29 Steering Wheel Play

John Charlton I sure hope you see this....

I got my draglink and tie rod inserts today so I decided to install them prior to performing John's tip listed below What I found out once the draglink was off the car is the 4'' of play in my wheel is what it takes to get the pitman arm to move. When you wiggle the pitman arm from front of car to back you get about 1/8'' of play. When you move the wheel and hold the pitman arm that's the 4'' in the wheel. The play is there until you pin the wheel to the far left or right.

My question is the below procedure from John going to help me or is it time for a steering box rebuild?



You remove the 3 bolt diamond shaped plate .Put the steering wheel dead ahead . Remove the Pitman arm and push on the shaft until the sector just clears the worm . Rotate the steering wheel half a turn and push it back in and reassemble ,just that simple .

John in Suffolk County England .
 
I don't honestly know. I do know if the pitman arm is loose, even AT ALL, it can create a woobble, let alone play. I speak from experience.
 
I just pulled the light switch to see if the wheel was stripped causing the play and it was not. I then pulled the cover off the steering box and inspected the sector and worm gear move when I turned the wheel. when I hold the pitman arm (Not connected to drag link) and move the wheel a little to right or left I see the play in the sector teeth and worm gear. Any comments are appreciated.

Ron
 
First of all check what lash you have on the worm and sector . Grab the steering wheel and try to pull it up and down . The wheel should turn easily but there should be no vertical play . If there is play you would have to unbolt the bottom end plate held on by 4 small 7/16" bolts underneath there are steel shims you can remove to remove vertical play .This is not common but worth checking . Reinstall the cover plate and clip a pair of vise grips on the end of the sector shaft and try to pull it out and push it in there should be no in out play with steering wheel turning freely .There is an adjuster on the cover . Wiggle the the shaft to check the wear in the sector shaft bushings . Ideally there should be very little but you will get a weep of oil anyway with acceptable wear . As your lash is fairly constant lock to lock and the adjustments are acceptable then someone has maybe already reversed the worm . I would reverse the worm anyway you have nothing to lose and it might improve things. When the wheel is at hard lock there will be no play as the sector has come up against its stop .

John in Suffolk County England .
 
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