Steering slop

[psdguy95]

My truck had a lot of slop in the steering so i tightened the bolt on the gear box. It helped a lot but now my steering doesn't Go back straight all the way after making a turn. I have to help it by hand. Did i tighten the box to much?

 

[DcMoore]

Yes.. You should only tighten it down just a little bit.

 

[psdguy95]

Ok. I did loosen it back up a little last night but didn't get a chance to drive it again. We'll see today.

 

[Tom S]

How much did you tighten it. The most I have gone on one was half a turn.

 

[JCart]

Iirc you snug up the Allen head then undo 1/4 turn then tighten the lock nut. Also check play in the slip joint on the steering shaft. Some guys replace the shaft while others remove and with air chisel or manual chisel or punch reshape slip joint grooves to tighten the slide and thus remove slop in steering.

One more thing to check is ensure your front in axle u-joints are in good shape when they get old (and stiff) makes steering truck too much effort as it wanders making you constantly correct steering angle.

 

[Russ]

All the boxes I've seen that got adjusted, ended up needing replaced anyhow.

 

[crowz]

I'll be replacing mine soon as 310k+ miles takes it toll on the gearbox

When I bought mine I had to turn the screw 3 1/2 turns and it needed more but thats was as far as I dared go. I had a falcon once I tightened up like that and the box let go on me right after I crossed a rail road bridge with a 90 degree turn needed right at the bridge. Made the turn and the box let go as I came off that bridge. If it had of let go in the turn at the start of the bridge Id of been dead. 100 foot or more drop down to the tracks. Im more leary of snugging those down now....

I had tightened everything Id owned up till then and would of told someone telling me not to adjust them to kiss off as I knew better, before that happened.

Just be careful.

 

[psdguy95]

How much did you tighten it. The most I have gone on one was half a turn.

Maybe 2 full turns.

Iirc you snug up the Allen head then undo 1/4 turn then tighten the lock nut. Also check play in the slip joint on the steering shaft. Some guys replace the shaft while others remove and with air chisel or manual chisel or punch reshape slip joint grooves to tighten the slide and thus remove slop in steering.

One more thing to check is ensure your front in axle u-joints are in good shape when they get old (and stiff) makes steering truck too much effort as it wanders making you constantly correct steering angle.

I was planning on replacing all the joints up front since they look kinda old. But all the joints up front are tight and have no play in them. I'll have to look into the steering shaft though.

 

[psdguy95]

How hard is it to replace the gear box?

 

[Biggreen96]

not hard at all. remove the lines, pitman arm and shaft then take three bolts off and it will fall out .

 

[Tom S]

I hear good things about the Redhead boxes.

I also hear pitman arms can be a bitch to get off. I have not fooled with one.

 

[kadeninabnitt]

I stripped out 3 pullers trying to get my stock pitman off was a pita.

 

[psdguy95]

Maybe I'll just get a new pitman arm as well.

 

[Phillip]

When I pulled my pitman arm off to do my superduty axle swap I put pressure on the pitman arm with the puller and hit the arm with a hammer an eventually it let loose.

 

[loudmouth]

Make sure to get a good Pitman arm puller, I used a conical OTC puller, tightened it, and beat the crap out of the bolt with a hammer, tightened some more, and so on, came off in just a few cycles. I too have heard good things about the Redhead boxes, I've had 2 Remans, an A1 Cardone, a Fenco, both lasting less than 3mos each, I then purchased a used AGR box, it's not lasted a full 2mos before getting sloppy.

I also did the Borgeson steering shaft, it's some serious beef compared to the factory for sure!