1967 Steering gear adjustment

[boundstaffpress]

I have manual steering, and right now I have about a 1/4 turn of slop. Makes it lots of fun to navigate narrow corners and side streets.

Have any of you adjusted a steering gear like this. What will I have to take apart to adjust it. The more detailed the instructions the better.

[pjmoreland]

I had a manual box originally in my old '67 that had a lot of slop in it. I was able to reduce the slop quite a bit by tightening in the little screw that is on the top of the box (can't see it in your picture--it's to the left). There's a jam nut you have to loosen before you can tighten the screw. I got carried away though and overtightened the screw. The box ended up failing because I overtightened it. My steering locked up. Fortunately I was in a parking lot at the time. It gave me an excuse to upgrade to power steering.

[sneakysnake]

I was gonna recomend not tighting it to much.The trick I use. Loosen the lock nut, take a screw driver and put in the adjustment screw, with your free hand turn the steering shaft back and forth and slowly tighten the screw until the slack is gone then retighten the lock nut without letting the adj screw turn. Also watch your pitman arm if it begins to move and you still have slack then you need to check your tie rods and idlers.

[boundstaffpress]

The screw you are talking about is the one I can get to from the engine compartment?

Doesn't this just adjust lash. I heard from a guy here in town to adjust the big nut in the picture. Has anybody done that?

[sneakysnake]

The "lash" is where the slack comes from. The big nut in your pic is not adjustable its just a seal and the way to remove the input shaft and worm gear.tho screw and lock nut on top of the box is the onn you adjust.