The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Steering adjustment tool?

I am trying to adjust my steering box and can not get the worm bearing thrust screw to turn. I have loosened the lock nut. I do not want to mess up the slot, and everything I have seems too small. I need a giant flat blade tip or something.
My manual shows a particular tool for this, some type of large blade to fit in the slot, that will attach to a ratchet.
Can anybody steer me in the right direction for the proper tool??

Much thanks.

I used a large cold chisel and a box end wrench on the handle.

I welded a flat piece of steel the right thickness to an old socket. Works good.

Chuck

That adjustment is almost never needed to be changed once set. Play is almost always between the pitman and the worm nut.
If the pitman shaft bushings are bad you will never get a successful adjustment. That adjustment is on the side cover.

Agree with Dave, that adjustment is a ball bearing adjustment
made at the time of assembly. If it's loose then you wouild
need to replace the ball bearings or best look for another gear.
Any slop in the steering gear should be taken up by the pitman
shaft adjusting screw.
CAUTION: Move the gear thru it's full range
after adjustint the shaft to make sure there
are no tight spots.

Denny Graham
Somewhere north of Sandwich, IL

My manual shows a weight tool on steering wheel to adjust to 1 to 1 1/2 lbs pull what other tool could be used (fish scale) ? Is this necessary?

I use a fish scale, works just fine.

Look for a set of drag link sockets, they work great. Ditto on the fish scale.

Jeff

Help me out here guys, where did you find a fish scale that is
accurat enough to measure 1 to 1 1/2 lbs.???? All of them that
I found are totally in accurate when you get down to a couple
of lbs.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Lonnie,

You probably have a cookie on your PC that takes you to a specific part. All I get is the Sears home page. What is the part number?

What about this one, Denny.

I got my spring 10b fish scale at Walmart about 10 years ago. I do not know how well calibrated it is, but the improvement in the steering was remarkable.

Yamato T-10

Tim -

Sorry about the Sears link. I posted the link from my iPhone while I standing in line at the movie.
Here's another source.
> pic: Rapala / Normark Rapala Digital Fish Scales

The Sears site says ...
Sold By: FishUSA, Inc.
Item#: SPM5835854203
Model#: RMDS50

I don't know how exact the pull-measurement has to be. I used my fish scale when I adjusted my steering box, but also used a little Kentucky windage, too. Bottom line - my steering is tight and the truck is a pleasure to drive vs. the quarter-turn play that it had before I adjusted. 'Course my steering wheel is now a quarter turn to the right and one of the spokes blocks the gas and oil pressure gauges.

Yeah, yeah, that's what I mean guys, there taint a good one out there. Tim and
Lonnie, I think you guys know by now that I just like to stir things up a bit to
stimulate some conversation.

Actually I've went thru this many years ago. The problem with a hanging scale is
the higher the capacity the less sensitive and less accurate they are at the lower
end. The ideal scale for this sort of measurement would be a 0 to 5 lb. hanging
scale but no one makes one of those. Oh yes, Tim, that postage scale you posted
the link to is only good to 4oz.

This is a Rapala 15lb. scale that I found a few years back after a lot of searching.
It has a pretty good feel down at the lower end. But in the real world I think what
the engineers at GM were trying to define for us was that we should just feel a
slight drag in the gear when we turn the wheel. The 1-1 1/2lb. preload spec is just
some way of defining that you need just a touch of drag.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/147721999

Denny Graham
Somewhere north of Sandwich, IL

If you have a decent torque wrench with the beam rod on it, you can read the difference in torque as you cross center. The actual measurement is not that critical, you are just looking for slight difference and a little pull.

Joe

South Bend 8-Pound PS-8 Pocket Scale
Available at K-Mart for $4.08 (also available on-line and at Amazon.com)

I used my RCBS trigger pull gauge, 8 oz to 8 lbs. They can be had for around $20. Then you can go check the trigger pull on all of your firearms!

Kent

and just where would one find one of those Tim, not on my internet.

Denny g

Besides in K-Mart, Denny, on-line for $1.88, and $1.81, and $4.54 on eBay, and $4.52 (on Amazon), and $2.00 (Farm & Fleet), try this search: PS-8 pocket scale south bend

Ah yes, helps to get the name right Tim. I was looking for a "PS-4"
because the picture was to blurry to read the number correctly.
Should have dawned on me that if it was an 8lb. scale it would
logically have an "8" in there somewhere.

Taint worth $12 shipping for a $1.81 item, but I do have three
Blain's F&F stores all within 20 miles of me and I'm in one or
the other at least once a week.

Tks,
Denny G.