The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Removing the steering slop

Over the weekend I wanted to remove the slop from the steering but could not find a cheap spring scale. So, I walked down to the local mechanic for advice or to borrow the right tools.

After we discussed the truck, the problem, and what I could do he suggested that I put an allen socket on an inch/pound torque wrench and use that on the sector stud instead of the cheap scale on the steering wheel.

So, I put the allen socket on the torque wrench and proceeded with what the book and tech notes said to do. I set that screw at about 18 inch/pounds, tightened the nut, and proceeded on. Then I tightened the worm screw, at the end of the steering shaft until there was no slop. It seems fine.

Question. This is a one man way of doing it and saves a lot of time and crawling in and out of the truck and engine compartment. But, did this do the same thing as the book and tech notes?

Thanks,
Dennis

oldbluetruck,

I bought a $1 fish scale at WalMart and used it as per the instructions in the Shop Manual (1954). It seemed to do the job. I wish I had thought of this years ago - I avoided the steering box because I was afraid to touch it.

There did not seem to be a need to crawl under the truck but my truck is being put back together and everything is clean and all nuts/bults can be loosened/tighented easily.

What you did, sounds OK but I have no opinion as to how well it matches the correct settings (heck, I do not know how well my $1 scale matched the correct settings).

Tim

Another thing to do is tighten the ball joints in the linkage. they do loosen up with time and wear.

Does my 65 C-10 have a Saginaw steering box? From what I am reading, since no one is mentioning types, are they all Saginaws?

Is wander is definitely due to needing the Steering Sector adjustment? Is there any possibility that a bad alignment job would
cause that wandering, floating feeling of my steering, especially at highway speed? I ask this because of the sequence of events that caused this "wandering feeling":
1. My left-upper ball joint went out, and I replaced it.
2. I had a front end alignment done and I got new tires.
3. I then noticed this wandering.
4. I figured another front end component was ready to go, but everything checked out fine.
5. I then suspected the alignment job to be the culprit...bad toe-in???
6. I hate going back to a shop to tell them they screwed up, so I am seeking more knowledge first.
Jerry Mann

Wandering is usually due to component failure, but can be due to improper alignment. If you have manual steering, the first thing to check is the steering gear. Can't recall the specs, but the shop manual tells how to adjust it. If you have a lot of play in the steering wheel, have someone turn the wheel and watch to see if the pitman arm (on the bottom of the box) moves immediately. If not, the box needs adjusted. Also check ball joints, tie rod ends and wheel bearings. Are your tires properly inflated?

If you're not sure, go back to the shop, tell them you had the truck aligned there, and that you are having problems. It should only take them a few minutes to check. I don't recommend going in with an attitude. This is one time where playing stupid can help.

Here's the sector gear preload adjustment procedure I've used for a lot of years, and it seems to work well. Disconnect the Pitman arm, so only the steering gear is being turned, and use an inch-pound torque wrench on the steering wheel nut. With the steering gear turned off-center about one turn, check the turning effort. As the gear rolls across the center point, the turning torque should increase approximately 10 inch pounds, then drop to the previous reading once the center point is passed. For instance: Off centter, 10 in/lb, increasing to 20, then back to 10. Adjusting the sector gear preload bolt will change the center point preload if necessary. If the torque rises, then drops at the center point, rises again and then drops, the worm gear is worn out, and needs replacing.
Jerry

thanks to Hotrod Lincoln and Fred T for their detailed responses...I am still "wandering" around town, and planning to check this all out soon...and Fred T: thanks for the advice on dealing with the shop!

Jerry Mann