Thank God!! There are 9 million videos showing how to adjust sector shaft preload (the wrong way) and about two videos showing how to adjust thrust bearing preload (90% of the wheel slack problems).
Well your timing couldn't have been any better.. I've got a 71 El Camino and Im having the same issue.. I would have never known that little piece right there was causing all that wiggle.. I'm definitely going to pull that gearbox out as soon as I get home.. thanks for the information!
Key here was adjust that big one where steering input is first, then the small screw with the 5/8 wrench and a 3/16 allen. the screw with the 3/16 allen is almost flush with the nylock nut. i noticed that when i unscrewed the screw where it is sticking out more play came back, but when i screwed it in the play was minimized to just about zero. then i finally locked both nuts, now its good. by the way got the master seal kit from NAPA for about 40$ and some of the seals had matching numbers with the original seals so its a good kit. it had everything all the nylon and harder seals and o rings and everything that will cause a leak, no more leaks! the steering coupler i had to get from oreilly though but it worked out ok. good vid thank you! CAR WAS 1968 CAMARO BASE WITH V8 327 2BARREL POWER STEERING BOX.
Hello thank you for your video. I have a 70 camaro and have the same problem. I followed your instruction and it did make it better. So thank you for your help. 👍
Awesome video. Like you said, there are no videos showing this repair, if there is I never seen it till just now lol. Wish me luck on my 62 Impala in doing this but I have a feeling mine will need a whole new unit.
Well said and well done. There are so many half ass videos of people turning that damn allen screw like it's some kind of miracle screw or something. All they're doing is hoping and guessing and screwing things up. You gotta have the box out of the car and on the bench to do it right.
That’s all correct, but one should study how the steering box actually works before doing this. The shop manuals will tell you that this adjustment must be done with the steering box removed from the vehicle. If you try to do it in the vehicle it will be impossible to adjust the bearing properly because you just won’t be able to measure the torque properly. If you over to torque the bearing it will be damaged And the steering box will need to be replaced or rebuilt after. That screw and the nut on the top adjusts the sector shaft by moving it up and down. The sector shaft teeth are shaped like a wedge so as you move them in any direction they will get loser or they will get tighter dependent on the way you turn this nut, so you definitely don’t want to over adjusted because your jam it right into the worm gear balls and the other end Of the adjuster bolt will wear its way into the groove that it’s sitting in in the sector shaft which will cause them to wear out and loosen up again. What you actually did is adjust is the end play in the worm gear shaft itself by taking the slack (wear) out of the bearing. And you’re absolutely correct this is the way to do it. And then you can measure the mount of resistance on the shaft with an inch pound torque wrench to make sure that it’s pre-loaded the bearing correctly..2 inch lbs isn’t much so tighten it up snug, then back off and finger tighten as much as possible like you would a front wheel bearing..
I’ve had a hell of a time finding out what the problem is with my 71 chevelle having a super light steering even though I’ve rebuilt the whole front end, new springs, shocks all around wheels, tires, motor, trans, rear end. I’m going to give this a shot I hope this is my fix haha
Would you be able to tighten that in place or does all the fluid need to be drained out to get it tightened properly? That is the same issue I’m having on my 92 Camaro
Does this require removing some, or all fluid from the unit? You said ‘maybe’ to doing this in the vehicle, just wanted to know if the fluid would cause pressure while trying to make this adjustment? Thanks.
Since this video, I took that same unit out and rebuilt it. If you can reach the collar and get some torque on it, you can absolutely do this in the car.
Just did my input seal .. make sure you count how many turns when removing.. you're gonna want to put it back in that many turns... Mine was 5 turns off.. 5 turns on!
Thanks! Nice vid but you neglected how to properly set the top screw. Individual preferences vary, but I believe for most cars you bottom out the screw, then back it out between, 1/3rd and 1/2 turn.
Please people...If you DO NOT want to damage your gearbox, get a copy of the service manual and follow the directions. Over tightening the adjustments will prematurely wear out the gearbox or worse.
Sadly from 2030 on all combustion cars including classics will be banned from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by reducing all conventional fuel stations to only one state operated central gas station per city or county. Now they even want to slow down all the gas pumps from 20 litre per minute to 2 litre per minute...From 2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even created a new kind of crime here, called emissions and smoke crime. :-(
Thank God!! There are 9 million videos showing how to adjust sector shaft preload (the wrong way) and about two videos showing how to adjust thrust bearing preload (90% of the wheel slack problems).
It just worked for me perfectly!
THANKS!
Slick, something I did not know, I always adjusted the top as well, nice Cutlass. Good Vid, thanks.
Well your timing couldn't have been any better.. I've got a 71 El Camino and Im having the same issue.. I would have never known that little piece right there was causing all that wiggle.. I'm definitely going to pull that gearbox out as soon as I get home.. thanks for the information!
