No the big nut is a normal right hand thread. Can you move the steering wheel move up and down when you push and pull on it? if it doesn't then the steering gear worm shaft bearings are ok. If there is slop with that test then one of the bearings is probably shot and needs to be replaced, not adjusted. That adjustment is a bearing adjustment, which should only be necessary when assembling the gear. Changing that bearing adjustment at this time can screw the sector adjustment.
The side screw or sector adjustment screw is the one that is usually the reason for a sloppy steering gear. If your sector bushings are shot then you are not going to get a good adjustment on the gears. What you are adjusting is the clearance where the gears mesh.
Don’t worry too much about that scale reading, adjust it with the wheel at the center position until the slop is out of the unit then check it lock to lock several times after you tighten up the lock nut on the screw. As long as you are not feeling any binding when you turn the wheel lock to lock then you should be ok.
Again, NO BINDING LOCK to LOCK, that’s a very important condition to avoid!
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Last edited by Denny Graham; 10/12/2010 11:01 PM.
