Author Topic: minimizing steering box slack (Read 6513 times)

miketyler · « **on:** July 06, 2006 - 05:51:31 AM »

I tried tightening the cross shaft link with little improvement. I assume all the other 30+ year old steering boxes will be the same, is the only other solution a rebuilt one from Firm Feel or ? There are not replacement worm or sector gears to restore its original minimal end play?

Bullitt- · « **Reply #1 on:** July 06, 2006 - 08:09:25 AM »

Have you tried adjusting the sector shaft adjusting screw?

miketyler · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2006 - 10:57:45 AM »

yes, I think the book calls it a cross shaft. Its the one on top of the unit with the jam nut? Is there anything else? The steering isnt squirrely or anyhing, is just a little more sloppy than I like.

Bullitt- · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2006 - 12:32:06 PM »

thats the one. here is a quote from cryco in this issue

Re: Fixing over assisted power steering
� Reply #14 on: May 27, 2006 - 05:36:36 am � Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
adding caster to the front suspension set up helps a lot with stability of the car & adds load to the power steering as well

ROMI · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2006 - 12:39:31 PM »

Hey Mike, My Challenger is sitting on stands right now waiting on a Firm Feel delivery. I had an issue with what I know now to be a poor installation job that was done with the gear box 1/2 turn off. Any way, I put a new standard box in and noticed that both the stock boxes I had were in real good shape but exibited the feeling of too much play. Having been the one putting them in I knew that there were no linkage problems and with the gear boxes out there was no slop in the boxes either. My point is, I think that it's just the nature of those mopar gear boxes and to get away from it we have to go with something like a Firm Feel or a stock Mopar police steering gear box. That is asuming that you don't have any wear issues that are making your "play" worse than normal.

wiging19 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2006 - 04:53:19 PM »

You might check to see if the bolt holes holding your steering box has stripped out. A friend was working on my car and noticed that problem when we reconditioned the driving shaft. 99% of the slop in my steering was because the steering box wasn't staying in place the way it should. Just something to check since these cars are around 36 year old.

Mt.St.BigBlock · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2006 - 05:08:24 PM »

Quote from: wiging19 on July 07, 2006 - 04:53:19 PM

You might check to see if the bolt holes holding your steering box has stripped out. A friend was working on my car and noticed that problem when we reconditioned the driving shaft. 99% of the slop in my steering was because the steering box wasn't staying in place the way it should. Just something to check since these cars are around 36 year old.

Something along the same thought is how much does the the mounts on the K member
flex that the steering box is bolted to. Checkout Firm Feels site to see how they
gusset and reweld the steering box mounts on their K-members. Turn you steering
wheel while watching the steering box with the wheels are on the ground! I'm sure
all that movement translates and adds to, the "mushy feel"! Jeff

wiging19 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2006 - 04:51:00 PM »

I'll do that this weekend. Thanks for the idea. I've been replacing parts and updating my suspension so it would ride better. Hence the steering column rehab.

miketyler · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2006 - 05:29:27 PM »

All the mechanicals are tight on the front end. Tightening the sector gear did little to remove the slack. It did increase the tension and made the steering more stiff. So much that the steering wheel would not "unwind" when coming out of a turn.

I suppose this is just sector and worm gear wear. Too bad they dont sell those parts to rebuild the steering boxes with - or do they?

Bullitt- · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2006 - 09:26:08 PM »

on a parts list from MP call your dealer
3643333: power steering box ss to R3643333 $277.75

Silver R/T · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2006 - 12:08:36 AM »

what bolt is it exactly, anyone got picture

Bullitt- · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2006 - 12:31:06 AM »

When you look down on the steering box on the domed shaped area there is a flat head screw with a jam nut on it. The book gets technical but basically you loosen the jam nut & tighten the screw to take the play out of the screw. You don't want it so tight that you feel extra resistance.

miketyler · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2006 - 07:27:05 AM »

My car is a 72 and has an allen-type inset. You break the jam-nut loose and tighten or loosen with an allen wrench

Chryco Psycho · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2006 - 12:36:18 AM »

it points up on the top of the steering box

ShelbyDogg · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2006 - 08:00:04 AM »

I got a rebuilt steering box from Autozone for around $135. Lifetime warranty. That was a deal after seeing the prices on the other ones. They didn't have the screwdriver slot type like my '70 box, but I didn't care because I already had a '72 PS box in there when I added PS to my car. I HATE manual steering.

Ever watch a guy parking his Non-PS car?

Author Topic: minimizing steering box slack (Read 6513 times)

miketyler

minimizing steering box slack

Bullitt-

Re: minimizing steering box slack

miketyler

Re: minimizing steering box slack

Bullitt-

Re: minimizing steering box slack

ROMI

Re: minimizing steering box slack

wiging19

Re: minimizing steering box slack

Mt.St.BigBlock

Re: minimizing steering box slack

wiging19

Re: minimizing steering box slack

miketyler

Re: minimizing steering box slack

Bullitt-

Re: minimizing steering box slack

Silver R/T

Re: minimizing steering box slack

Bullitt-

Re: minimizing steering box slack

miketyler

Re: minimizing steering box slack

Chryco Psycho

Re: minimizing steering box slack

ShelbyDogg

Re: minimizing steering box slack