tombothetominator

Hey all,
I had a remanned steering box put into the runner about 8 months ago, and recently my steering has been feeling really loose. Im pretty sure that there is a way to adjust the steering box to make things a little tighter. If it isnt that im thinking that maybe its the idler arm bushings needing to be replaced? Any help on adjusting the steering box would be much appreciated. Its a 91 3.0 5spd runner. Thanks!
~Tombo~

eric-the-red

Simple to do, there's an adjustment screw on the top of the box. It's easier to get at if you remove the coolant overflow bottle. Just undo the locknut and turn the screw in, I think I went about 1/2 turn at a time. When you get it right tighten the locknut and that's it.
The manual spec is 1 inch of free play at the steering wheel rim. And like most things with bearings too tight is probably not good.

Flamedx4

Just be careful not to over tighten it. Easy to do, common mistake, and if you do overtighten the gear will be destroyed in a hundred miles.

The proper way to do it is to remove the gear and do it on the bench with an inch pound torque wrench (see pic)... yeah right. In practice you can do it ballpark quite effectively. Jack up the front wheels. Make sure you have the steering gear centered. Loosen the locknut for the adjuster screw. Slowly turn in the adjuster screw and rock the wheel ever so gently back and forth, do this a bit at a time. Eventually you will feel some drag when the gear passes over center (on each side of center it won't be tight.) When you reach that point where you just feel it, back off the adjuster screw a bit (I'd say 1/8 turn) Test gently to make sure there is not more drag, and lock it down with the locknut.

Flamedx4

But I would check the tie rod ends and idler first, it much less likely to be the steering gear.

ldivinag

ditto...

tombothetominator

Well i am going to the steering box for a few reasons. 1: I gave the idler arm a gander, and there is very little play (maybe like 1/16 in. of up/down play) in the idler. 2: like i said in the first post: the steering box is a remmaned unit which was put in like 6-8 moths ago, and i figure that there is at least some amount of break-in to account for. 3: my dealership doesnt have parts in stock to rebuild the idler, so i figured i might as well fix the free one first, and then if it doesnt help, order the parts.
Thanks all for the help, as soon as it gets light outside im going to head out and tighten it up, and maybe even wash it since its shaping up to be a beautifull day.