Steering Box Adjustment

[reno]

What is the best method of this nightmare? Mine has more play than I like. I know the left tie rod is starting to wear and will be replacing it with the ball joints, hopefully this weekend.

 

[Ranger44]

As far as I know, it pointless and your're better off buying a reman gear. MAKG may be able to enlighten you more on the subject.

 

[reno]

Yeah, Makg knows his sh*t about these Rangers. I have a sneaky feeling the PO broke the nut loose and turned the screw on the gear box. But I am not sure if I should lift the front end off the ground, then break the nut loose and tighten the screw ever so slightly while turning the steering wheel full motion left and right after tightening each time to achieve no play. I am talking a 1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time.

 

[MAKG]

The right way to do this is to disconnect the Pitman arm, intermediate shaft, and return line, and drain the gear. If I remember right, the spec is 15 inch lbs (rotating) higher on center than 45 deg off center. It's so little that you can't even feel it if you turn the steering wheel, though you can if you turn the input shaft with your thumb and forefinger.

It MAY not remove the play. If it doesn't, you need a reman gear. It means the sector shaft and/or piston teeth are worn to the wrong shape.

If you adjust it to remove the play, you are VERY likely to overtighten it. Which makes the vehicle quite difficult to control (no return to center), and will wear out the gear very quickly. If the PO messed with the adjuster, this is probably the situation you're already in.