Steering box adjustment

[shaungriff]

Hi all just bought my 1st mopar, it's a 1975 Chrysler CJ 360ci. RHD Australian import.I can't find the adjusting screw on the steering box to take some play out. Anyone got any info please ? Shaun

[Pete]

Welcome Sean.
Good to see another Aus car owner on here!

There is a "Sticky" on how to re-build and adjust steering boxes, have a read when you have a moment.

http://www.moparuk.com/forums/viewtopic ... hlight=box

[shaungriff]

Thanks Pete will see if I can find it

[Pete]

Thanks Pete will see if I can find it

Click on the link I supplied in my post and it will take you straight to it!

[shaungriff]

Thanks

[Dave999]

That's for a manual box pete


I think a big Luxo-barge has a power box


the box has 2 adjustments

1 is supposed to be done with the box off the car

2 can be done with the box in the car


no 1 can be fudged with the box in the car if you want

the steering column goes into the box via a coupler onto the end of the worm shaft

at this end of the box all you can do I knock the threaded end of the box round a mm or so, its a bit like the headset on a bike, a bit that screws down to clamp the bearings and a lock nut see how it has cut out sections, this is the nut. it locks off the end of the box the center section that its is on spins into the end of the box on assembly to hold the worm shaft into its bearings make sure its tight and do up the nut again.
be carful there is a large o ring seal under it.

see this box

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Valiant-VE-V ... Sw5dNWpE9m

zoom in on the left hand side of the picture. tap the end round with a hammer and a long bit of wooden dowel.


(if you zoom in on the upper right you can see the adjuster for part 2 below)

now you don't want to go hitting it hard. what you are doing is trying to undo the nut the gently screw the end of the box in a tiny bit to maintain the pre load on the bearings and seat it in the o-ring seal

if it won't move.... give up on this bit, you don't want to mash the bearings and you don't want a box that leaks like a sieve


part 2

then with the car on stands.

motor running

wind the steering back and forth

then

lean over rthe driver side wing and look at the top of the box
through the cover should be a stud with a slot or allen head
it will have a lock nut on it

it may well be glooped with paint

called sector lash endplay adjustment in this picture




undo the lock nut

turn out the stud 1 turn

run the steering lock to lock
then lock it in the centre

then do up the stud until you feel resistance
give it a tweak more, a fraction of a turn
this wedges the teeth on the sector shaft tighter in mesh with the teeth on the ballnut or rack

check the steering runs lock to lock with no obvious resistance.

do up the lock nut


neither adjustment should be done this way but as long as you don't go wild and are gentle making small adjustments you will be ok

your steering box contains much the same as a US box
you need to identify if it has the fat or thin sector before you order any parts for it.

many other areas cause slop in the steering as well..

pete has linked to my manual box rebuild

if you look at the pictures you can see how worn my original sector shaft teeth were. same principals used in your power box when it comes to ball-nut and sector


Dave

[shaungriff]

Hi dave thanks for all the info. I've done the part 2 adjustment today but only about 1/2 a turn or so & the steering feels much better. Thanks again shaun