Steering Box Gear Backlash?

Steering Box Gear Backlash?

04-13-2007, 07:48 PM

#1 (permalink)

Greenleaf

Offline
Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Crestview Bus Garage Ashland, Ohio Posts: 4,431 Old Reader's Rigs Gallery

Steering Box Gear Backlash?

Trying to locate the area of the play in my steering. It wanders. I don't think it should wander. It's all over the road at 65 and still very noticable at 55.

I have replaced almost everything steering related. Everything other than a couple of strut rod bushings and the gear box. Everything.

The gear box has slop (backlash) and I don't know if it should. I have adjusted it twice (tighter) and it still wanders. I am told if I make the gears too tight, the pressure will spike and blow out the seal(s).

How tight is too tight? By grabbing the pitman arm, I can "feel" some backlash inside. I don't know how much. Didn't measure it with a dial. Should I adjust all the lash out of the gears?

Wandering in Ohio

__________________
1990/1992 Dodge Rams modified by Smokehouse Diesel Ashland, Ohio

......therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38

Non members can only view the initial post on threads more than 7 days old. There are 39 additional replies on this thread that you could view if you were a member.

TDR Membership offers many benefits including:

4 issues of the TDR magazine per year including these columns:
- Tailgating - A Letter From The Editor
- Letter Exchange - Responses From The Readers
- Member2Member - Members' Solutions To Members' Questions
- Technical Topics - Service/Parts Update
- First Generation - Owner-Specific Articles On The '89 - '93 Dodge Diesel Trucks
- 12-Valve Engines - Owner-Specific Articles On The '94 - '98.5 12-Valve Dodge Diesel Trucks
- 24-Valve Engines - Owner-Specific Articles On The '98.5 - '02 24-Valve Dodge Diesel Trucks
- Third Generation - Owner-Specific Articles On The '03 And Newer Dodge Diesel Trucks
- Blowin' In The Wind - Industry News
- Shadetree - Back To The Basics
- Celebrity Corner - The Shadetree Mechanic - Sam Memmolo
- From The Shop Floor - Tips From Turbo Diesel Repair Shops
- Products Showcase - Featured Products
- TDRelease - Vendor Press Releases
In many areas of the country a local chapter with events
A yearly printed copy of the TDR Travel companion listing approximately 700 TDR members across the country willing to help you if you have trouble on the road
Complete access to the TDR website including:
- Ability to do advanced searches over 1.1 million posts
- Access to members only forums (Truck 911, FAQ Forums, Discontinued parts support, Rigs spotted, Pay it forward, Other, and Political)
- Posting ability to the forums
- Ability to read an unlimited number of posts from the forums
- Can customize your forum list to your interests
- Can choose 1st, 2nd, 3rd gen, or rotating header graphics
- Limit searches to forums your interested in
- View posts since you last logged on
- Private message ability to other members
- Chat room access
- Diesel truck specific TSB listing by model year
- Online access to the Travel Companion database (with most current information)