steering box adjustment
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wengr
steering box adjustment
Hello. when I turn the steering wheel, there is some free play before the wheels start to turn. How do I know how much is too much? Is it correct to assume that adjusting the steering box will correct this provided all the other front end parts are tight? I assume you would loosen the lock nut and then turn in the threaded rod some? actually I don't have a problem with how the car steers, but the head is off now and while it's accessible I wonder if I should tighten it up some?
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manoa matt
- Posts: 3442
- Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
- Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Re: steering box adjustment
Yep thats how you adjust it. There should be 1 inch of steering wheel free travel before resistance is felt or the wheels start to turn. However adjusting the steering box too tight to make up for slop in other steering linkages/joints is not a good idea.
Now that its accessable you should pop the top cover off and check the oil level and condition. It probably would not hurt to suck out all the old oil and replace with new just as good measure. The small square plug is the fill hole and almost too small for filling purposes and is sometimes tough to get out.
Now that its accessable you should pop the top cover off and check the oil level and condition. It probably would not hurt to suck out all the old oil and replace with new just as good measure. The small square plug is the fill hole and almost too small for filling purposes and is sometimes tough to get out.
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majicwrench
Re: steering box adjustment
Careful,
Tis easy to get that adjustment TOO TIGHT. Getting it TOO TIGHT will make car steer poorly, esp when trying to go straight. You WILL NOT be able to get all the "free play" no matter what you do. As was said, go ahead and check/change the fluid if you like, and if you must, go ahead, loosen the lock nut and turn the threaded rod in, maybe half a turn. Unless you have access to the factory recommended method of adjustment, or have lots of experience with steering boxes, I would not go any tighter. If car drives well now, does it even need adjusting??
Just my two cents,
Keith
Tis easy to get that adjustment TOO TIGHT. Getting it TOO TIGHT will make car steer poorly, esp when trying to go straight. You WILL NOT be able to get all the "free play" no matter what you do. As was said, go ahead and check/change the fluid if you like, and if you must, go ahead, loosen the lock nut and turn the threaded rod in, maybe half a turn. Unless you have access to the factory recommended method of adjustment, or have lots of experience with steering boxes, I would not go any tighter. If car drives well now, does it even need adjusting??
Just my two cents,
Keith