Key here was adjust that big one where steering input is first, then the small screw with the 5/8 wrench and a 3/16 allen. the screw with the 3/16 allen is almost flush with the nylock nut. i noticed that when i unscrewed the screw where it is sticking out more play came back, but when i screwed it in the play was minimized to just about zero. then i finally locked both nuts, now its good. by the way got the master seal kit from NAPA for about 40$ and some of the seals had matching numbers with the original seals so its a good kit. it had everything all the nylon and harder seals and o rings and everything that will cause a leak, no more leaks! the steering coupler i had to get from oreilly though but it worked out ok. good vid thank you! CAR WAS 1968 CAMARO BASE WITH V8 327 2BARREL POWER STEERING BOX.
The best guide video to properly adjust a gear box.
Hello thank you for your video. I have a 70 camaro and have the same problem. I followed your instruction and it did make it better. So thank you for your help. 👍
Glad it helped
Awesome video. Like you said, there are no videos showing this repair, if there is I never seen it till just now lol. Wish me luck on my 62 Impala in doing this but I have a feeling mine will need a whole new unit.
Thanks, nice explanation and awesome video.
Well said and well done. There are so many half ass videos of people turning that damn allen screw like it's some kind of miracle screw or something. All they're doing is hoping and guessing and screwing things up. You gotta have the box out of the car and on the bench to do it right.
Thank you for this video, did not know that. Thanks again!
Happy you did this. I am thinking the same with mine (adjusting preload on the balls).
Just what I was looking for. Thanks!!!
Thank you! Helped me a lot
That’s all correct, but one should study how the steering box actually works before doing this. The shop manuals will tell you that this adjustment must be done with the steering box removed from the vehicle. If you try to do it in the vehicle it will be impossible to adjust the bearing properly because you just won’t be able to measure the torque properly. If you over to torque the bearing it will be damaged And the steering box will need to be replaced or rebuilt after. That screw and the nut on the top adjusts the sector shaft by moving it up and down. The sector shaft teeth are shaped like a wedge so as you move them in any direction they will get loser or they will get tighter dependent on the way you turn this nut, so you definitely don’t want to over adjusted because your jam it right into the worm gear balls and the other end Of the adjuster bolt will wear its way into the groove that it’s sitting in in the sector shaft which will cause them to wear out and loosen up again. What you actually did is adjust is the end play in the worm gear shaft itself by taking the slack (wear) out of the bearing. And you’re absolutely correct this is the way to do it. And then you can measure the mount of resistance on the shaft with an inch pound torque wrench to make sure that it’s pre-loaded the bearing correctly..2 inch lbs isn’t much so tighten it up snug, then back off and finger tighten as much as possible like you would a front wheel bearing..
Thanks for solving my problem.
I’ve had a hell of a time finding out what the problem is with my 71 chevelle having a super light steering even though I’ve rebuilt the whole front end, new springs, shocks all around wheels, tires, motor, trans, rear end. I’m going to give this a shot I hope this is my fix haha
Thank you! I will try this on my 69C10
Would you be able to tighten that in place or does all the fluid need to be drained out to get it tightened properly? That is the same issue I’m having on my 92 Camaro
Everything made sense. Why cant all other youtube videos be this way?
Does this require removing some, or all fluid from the unit? You said ‘maybe’ to doing this in the vehicle, just wanted to know if the fluid would cause pressure while trying to make this adjustment? Thanks.
Since this video, I took that same unit out and rebuilt it. If you can reach the collar and get some torque on it, you can absolutely do this in the car.
Just did my input seal .. make sure you count how many turns when removing.. you're gonna want to put it back in that many turns... Mine was 5 turns off.. 5 turns on!
Thanks! Nice vid but you neglected how to properly set the top screw. Individual preferences vary, but I believe for most cars you bottom out the screw, then back it out between, 1/3rd and 1/2 turn.
Dude is correct.
Have to try this on my 72 C10
My brand new box still has almost as much slop as the old one. Does the factory not pay enough to sell with correct adjustment applied?
I put a new box in and the car wanders worst than the old one
Turns out I got an enlarged mounting hole in steering link at the pitman arm connection.
Can you do this in the car?
A lot of people blame the rag joint on this and that can indeed be worn out, but the gearbox is usually the culprit.
Nice car! Do you know if this applys to newer 4wd trucks?
I would suspect that if it's a circulating ball style steering box that it would, but I think newer trucks have gone to rack and pinion.
Please people...If you DO NOT want to damage your gearbox, get a copy of the service manual and follow the directions. Over tightening the adjustments will prematurely wear out the gearbox or worse.
So you can make that lower adjustment with the box in the car?
You might be able to do it, but it would be tough.
👍🏼👍🏼🍺👌🖖🏼
It's an 2001 tahoe..I've tighten the adjustment and it is no better.
Sadly from 2030 on all combustion cars including classics will be banned
from public streets in entire EU and Scandinavia :-( In Germany the
Green Peoples Party gave order to shorten fuel supply from 2025 on by
reducing all conventional fuel stations to only one state operated
central gas station per city or county. Now they even want to slow down
all the gas pumps from 20 litre per minute to 2 litre per minute...From
2027 on in the EU certain car spare parts will be banned too....as
exhaust systems, turbo chargers and even some engine and gearbox
oils...California and New York will do the same from 2027 on.... So no
investments should be done in oil burning cars any longer....They even
created a new kind of crime here, called emissions and smoke crime. :-(
Spanner wrench