Diagnose my pitman arm movement

[braol]

Interesting thing: I checked any and all play in my steering per the manual and things are mostly good to go. Here's what happens though: I still have a bit of play in the wheel but it's not at any of the tie-rod or pitman arm connections. (I replaced all my tierod end springs, etc...) When my son starts to turn the wheel the pitman arm slides laterally. In other words, the pitman arm shaft slides about maybe 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch before the pitman arm itself starts to pivot. If you were looking at it, the pitman arm shaft starts to move either out towards you or away from you before the the shaft itself starts to pivot the pitman arm. I am thinking that maybe part #30 (sector shaft bushing??) in the Brattons steering box diagram https://www.brattons.com/assemblies/two-tooth-steering-assembly.html is worn on the end...allowing the shaft to slide in and out as pressure is put on it from the worm gear inside the box.






Ideas? Is that bushing a pain to change out. Would it require a press or is it a slip fit?

 

[Marshall V. Daut]

Both the seven-tooth and two-tooth designs have an adjustment for sector shaft end play, which it sounds you are experiencing, if you mean the sector is moving towards the fender and towards the engine. Is that your "laterally" description?
You need a 3/4" wrench to loosen the lock nut on the engine side of the steering box and a short flat blade screwdriver to adjust the set screw. The in and out that you turn the screw sets the lateral movement of the sector shaft. Check the Ford adjustment procedure, but I believe this is set with the steering wheel turned all the way to one extreme or the other, and then back 1/8th turn. With the nut backed off, turn the slotted set screw in until it bottoms out. No farther. Then tighten the lock nut. Turn the steering wheel from extreme to extreme, checking for binding.
If you have a seven-tooth system, the only other thing you can adjust is the up and down movement of the steering wheel shaft, which is controlled by shims at the bottom of the column. No other adjustment to compensate for wear. The two-tooth system has four adjustments, three of which can be performed with the column in the car. I have read that the fourth adjustment can be made while in the car, but it takes a contortionist with specially modified tools to do it. Anyway, go through the three adjustments per manual in the order specified. And then see how much play you have at the steering wheel.
By the way, to perform any of these adjustments, it's best to remove the drag link from the pitman arm.
Marshall

 

[54vicky]

if you type in steering box adjustment you will discover a multitude of suggestions most with pictures.manual will tell you how much free play in wheel is normal

 

[Patrick L.]

I agree with Marshall that the problem may well be a box adjustment. My main question is, how much steering wheel play is there ? My opinion is that anything over 1.5" is starting to be excessive. I'm not familiar with the 7 tooth box, but, the 2 tooth box does have 4 adjustments which need to be done in an order so the best instructions are in the Service Bulletins. I'm one that does the 4th adjustment with the box still mounted in the vehicle and have 'warped' a screwdriver to make this possible. But usually the first 3 adjustments are sufficient. When done the steering box should not bind in the center when turning with no load on the steering system. Grease alone should not be used in the box as lube.

 

[braol]

I did all 4 adjustments and there is no binding in the box. All my free play (not too bad) seems to be in the lateral movement of the sector shaft.

 

[Patrick L.]

When an adjustment is made, its time to start over. It'll take several times usually. An adjustment will affect the previous one.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

After all the steering box are done correctly, then make sure the pitman arm clamping bolt is dead tight, and the same with the box to frame mounting bolts.

 

[braol]

I am going to have to jack the car again and maybe go through the adjustments one at a time again... I have no endplay when moving the pitman by hand...only when turning the wheel under load.