The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 49 Panel truck Steering issues

Hi:

Just finished restoring a 49 panel truck but when I drove it I found the steering to be very sloppy with a lot of play in-it. As part of the restoration the entire front end was rebuilt with all new parts, a steering unit kit was installed with new parts. Apparently there is some adjustment that can be made to it, but what are they. Anyone had this problem ad how did you take the excessive play out of it. Thanks for the help.

God bless,


Dave

Have someone sit in and move the steering wheel from side to side while you're underneath watching for where the play is in it. Then come back and tell us what you saw.

Here are the adjustment procedures. You'll need a small, inexpensive scale (small fish spring scale) .

fish scale

fish scale

Did you put in the sway bar? Not sure how much it will help, but I have to put mine back in yet.

To answer the question, yes I put the sway bar back in, but I don't think that would explain slop in the steering. But as mentioned before the front end is new, by new I mean NEW; kin pins and shims, ball joints, drag link, tie rod, and a rebuild kit in the steering box. Thus it is a new front end. My hopes is to make an adjustment in the steering box and perhaps remove some of the excess slop in the steering. And yes I will check the steering to see if there is any problems elsewhere. Any thoughts.



Dave

Big Chevy:

Had the truck up on ramps today and I watched from underneath while the wife moved the wheel. There was no slop or play in the drag link, ball joints, or connecting rod, all was tight. I suspect the slop is in the Steering unit and I have read the adjustment procedure in the Shop Manual but do have any tool to break the Pittman arm, Any thoughts on how to eliminate the Slop, it's real disconcerting when you are driving about 40+ mph and thee is as much slop a thee is in the steering.

God bless,


Dave

The steering box needs to be adjusted. You can't just put it back together and expect it to work.

A pitman arm puller is readily available at most parts houses and not expensive. It's a good investment to make. Some of the parts houses will have one laying around as a free loner as well.

I adjusted my original steering box with those instructions (for a 55) and it really helped. Now 55 isn't scary.

Would that be 55 mph isn't scary or your 55 isn't scary?

I wonder how one rebuilds a steering box with the pitman arm attached.

Truckernix:

I don't understand the natue of your comment, could you explain please.


Dave

Well, you eluded to "the entire front end" being rebuilt, including the steering box. You want to know how to get the Pitman arm off, correct? You can't rebuild a steering box without removing the Pitman arm.

Dave,

You have asked a couple of times about thoughts on how to get the "slop" out of the steering.

This procedure should have been done after the steering gear was rebuilt. If this was not done, it should be the first thing you do before considering other actions.

Panelit,
sorry, I didn't mean to be abrupt. As Tim noted, the adjustment of the steering box should be part of the rebuild procedure. Also, if the box is leaking, the rebuild wasn't done correctly.

Improper toe-in adjustment can make the steering behave badly too.

My Friends:

Thank you, and yes I asked the question a few times hoping to find a way of doing the adjustment without removing the Pittman arm in that I do not have the tool now to do it. But as with many things there are, at times, no way of getting around the inevitable, that is removing the Pittman arm. As mentioned before the whole front end and suspension system was rebuilt including the steering box, that was removed in order to rebuild it. I'd hoped that rebuilding the box would have made it tight, but as with other things I guessed wrong. So hi ho off to Nappa I go to get/borrow a Pittman arm remover. As to the comment of the steering box leaking, I never said it did, because it does not, I don't know where that one came from. My friends, and indeed I consider you friends, sometimes all the information about a matter can not be conveyed in a few simple paragraphs, especially a 6 years body off restoration, so some details may be lacking, Truckernix, you were down right arrogant, but we all can be at times, I know I can be, thus I try to think the matter out before I state my cause. But I greatly apprecaite all the help provided, it's been insightful and brought me to the conclusion that I had hoped to avoid. The thing I am not sure of in the procedure outlined in the Repair Manual is, which of the two adjustments will remove the excess play, the one on the side or the one on the lower end of the steering box. Your comments please. Further, Truckernix made a good comment about having the front end aligned, which has not been done yet. Again, thanks to all for your help, you have been a great source of insight and information. Be well!


God bless,


Dave

John 3:16

Panelit,
I mentioned the leaking even though you hadn't mentioned it just in case that was another detail. The reason I did is because if the bushings are too loose, not only will it leak but it is not possible to get all the play out.

The end bearing preload adjustment must be done before you can get any results form the other adjustment. If you yank on the steering wheel and it clunks, you know for sure that there is no preload there. The second adjustment is the sector. When you are done there should not be any uneven or lumpy feeling in the box.

To all:

Lord willing next Sunday I am going to separate the Pittman yoke and do the adjustments as outlined in the manual along with those suggestions you offered. So if you have any other thoughts please let me know. Again thanks.

God bless,

Dave

Maybe someone will comment here but I think that if you separate the joint between the drag link and the Pitman arm, you should be able to do the adjustment. I can't see where the Pitman arm hanging down will add any drag at all. That would be an alternative approach that might be easier for you to do.

Truckernix and to All

This was the idea I was proposing, can the adjustments be made with the pitman attached? Correct me if I am wrong, but with the arm attached there is no load or force being transmtted to the steering box, thus make the adjustment and them turn the wheel, or take it out for a spin to see if the steering is tighter or not? Guys, what do you think?

Dave

Step #1 in the Adjustments in the Shop Manual at the links above state: "Disconnect the steering connecting rod from the pitman arm . . "

Nothing is stated above having to remove the pitman arm.

Follow the procedures for making the two adjustments: (1) the worm bearing and (2) the lash adjuster.

Tim:

By connecting rod, they mean the "Drag Link" correct, or am I missing something here. Further, what affect would it have if these components were left attached, would it alter the outcome of the two adjustments?


Dave

Dave,

The "connecting rod" referred-to in the Shop Manual is the "steering link" ("drag link") between pitman arm and driver's side steering knuckle (which is integral with the steering third arm).

The 1949 steering connecting rod.


"Further, what affect would it have if these components were left attached"

Which components? As stated in the Shop Manual (my previous post), the connecting rod (the "drag link"), one component, must be disconnected but the pitman arm can be left attached to the steering box.

Tim:

If I left the draglink attached, could I still do the two adjustments and get the desired results? Thanks


Dave

No.

If you have the original style drag link (connecting rod), it should come loose fairly easily. If your front end was recently cleaned/reconditioned, it should come apart fairly easily.

Are you having problems getting things disconnected?

Tim:

Front end is all "new" thus I will detach the drag-link, but was hoping to avoid it. Question, from your experience, are there any fine points I should be considering when making these two adjustments? Any hints are greatly appreciated. Tim, thanks for your patience, you have been a great help.

God bless,


Dave

Dave,

I was just as apprehensive as you seem to be. I followed the instructions in the Shop Manual and the improvement was noticeable and beneficial. Fear of the unknown held me back - if your steering box is clean and the nuts are not stuck, you'll wonder why you did not do this right away. If you have a cheap fish scale and follow the instructions, you cannot hurt anything.

Here's my advice (and hint): just do it.

Good luck,

Tim:

Will do, this Sunday,so keep me in your prayers and I'll let you know how it came out, I got the fish scale ready!


God bless,

Dave

Tim:

To you and all who offered their advice, thank you. Did the two adjustments today, and they worked out well the steering is tight and considerable improved. It was exactly as explained in the manual and the truck handles so much better.

God bless,


Dave