Rich Largent
Member
How much "play" (if any) should be expected or is acceptable in the steering wheel. If I move my steering wheel slowly left and right observing the "slop", measured at the wheel rim the wheel travels free about one inch.
Playing with steering play
- Thread starter Rich Largent
- Start date
rockingchair
Junior Member
You didn't state what year you have, but I would be THRILLED to have only one inch of play!
Ron Barber
Member
I have about 3 inches, so I would say how did you get it.
IrishHills
Senior Member
I have about 3" also, any chance that screw with lock nut on passenger side of steering gear, would take up some of that? I have a 31.
and Hello to all. (new guy here)
and Hello to all. (new guy here)
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
Follow the "SERVICE BULLETINS" on steering overhaul and adjustments, and you should get rid of most of the slop.
28 Special Coupe
Member
I'd be really happy with 1" of play. I have about 5" with my 7-tooth. To paraphrase a friend of mine...it's like herding the car down the road rather than driving it. 
Rowdy
BANNED
I went through a bunch of this in 2006 for a freind. He brought me a decent looking 7 tooth column and a box full of used sector and worm gears. I had the worm shaft turned down, installed new bushings, bearings and gakskets. With alot of experimenting I finally came up with a comination of gears that was less than 1/14" free play. Tring to determine the depth of wear is problematic as width does not always translate into depth depending on several factors like driving conditions, proper adjustment when rebuilt and basic maintenance. All hard to determine as I found out. The sector gear that was the best actually had the widest wear marks, but fortunatly was not worn very deep. 1" is not real bad veiwing it from this perspective. Rod
Patrick L.
Well-known member
Rich didn't say whether he had a 2 or 7 tooth box.. But, an inch of play is good.. I'm not familiar with the 7 tooth,but, a '31 should have a 2 tooth which has 4 adjustments.. Like Tom said, the service bulletins will walk you thru them..
john in illinois
Well-known member
Les Andrews Mechanics Handbook #1 also has good step by step instructions. With used parts 1" is about as good as it gets.
glenn in camino
Well-known member
If you have too much play, check the idler arm connection to the steering box shaft. If the shaft moves before the arm, tighten the castle nut and reinsert the cotter pin.
steve s
Well-known member
I agree with those saying 1" is as good as it gets. Move on to your next issue.
When I first got my car back in 1960, it had a full quarter turn of slop. Coupled with no shock absorbers, that meant that when I hit a bump the wheels were going to be up in the air for some time and I would no idea which way we would be going when they came down. I learned to stay really on my toes and alert for which edge of the slop it seemed best to ride. When I tried to follow the book's adjustment instructions, I got it so messed up and hopeless, I threw the whole unit out and replaced it with one from the junk yard for $15--those were the days.
Steve
When I first got my car back in 1960, it had a full quarter turn of slop. Coupled with no shock absorbers, that meant that when I hit a bump the wheels were going to be up in the air for some time and I would no idea which way we would be going when they came down. I learned to stay really on my toes and alert for which edge of the slop it seemed best to ride. When I tried to follow the book's adjustment instructions, I got it so messed up and hopeless, I threw the whole unit out and replaced it with one from the junk yard for $15--those were the days.
Steve