GM steering box slop?
ma...@mec.edu
question has around 125,000 miles on it. The service manual calls for pulling
the steering gear out of the car and sticking a torque wrench on the shaft
and turning the adjusting screw to tighten the box up. Has anyone had any
luck with adjusting the saginaw steering gears? Are there any other problems
with the saginaw 800-808 steering boxes to watch out for? Id sorta like to
get the slop out of the box to fix the toe in/out problems im having. Or
would i be better off trying my luck with a $50 junkyard special or one of
the preadjusted rebuilt ones like AutoZone (Atsco), Pepboys(Cardone), or
local parts place (General)?
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SirKnight
>
> ive got an 85 buick with some free play in the steering box, the car in
> question has around 125,000 miles on it. The service manual calls for pulling
> the steering gear out of the car and sticking a torque wrench on the shaft
> and turning the adjusting screw to tighten the box up. Has anyone had any
> luck with adjusting the saginaw steering gears? Are there any other problems
Another question: anybody run into Saginaw box failures on late model
Dodge 4x4
2500HD/3500 diesels? Mine is shot after 38k miles, due to 3 failed
trackbars I
assume. The box has excessive shaft side-play, backlash, and a "clunk"
when
turned on my 95 2500RAM. Adjusting lash helped some, but still excessive
play.
Is there another box which would be stronger? Also, any other trackbar
supplier
other than Mopar (Moog discontinued their bar)? Seems like a huge amount
of
weight to bear on that "tierod end" (to my uneducated eye). Thanks -
-Scott (NC)
ma...@mec.edu
ma...@MEC.Edu wrote:
> ive got an 85 buick with some free play in the steering box, the car in
> question has around 125,000 miles on it. The service manual calls for pulling
> the steering gear out of the car and sticking a torque wrench on the shaft
> and turning the adjusting screw to tighten the box up. Has anyone had any
> luck with adjusting the saginaw steering gears? Are there any other problems
> with the saginaw 800-808 steering boxes to watch out for? Id sorta like to
> get the slop out of the box to fix the toe in/out problems im having. Or
> would i be better off trying my luck with a $50 junkyard special or one of
> the preadjusted rebuilt ones like AutoZone (Atsco), Pepboys(Cardone), or
> local parts place (General)?
Just pulled the steering box out of the car and replaced the pitman arm on
it, i didn't realize how much play was in the ball stud of the arm. Seems to
solve the toe in/out problems was having, guess the box was in decent shape
after all. Ive finally got a nice tight front end on the car after replacing
all 4 balljoints, 4 tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm,sway bar bushings,shocks.
Some tips for you guys trying to replace the pitman arm: The large nut on
the pitman arm was 1 5/16" but a 34mm axle nut fit as well. Get a genuine
pitman arm puller to remove the pitman arm, don't attempt to use a gear
puller because you may snap it seeing as how tight the arm is pressed on. If
sticking a long breaker bar on the pitman arm nut can't start to loosen it,
go down your local service station with the steering box and pitman arm nut
socket, then use one of their air wrenches to remove that stubborn nut. A
balljoint "pickle fork" seperator works well for seperating the pitman arm
stud from the center drag link, just give it a few good whacks with the
hammer. And finally don't let the steering box hang from the steering column
rag joint, as you may damage the rubber joint and have the steering joint
snap when your driving the car some day. I guess the only parts of the front
suspension that weren't worn out were the sealed wheel bearings, and the
actual steering box.
pse...@autobahn.mb.ca
ma...@MEC.Edu wrote:
> ive got an 85 buick with some free play in the steering box, the car in
> question has around 125,000 miles on it. The service manual calls for pulling
> the steering gear out of the car and sticking a torque wrench on the shaft
> and turning the adjusting screw to tighten the box up. Has anyone had any
> luck with adjusting the saginaw steering gears? Are there any other problems
> with the saginaw 800-808 steering boxes to watch out for? Id sorta like to
> get the slop out of the box to fix the toe in/out problems im having. Or
> would i be better off trying my luck with a $50 junkyard special or one of
> the preadjusted rebuilt ones like AutoZone (Atsco), Pepboys(Cardone), or
> local parts place (General)?
>
I think the slop you are referring to is in the pitman arm, where wear
occurs on all boxes. There is a threaded "stud" and a lock nut on the top
side of the box (manual or power) that adjusts the free play. Loosen the nut
about 5 turns, trying not to move the stud. The stud should have a slot for
a screwdriver or an Allen key. With the wheels in a straight ahead position,
screw in the stud until you feel stiff resistance (like it is pushing against
the pitman arm). Back the stud out a 1/4 turn. Check the play in the wheel
to see if you have improvement. Be sure to tighten up the lock nut with out
turning the stud.
Pete
SirKnight
>
> I think the slop you are referring to is in the pitman arm, where wear
> occurs on all boxes. There is a threaded "stud" and a lock nut on the top
> side of the box (manual or power) that adjusts the free play. Loosen the nut
> about 5 turns, trying not to move the stud. The stud should have a slot for
> a screwdriver or an Allen key. With the wheels in a straight ahead position,
> screw in the stud until you feel stiff resistance (like it is pushing against
> the pitman arm). Back the stud out a 1/4 turn. Check the play in the wheel
> to see if you have improvement. Be sure to tighten up the lock nut with out
> turning the stud.
>
> Pete
>
tighten-
ing the lock nut. Some boxes I've encountered have a "Nylock"
(interfence fit)
lock nut - it will not turn easily w/o turning the stud with it. If so,
make
ABSOLUTELY SURE that you hold the stud stationary while tightening the
lock nut.
Otherwise, the stud will turn with the nut - possibly damaging the box
(I found
this out the hard way once). Course this isn't the factory service
procedure,
but it works for me.
-Scott
Habegger
Oh yes, you'd look good at a Roadkill Restaurant.....
Dick.
ma...@MEC.Edu wrote in message <6pm1h2$tdu$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...
>ive got an 85 buick with some free play in the steering box, the car in
>question has around 125,000 miles on it. The service manual calls for
pulling
>the steering gear out of the car and sticking a torque wrench on the shaft
>and turning the adjusting screw to tighten the box up. Has anyone had any
>luck with adjusting the saginaw steering gears? Are there any other
problems
>with the saginaw 800-808 steering boxes to watch out for? Id sorta like to
>get the slop out of the box to fix the toe in/out problems im having. Or
>would i be better off trying my luck with a $50 junkyard special or one of
>the preadjusted rebuilt ones like AutoZone (Atsco), Pepboys(Cardone), or
>local parts place (General)?
>
ma...@mec.edu
"Habegger" <am...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Just find a good cliff to drop it over. That fixes a lot of problems. :>)
i think youve found the solution to your paint peeling problems, ain't self
help wonderful. Another thing learn to take some resposibilty for the
problems that occur with your automobile, instead of whining and threatening
to press frivilous legal actions against general motors.
> Oh yes, you'd look good at a Roadkill Restaurant.....
its so nice to make friends like you:) Oh by the way, ive got a box of
RoadKill Helper in the cabinet, want to help me gather up some roadkill so we
can do dinner together? I prefer flattened racoon myself, what do you like?
On another note, kids at my school found these cool signs at the local mall
that had written at the top "RoadKill Cafe" complete with a list and pictures
of some of the roadkill specials of the day, and they mysteriously would
appear on the school cafe enterance from time to time.
> Dick.
you were ever so appropriately named.
> ma...@MEC.Edu wrote:
> >ive got an 85 buick with some free play in the steering box,
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phil
the other adjustment. On the end with the big lock ring. the input end. I
bet there is play in the thrush bearing .