Steering wheel slack

[zentar]

72 sport custom 360 2 wheel drive is there any way to adjust the slack in the power steering box? Has about 3/4 inch rotating play can I fix it and if so how?

[fordman]

they can be adjusted. the gear mesh inside of the box and you can raise and lower the one gear to mesh better with the other gear. you just loosen the nut and turn the bolt. i don't know which way or how much. i have heard not very much. but you can turn it and test the slack and then turn it again and keep checking it until it feels tighter.

[zentar]

thanks

[FORDification]

I would check your rag joint first, though. They tend to disintegrate over the years of being coated with grease and oil, and it's not always obvious by just looking it over. Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you're checking that rag joint out for slop there.

[ForingaMex]

Has about 3/4 inch rotating play can I fix it and if so how?

If that's all I don't think it needs fixing. I would love it if my truck was that tight but I don't think you will get it any tighter on an old truck. That's my

[cdeal28078]

It can get tighter. I had my PS gear box rebuilt after I got hit in the front left. Going down the road I have just about zero free play.
I know on a manual box there is a certain procedure using an inch pound torque wrench on the steering wheel nut after everything else is un-hooked or something like that. I don't suggest just tightening up the adjustment nut on top of the box.
I had a friend with a 72 shortbed that adjusted his and the sector gear or worm gear one broke and locked up his steering. He was very lucky as he was pulling into a parking space at work when it locked up.
If nobody else has the procedure on line I can look in my shop manuals try and scan it and send it to you.
clint

[ForingaMex]

I stand corrected. I wish I could get mine tighter.

[72Highboy]

I would check your rag joint first, though. They tend to disintegrate over the years of being coated with grease and oil, and it's not always obvious by just looking it over. Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while you're checking that rag joint out for slop there.

When your checking your rag joint whats the best way rasing the front of the truck or leave in on the ground? Do you also want the truck to be running or not.

[Alvin in AZ]

When your checking your rag joint whats the best way rasing the front of the truck
or leave in on the ground? Do you also want the truck to be running or not.

Not running, sitting on the ground, a helper to rock the steering wheel back and forth,
sometimes big sometimes small whenever you need it.

Feel of each spot that -can- have lost motion and feel for any lost motion.
The resistance of the wheels on the ground will help with this.
Check everything since each spot, even when brand new, had a slight amount of lost motion.

The last thing for me to fix on my Dent was the Ford Integral Steering Gear.
Had it line bored and bearings installed, the play went from about 2+1/2" to less than 3/8".
More than 2" of the play was in the steering gear.
The rest was relatively new stuff at that point.

If I had it to do over, I'd buy a "Red Head" gear.

Alvin in AZ

[cdeal28078]

Redhead looks like they do a very good job on them by adding the needle bearings in places. I really don't know what Springs Industry did to mine when they rebuilt it. They build springs and gear boxes for large trucks in the areas and do work for all of the heavy truck shops around or did back when I had my box rebuilt. I know I have very little free play on my power steering. Everything under the front of my F100 was replaced about 8 years ago. Maybe 20k miles ago at the most. I did replace the king pin bushings myself using the poly or plastic bushings and they are showing play already. I have a new kit for rebuilding them with the bronze bushings and hope to do that this year. I bet then I will have to be careful driving my truck as I doubt I'll have any free play. I figure the king pin bushings are giving me all of me slop right now
clint