The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering Box Play

My steering box has a little play in it and I want to tighten it up a bit. Is there a way of doing this? I noticed a nut and screw on the inner side of the box that might do the trick but I don't want to mess anything up! Any help would be appreciated.

This is a 55.2 Chevy 3100. All the rest of the front suspension is rebuilt.

Thanks.

here is a tech article on adjusting the play. i adjusted mine but it didnt help. at some point they just wear out.
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/saginaw.htm

leonard

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/booklets/5220mts01.htm

Try this.

Joe

Sure hope I don't have to rebuild it, that doesn't look easy. Can you get one of those spring scales at Home Depot or Ace?

Thanks for the info!

Michael

Sporting goods store will have one, aka "fish scale".

Michael,

I have never done a rebuild (but might have to do so on a 54) and I am wary of having to do this (fear of the unknown).

However, adjusting the steering gear is easy to do (and it worked wonders on one of my trucks). I got a cheap fish scale from Walmart but they no longer sell that scale. Here is a link to other cheap scales.

Get a fish scale at Walmart. As Tim said. Then follow instructions. I had this problem with my 55 2nd and it works.

Best of luck

Thanks guys, I will give it a try. I don't know why I just didn't have it rebuild when it was out of the truck. Guess you can't think of everything!

Tim, In the beginning I wasn't afraid of the unknown, but over the last four years of restoring this truck I have come to respect and fear the unknown!! If I had any idea of what I was getting into I would have just bought (a finished) truck and been done with it, and for less money!

Thats the easy way out, look at what you have learned!

There is nothing tough about the steering box. Just think about the guy that built it, he did it day in and day out, could probably do it blind folded, you wouldn't him laughing behind your back would you!

Joe

Are we not supposed to add Ebay links? If so, sorry.

Joe, yeah you're right, I did learn a lot. Spent a lot too. I'm too far in to stop now, must carry on, must carry on.

If you are adjusting it in the truck,the shop manual says to disconnect the steering arm from the pitman arm.Follow the directions and you will be fine.I just rebuilt the steering box in the suburban and it wasn't that difficult.

Good Luck,Tim