Steering box play

[Glennster]

 Can some of the slop in my steering box be taken out with an adjustment? I see a set screw with a nut on top of my steering box and I have about an 1/8 turn of play in my steering wheel.
 What does that adjustment do?

[440STRKR]

If you adjust the screw by turning it clockwise further into the box it will tighten it up, but also bind and full lock and wear the worm gear in your box faster. Mopar power steering is the worst... You can send your box to a company called firmfeel and they will rebuild it to be as tight as you prefer (stage 1, 2, or 3) 3 being what most people consider "tight".

[440STRKR]

I meant bind at full lock

[Chryco Psycho]

I do this all the time , make sure the steering box is centered , this is where the two gears have the least play , if you release the locknut & tighten the screw it will remove play , go too far & it will become hard to turn over center or jam at center

[burdar]

I believe there is a specific adjustment procedure for that.  You tighten it so it is snug...and then back it off so many turns.  I don't know what the exact specs are for it though.

[JoltinJoe]

 

[Glennster]

Should I try turning the bolt a 1/4 turn at a time and go for test rides to check it? Or should I turn it until I feel resistance?

[73restomod]

Best way to do this that I have found is to lift the wheels up, start the car, tighten the adjusting screw with 1 hand while turning the steering shaft with my other hand. Stop tightening it when you see the wheels move at even the slightest movement of the steering shaft, and lock it down. If the box had much more than 50 k on it, you might as well rebuild it first.

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[Chryco Psycho]

I turn it in until I feel resistance , it will certainly be better , just make sure it goes over center without resistance

[spamtank]

What's an acceptable amount of backlash or slop?      I've got ~1/32 of a turn.  But it's not zero like my civic or mini cooper.

I'm guessing that's pretty good for a 42 year old car.

[Chryco Psycho]

there really should be no slop / wheel movement without the car responding , I bet the adjuster screw will go a least a full turn