No premature wear here. And its been well over 30k miles.

[gadget73]

You can tweak them to a point but its really easy to over-adjust, and if that happens its trash. If its worn enough that it actually needs adjustment its probably due for a replacement anyway.

[Southern_Pride]

My car always drove like shit. Since 90k miles its drove like shit. And my dad adjusted it. He worked at the dealer for like 20 years.

[p71towny]

Yeah, after I rebuilt ange's front end in her GM at 190k it still had a little play, I screwed it down about a half turn and its been fine since.

[85crownHPP]

so where is this adjustemnt stuff at on the gear??? a 1/4 turn couldnt hurt???