steering box

[chevyCowboy]

last spring i replaced all tie rod ends, pitman arm, idler arm, all 4 ball joints, and put on a new procomp steering stabilizer. in the last couple weeks my steering has gotten really loose. i can saw the wheel back and forth pretty good and remain in a straite line. also the road causes me to have bumb steering (little differences in the road surface will pull the truck around baddly
) the first thing that comes to min is the steering gear box has gone bad. any one have any ideas.
thanks

 

[fonecop1]

mine was like that and I tightened it up with the adjuster on top of the steering box. It's got like a 5/8 lock nut on what I think was an allen screw.

 

[chickenhunterbob]

Well, only Idea I have is to crawl underneath and have someone turn the wheel, lost motion will be pretty obvious if it is as bad as you say.

 

[chevyCowboy]

thanks ill check into the adjuste ment screw and thats a good idea on the lost motion ill chevk that as well
thanks

 

[guybb3]

Let us know what you find!

 

[bk95td]

Take a look at the rubber bushings in the a-arms. I'd bet they are showing signs of age. That adjuster on the steering box has nothing to do with the mesh of the gears. It sets the preload on the bearings. Steering won't return to center if tightened. Check for under inflated tires and dragging brakes. The calipers don't release all the way. Front wheel bearings also suspect.

 

[chevyCowboy]

i forgot both weel berings where replaced last year. I need to jack it up and do a good inspection. i crawled under it the onther day and had the GF move the wheel back and forth with out the tires moving so just the sloppy area. there was very little move ment on the other side of the box. i did notice that the pitman arm bolt maybe a little loose but i dont think that its enought to cause my problem well back to the hunt
thanks guys

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

The pitman arms we have been getting for the last 3-4 years are just plain JUNK! They will loosen on the pitman shaft at the steering box and cause the slack you have. That 1 5/16" nut MUST be TIGHT or else you will have loose steering and it can lead to no steering. Adjusting the nut on the top can help, but the thrust adjustment is even more important. Over tightening of the adjuster on top WILL give you tight steering that still has alot of slop in it. Start off by tightening the pitman arm nut as tight as you can and then give it some more. If it is still loose then you will either need a new steering box or you can try adjusting the thrust and center in the your current box, but chances are it will only buy you a little time before it will be even looser than it is now.

 

[chevyCowboy]

im pretty sure i bought a moog pitman arm and the nut that i noticed the slop at was the castle nut on the connecting rod i didnt get a chance to check around but thanks for some more ideas