That's the correct way to adjust a recirc ball steering box. Unfortunately not enough mechanics were taught how to do it correctly and you get uneven wear and the result is play in the centre position. Once a box of this type has the problem there is nothing other than recondition or throw it to fix the problem.
As Zac says all steering play is not necessarily in the box. Pitman and to a lesser degree idler bushes wear, and on a 1600 which has forward mounted t/c (radius) rods the condition of your bushes (donuts) are so important to straight ahead stability. regards Terry -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Zac Campbell Sent: Tuesday, 11 December 2001 12:35 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Steering boxes yeha I was going to suggest this. I have done this on my datsuns and on my sisters mazda when I thought the steering was bad and it helps a lot. but sometimes the play isn't adjustable from the steering box. Terry taught me this - turn the wheel to full lock and then move it backwards and forwards loosely in your hand trying not to turn the front wheels. if it 'clunks' then the play can be adjusted out of the steering box. do this by getting a 14mm (or was it 12..) ring spanner and loosening the outer nut. then, while holding the outer nut still, tighten the inner bolt using a flat head screwdriver. do it 1/4-1/2 a turn at a time, tighten the outer nut again before checking the steering play again (drive it if you want). I hope I got this right, that is the technique I have used at least. zac ----- Original Message ----- From: maldat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2001 12:44 PM Subject: Re: Steering boxes > ,,AJUST it.. > > Loosen off the nut turn the screw a wee bit and tigten the nut. > > This can be done with no effort,its on the top of your steering box,Something is wrong if it takes you longer than 3 mins to fix. > Then test drive and reajust if needed.I think it pays to jack the front off the ground so you can turn the wheels easy for the ajusting. > > Malcolm > > Mark Firman wrote: > > > Hi and thanks for all of the replies, it looks like i'll be trying to find a second hand box rather than paying $280 dollars for a reco one! From what you've said i can get either a 1600 or 180B box and they will bolt straight in, or a 120Y box and my 1600 pitman arm, right? If a steering box is no longer in a donor car what should i look for to tell if it's going to have the same sloppiness as my original box? Or does it have to be inside the car so that you can actually try it out with the steering wheel? > > Any advice would be great as i really need to get this fixed before i run off the road! Thanks, Mark > > > > --- "Rowe, Adam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ><P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I am running 185/55 15's. My original box had about 45mm-50mm of movement at he steering wheel. Now I have around 10mm maybe less. Less is better, and I think that when brand new they both would have had 5-10mm. There is a maximum level of movement that is legal, I'm not sure what that is though. Be careful when checking the slop in the boxes you are going to buy. Make sure they are pointing straight ahead as that is normally the only place that has movement. </FONT></P> > > > > > ><P><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">If you need more info send another e-mail. And good luck getting the pitman arm off.</FONT> > > ></P> > > ><UL> > > ><P><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">-----Original Message-----</FONT> > > ><BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">From: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Andrew Greenbury [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]</FONT> > > ><BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Sent: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">11/12/2001 10:24</FONT> > > ><BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">To: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">[EMAIL PROTECTED]</FONT> > > ><BR><B><FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">Subject: </FONT></B> <FONT SIZE=1 FACE="Arial">RE: Steering boxes</FONT> > > ></P> > > > > > ><P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Thanks Adam,</FONT> > > ></P> > > > > > ><P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">What size tyres are you running? Also, can you give an idea of the </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">difference in magnitude of slop with the 120Y box compared to teh </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">original? (eg the original had ??30mm?? of movement at the </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">steering wheel without movement of the tyres, compared to ?? with </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">the 120Y box)</FONT> > > ></P> > > > > > ><P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Thanks - that info would be really handy</FONT> > > ></P> > > > > > ><P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Andrew</FONT> > > ></P> > > > > > ><P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> Alot nicer. I liked the quicker ratio. It is a bit heavier but I can live</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> with it. Also I had no chioce as at the time I couldn't find any 1600/180B</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> boxes that weren't just as stuffed as mine. My original box had heaps of</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> wear on the gears when facing straight ahead, none when cornering. So it</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> was quite floaty, and dangerous when driving. Especially when overtaking</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> and moving from one side of the road to the other the change in camber would</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> cause the car to turn quickly.</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > -----Original Message-----</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > From: Andrew Greenbury [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > Sent: 11/12/2001 9:40</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > Subject: RE: Steering boxes</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > Hi Adam,</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > So how do you find the feel of the 120Y one versus the original? </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > Thanks</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > Andrew</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > </FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > > Sounds like how my steering box used to be. I replaced it with a 120Y</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > box.</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > > It has a quicker ratio but it bolts straight in and it was in better</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > nick.</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > > I couldn't find a place that reconditioned boxes for less than $280, so</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > I</FONT> > > ><BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">> > > went with the second hand replacement.</FONT> > > ></P> > > ></UL> > > > > > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________ > > Get Your free Ozdat Email Account > > ---> http://www.ozdat.com > > > > --membersozdat------------------------------------------------------- OZDAT Mailing List Please Note:- Send (un)subscribe requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send submissions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] No unauthorised redistribution of this email http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/index.htm http://www.ozdat.com/ozdatonline/listindex.html http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
