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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: May 2023 Posts: 442 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2023 Posts: 442 | I’ve been driving it a couple times a week now and have a good bit of play in the steering wheel. What is a way to take some of that out.
Thanks
1954 Chevy 3100One problem solved doesn’t seem to shorten the list Montgomery, ALIn Project Journals | | | | | Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 1,986 | Depends on where the problem(s) is (are).
Could be:
1. Steering gear box mounting bolts loose (not very likely)
2. Steering gears in the steering box worn out
3. The worm gear bearing adjustment
4. The sector gear lash adjustment
5. The Pitman arm sloppy on the Pitman shaft (not very likely)
6. Ball or socket on either end of the drag link worn or out of adjustment
7. Ball or socket on either end of the tie rod worn out or out of adjustment
Start by getting someone to sit in the driver's seat and rock the steering wheel back and forth a little. While that is going on crawl under and look for one of these pieces moving while its connecting piece doesn't.
And it'll never steer as precisely as a modern car.
Last edited by Bill Hanlon; 04/18/2025 10:42 PM.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12
'52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,208 | Also once you figure out what is causing the play (Bill's list is a very good one) please make sure your caster shims (bottom of the springs) are in place and giving you the right adjustment. It will not affect play in the wheel but the proper caster will prevent your truck from wandering around like a drunk goat.
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,841 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,841 | One thing to add to Bill's list is kingpins and bushings. If the slop in the wheel is a little less while the truck is sitting still, the kingpins and bushings are suspect.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2021 Posts: 1,066 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2021 Posts: 1,066 | It may take two people but looking carefully at the drag link while moving the steering wheel will help work through Bill's list.
Starting with the wheels straight ahead move the steering wheel back and forth and watch for movement at the drag link end of the pitman arm. That will give you a clue about the steering gear parts.
Continue movement of the steering wheel back and forth and watch the drag link movement compared to the pitman arm.
Then move on to the other end of the drag link where it connects to the spindle and finally to the tie rod end connection to the spindle.
There will be a little movement everywhere but you should be able to tell where the majority of it is as a starting point for further diagnostics and repairs. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 4,886 | Jack the front front up to get the tires off the ground. Turn the steering full right, then back full left. Did you feel a tight spot dead center of the gear box? Yes you did, start checking the rest of the steering and suspension. No you did not, pull the draglink off the pitman arm so you can adjust the steering box without the rest of the steering moving. See here for proper adjusting, https://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/booklets/5220mts01.htm All gear boxes adjust the same way. | | |
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