I am trying to get out all the bugs in the new truck I purchased recently. 85 4x4 22r extra-cab. I have some 31's on the truck.

There is extra play in the steering wheel when it is at about the center position (tires straight). It makes it a little shaky to drive on the freeway because of the ruts and what not. It's hard to account for them when you pull in and out of the ruts.

Any ideas on what I could do or upgrade to take care of this?

 

Do you know when the last time the wheel bearings were done...?

 

I have no idea...
What are the possible things that could cause this?

I kinda want to get it fixed in the next week because the roads are getting icy in Spokane, WA and I don't want any unnecessary jerking around on the freeway w/this issue.

 

To find the cause of the play, have someone sit in the truck and turn the wheel slowly back and forth to the point the front tires just start to move. Then follow the steering linkage from the firewall down to the wheels watching it as it moves. What you are looking for is where one part of the steering moves and the next part that it connects to does not. Could be worn u-joints on the shaft, a worn out rag joint at the bottom of the shaft, worn out or loose sockets on the drag link or rod ends on the tie rod. If everything else is tight, it may be too much play in the steering box.

 

If it is play in the steering box, is there a way to adjust that?

 

my IFS pickup had about 2 inches of play in the steering wheel, it ended up being the steering box. i just replaced the whole thing with a [used] one from http://www.everdrive.com

idk if they carry parts for an 85 but it wouldnt hurt to check, if u end up having to replace the box

 

Usually a pre-load adjustment screw on the opposite end of where the pitman arm connects to the sector shaft.

 

There should be a little play when adjusted correctly.

 

I'm not seeing where this pre-load adjustment screw it. I was able to locate the pitman arm in the manual, but not the sector shaft. Any suggestions?

 

Pitman arm is attached to the sector shaft that runs through the box. If an adjustment screw is present (don't know for sure on the stock straight axle steering box), it'll be on the opposite side of the box from the pitman arm connection point.

 

I'm guessing the screw in the middle is what you are talking about.



Now the question is how do I go about adjusting this thing so that my steering will lose it's play. I turned the wheel and at the steering box is where i quit seeing things move, so i'm guessing this pre-load adjustment has go to be the culprit.

 

Looks like that is it. Loosen jam nut, turn screw in until snug and tighten the jam nut.

 

thanks, I'm going to go out and make that adjustment.

 

I'm glad I saw this thread, as my steering gear is a little loose. I just went out and adjusted mine about twenty minutes ago and took it for a spin. What a difference!

 

^ glad it could help you out. How did you go about it? Any problems like I described below


well, that didn't go so well. I loosened the nut that the screw (flathead) was embedded in and tried to turn the screw w/a screw driver and it is liked glued to the nut. I can't break it free. I put a wrench on the nut and tried to turn the screw at the same time, absolutely no luck.

First off, any idea?

Secondly, I just break that nut free and then turn the pre-load screw until it is snug?

 

shoot some (lots of) penetrating oil on the nut and let it sit a while, probably overnight. Turn the screw clockwise until snug.

 

Penetrating oil? I'm don't have any of that. something like wd40 work? Could I get some of that stuff at walmart? they are the only place open right now where I live

 

Yeah, wd40 should work. Sorry, I should have elaborated better!

 

i put some wd on there and some 3 in 1 oil. I I'm gonna keep puttin it on there and see how it works. How loose should I loosen the jam nut before snugging the preload screw?

 

I loosened mine up until there were about four threads of the screw showing.