Manual steering adjust

[MTsenior]

Hey all, my 71 roadrunner has a lot of slop in steering. I have narrowed it down to the steering box. Looked to adjust it and the adjustment stud is sitting about flush to the locknut already. I am thinking it been adjusted in the past enough that there may be no adjustment left. How much of stud usually protrudes out from lock nut? thanks

 

[pnora]

Hey all, my 71 roadrunner has a lot of slop in steering. I have narrowed it down to the steering box. Looked to adjust it and the adjustment stud is sitting about flush to the locknut already. I am thinking it been adjusted in the past enough that there may be no adjustment left. How much of stud usually protrudes out from lock nut? thanks

If your slot is into the nut and you are sure everything else is tight than the box is past adjusting and is worn out.

 

[hunt2elk]

That adjusting screw you mention is really not the correct way to adjust slop out of the box, but it will help some. Agree with the above post though. If that screw top is flush with the nut, it is time for a rebuild or replacement.

 

[pnora]

That adjusting screw you mention is really not the correct way to adjust slop out of the box, but it will help some. Agree with the above post though. If that screw top is flush with the nut, it is time for a rebuild or replacement.

What other adjustments are there? I know there are some set up procedures when the box is assembled but I am not aware of any normal field adjustments other than the adjuster screw.

 

[hunt2elk]

What other adjustments are there? I know there are some set up procedures when the box is assembled but I am not aware of any normal field adjustments other than the adjuster screw.

The procedure is in the FSM. You need a big/special spanner wrench.

 

[pnora]

The procedure is in the FSM. You need a big/special spanner wrench.

Thats what I thought you were referring to. I would have to read up on it but I did not think that was considered a normal field adjustment. I might be wrong but I thought is was just an assembly adjustment.

 

[dadsbee]

Angle grinder spanner works perfect...

 

[pnora]

The procedure is in the FSM. You need a big/special spanner wrench.

I just looked that up and see what you mean. I remember doing that when you could see the worm gear moving in and out of the box by the coupler or rag joint. But that was a long time ago. It would be worth the posters time to watch as someone rocks the steering wheel. As I recall most of the time the boxes were pretty beat up because no one ever checked them for being lubricated. They ad been run dry for years and we ended up replacing them. We always had a lot of like new manual boxes on hand as Mopar had a power steering conversion kit and we did convert a lot of A-Bodies and F-Bodies back in the day.

 

[MTsenior]

I will probably just go with a OER replacement, they are pretty reasonable price and then can check out original box after I remove it. thanks for the input guys

 

[Dennis Weden]

my advise is to bite the bullet and put in a borgenson.you will have a different car and love it.

 

[dadsbee]

In the car... BIG channel locks (or a punch and hammer) loosen the big lock nut. Try snugging up the bearing retainer I show above using a 4.5" grinder spanner. No cranking.. just see if there is any slop and take it out of the worm shaft then retighten the lock nut.

 

[Jeff Peterson]

Angle grinder spanner works perfect...
View attachment 1629800

This should be a "Sticky" !!!!!

 

[Jeff Peterson]

 

[cubanmoparnut54]

View attachment 1719947

I have a rebuilt manual steering box in my 71 RR. I ajusted the nut all the way down and it still has quite a bit of slop. What does this do to tighten it?