Steering box adjustment

Try adjusting the steering box to eliminate the steering play.

How To: Adjust Steering Gear Box Play - YouTube

? 1:41
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAD0ugRQNek
Apr 10, 2012 - Uploaded by 612to303
How to Adjust steering gear box play demonstrated on a jeep cherokee steering box.

Steering Box Adjustment /22re/2wd/Power Steering - Toyota Nation ...

www.toyotanation.com > ... > 89-95 Toyota Pickup/Hilux

Feb 11, 2010 - 5 posts - ‎3 authors
89-95 Toyota Pickup/Hilux Discussion forum for the 89-95 Toyota Pickup/Hilux owners. ... Steering boxes don't have an adjustment to remove free play they have ... When there is excessive play in a steering box it may mean ... steering adjustment
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Mar 30, 2011
Manual steering gear box lube change
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sloppy/loose steering
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There is a way to take up some backlash in the steering box by undoing the large locking nut on the top of the housing and turning the center screw in just a small amount . Do not tighten it down too much as it make the steering too stiff and unable to self center.

it is called a steering box not a gear box and the adjustment will be in the steering box or in the rack and pinion

In rack and pinion steering, they are long and tube like to look at, the wear that takes place that causes play is the rack ends. You have to
take the boots off and unscrew the rack end, always fit new units .
With recirculating ball steering boxes, you adjust the end play on the sctor shaft on top of the box with the wheels up off the ground, make sure that there are no tight spots when you spin the steering wheel from lock to lock as you adjust the play out.

You said that you had the front end inspected so I assume that all 4 tie rod ends are good and the front end was aligned. Changing parts without re-alignment can create a wandering condition.If that is the case then your problem could be play in the steering box, which should have some adjustment. You should also check the bushings in your control arms. They are rubber and will deteriorate over time, creating excessive play in the front end. Hope this helps.

The only adjustment you can make would be the thrust bearing in the steering box. This is the bolt with the straight slot on top and it has a nut at the base. You would raise the front wheels to get the weight off, and then have an assistant move the steering wheel slightly left, slightly right. Unscrew the base nut and tighten the slotted stem bolt down until you get less slop in the steering gears.
There should be some play.

The tierod ends, both inner and outer should be tight. The threads you see on the rods are for Front-end Alignment only, and are not meant to tighten any slack. There should be no slack. You have a pivot arm on the opposite side of the frame from the steering box. The bushing in this arm can wear out, check for slack. It can be changed independently without affecting alignment.

Everyone has a method. Mine is to keep 1 wheel on the ground and jack the weight off the other so I can feel the play side to side. Remember to check your Balljoints while you do the linkage. It is possible to have 1 bad tierod end causing all the problems.

Have the front end alignment checked as it may the cause of wandering. With the truck parked and the steering centered, but the engine running, wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while watching the left front wheel. It should respond to the steering action without any observable slack. Have someone watch both front wheels while doing this and see if there is slack between the two wheels. Any slack here is indicative of slop in the cross-wheel coupling. Hope this helps!

There is an adjustmen screw on the opposite end of the pitman shaft. If the box is behind the frame There should be an access hole. Raise the veficle off the ground, front wheelsno load. Loosen the adjustment screw and and turn it to the right holding the lock nut.. Move steering wheel back and forth to help take your adjustment. When you feel you have taken up all the slack, turn your steering wheel from one extreme to the other, fulll left and right while feeling for any binding or sluggishness. If you are adjust too tigh, the steering may bind or not return on or after a turn. Ok, O play in pitman shaft. Back adjuster off 1/4 to half turn and lock down with nut. Cycle steering again, full L & R.. You should be set Now lower the front end, cycle steering again and make sure it is smooth and consistant. Check all other steering componants for excessive wear and play before adjusting the box. Repair other defects found. Be cautious in turns until you are absolutely sure the steering will return on its ow. Tets, test, test !!!! Ned

On top of the steering gearbox, is a threaded stud that has a slot in the head of it, and a nut on that stud.

Make sure the wheels are straight. Use a large flat tip screwdriver for that stud, take an end wrench, and loosen the nut.

Screw the stud down 1/8 to 1/4 turn. Tighten the nut. Check the slack. If the steering is too tight, back it off. Too loose, tighten a little more.
Drive the vehicle a few blocks, check the steering out. Come back, and do adjustment some more if necessary.

It's a fine line between too tight, and removing slack. DO NOT drive it being too tight. Readjust until it's right.
If your vehicle is an '83 Jeep, it's 26 years old. The steering box may be worn out.