Steering shaft/box

Ak68w · Post by **Ak68w** » Thu May 02, 2019 3:09 pm

Is this normal? The box is about a year old. I can feel a dead spot in the steering. I grab the shaft under the dash with one hand and the wheel in the other and it seems tight and in unison. All u joints are tight. Pulled the boot and really couldn’t see any play unless I push up and down on it at the joint. I’m just not sure if this box is supposed to do this or not but I’m really sick of the slop and dead spot in this steering. The clunking sound is in the steering box itself.

https://youtu.be/OcMZQUa-ykE

Thanks for replies!

PWJouster · Post by **PWJouster** » Thu May 02, 2019 4:38 pm

pretty sure this movement is due to the Backlash that is designed into the steering box.
you can tighten up the Lash with a nifty adjuster on the top of the steering box. look up this process on youtube.
but ive heard you do not want to go too far or you may introduce binding into the system.

Ak68w · Post by **Ak68w** » Thu May 02, 2019 5:45 pm

PWJouster wrote: ↑
Thu May 02, 2019 4:38 pm
pretty sure this movement is due to the Backlash that is designed into the steering box.
you can tighten up the Lash with a nifty adjuster on the top of the steering box. look up this process on youtube.
but ive heard you do not want to go too far or you may introduce binding into the system.

Yeah I had adjusted the last one too far, it was worn out anyways. Any thoughts on the clunk? I’m curious how this compares to others or if there is a spec on it

Post by **DamageWagon** » Tue May 07, 2019 11:51 am

1. Gearboxes are intended to have the least backlash when they are on-center

2. Gearboxes experience least backlash when they are pressurized. Engine-off testing will show different results.

3. In my opinion the adjustment of these gearboxes should not be done. I have never seen it work as a lasting improvement and it only seems to increase rate of wear as the gearbox is already on its last breath. That adjustment is for the factory to set, and is not really useful once the gearbox has already started to wear.

4. I have always experienced some clunk in my gearboxes when going down certain roads like gravel or some washboard roads. It is overcoming the resistance of the flow and tapping each side of the gear tooth due to the backlash that must be there.

Ak68w · Post by **Ak68w** » Wed May 08, 2019 10:18 am

DamageWagon wrote: ↑
Tue May 07, 2019 11:51 am
1. Gearboxes are intended to have the least backlash when they are on-center

2. Gearboxes experience least backlash when they are pressurized. Engine-off testing will show different results.

3. In my opinion the adjustment of these gearboxes should not be done. I have never seen it work as a lasting improvement and it only seems to increase rate of wear as the gearbox is already on its last breath. That adjustment is for the factory to set, and is not really useful once the gearbox has already started to wear.

4. I have always experienced some clunk in my gearboxes when going down certain roads like gravel or some washboard roads. It is overcoming the resistance of the flow and tapping each side of the gear tooth due to the backlash that must be there.

Are there any specs you are aware of on the lash/ or play?also I’m curious how this compares to others on the site here. With the engine on if I turn the wheel/tires to say halfway there is a large amount of movement in the wheel before the teeth meet and allow the tires to turn. This deadspot is concerning to me and annoying while driving, especially being that I just replaced the Box a year ago. I’m wondering if the box went bad prematurely

Post by **DamageWagon** » Wed May 08, 2019 9:10 pm

There is no public ally available spec because that screw isn’t an adjuster. There is no adjustment. It is meant to be set once and forever. That there is a factory permission that the user can adjust it 1/3 turn is a joke. It doesn’t work. It gets built with that screw adjusted and that’s it.

Is your fluid red, clear or black?

NovA ProspekT · Post by **NovA ProspekT** » Sat May 11, 2019 3:24 am

Just to reiterate what DamageWagon has already stated, because it's very important, that adjustment screw on the top of the box isn't to be adjusted while on the vehicle, regardless of how many fools on YouTube will tell you to do so. That screw is to be adjusted in a particular manner that is impossible to do while the box is on the truck. Adjust it wrong and your steering box could bind and prevent steering past a certain point, which is obviously quite dangerous.

What brand is the replacement box? New or Remanufactured?

Ak68w · Post by **Ak68w** » Wed May 22, 2019 11:23 am

Sorry guys I haven’t checked the fluid color or got up underneath to determine what brand it is. However on the receipt it does show it was a reman, for 690$

Reloaderguy · Post by **Reloaderguy** » Thu May 23, 2019 12:13 am

One of these days I'll sell my OEM box with 20k miles on it.

Ak68w · Post by **Ak68w** » Sat Oct 26, 2019 2:51 pm

Above is the PN.

Looked at the power steering fluid today during oil change and it is red.

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