Anyone with experience adjusting the steering gear box

[tcwaltz]

I have about an 1" of play in the steering. While I've gotten accustomed to it, it does make me nuts after I've been driving my Explorer with tight steering.

With the wheels on the ground I had my son move the wheel back and forth and I can see that it moves all the way down to the gear box. As 249,000 miles I'm sure there is some wear in there. Fluid has been completely flushed, power steering pump replaced.

I know where the adjustment point is, just curious if anyone had tips on doing it.

 

[ExplorerTom]

or is it the wear in all of the other components?

Jack up one of the front wheels and check for play in the steering direction. Some amount of play is acceptable- but it's like .1". I recently replaced everything (inner/outer tie rods, pitman arm and idler arm) except the steering box when I found I had about .3-.5" of play. With everything replaced, there is almost no detectable play.

 

[1955moose]

Steering box adjustments rarely work. After I replaced pitman, and idler arm, I noticed play in the box. I had some shop up the street from me throw on the steering parts. I asked them to adjust the play in the box, but it made little difference. Sad to say your going to have to throw on a new, or reman steering box. When their worn, it's time to replace. Mine is 20004x4.


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[tcwaltz]

Thanks for the heads up. I was kind of thinking that was the case. Looks like the pitman arm has been replaced on this thing. I'm more concerned about the play with my son driving it than me. When I drained the fluid from this thing is smelled pretty burnt. That should probably have been a good indicator things weren't all rosey in there.

 

[1955moose]

Don't feel bad, you got 250k. Mine has play at only 85k. I have a sneaking feeling, the shop that installed my new pitman/ idler arm, didn't use a large pitman arm puller, like their supposed to. Can't prove it, and they install Ford parts that I bring them. Fair price on labor too. Mine is not too bad yet. Gets worse when warm. Anybody out there have a recommendation for a quality steering box for 1st edition four wheel drive.


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[tcwaltz]

That is why I hate taking my vehicles in. Its like my TA. Had the tires done, one of my rims was boogered up and you could tell someone used an impact wrench on the security lug. But of course "it was like that". Had scratches on the fender on the same side. It looked like they had the wheel to high and hit the side of the car. So I'll suck it up and replace it. I mean the only thing left are tie rod ends and the gear box. pitman arms looks to have been replaced since it has a grease fitting.

 

[ExplorerTom]

It was replaced. Super. How long ago?

 

[1955moose]

That's why TC, you take pictures of all sides of your vehicle, before you have anything done. Their wasn't a week that went by at a bike shop I worked at, that a customer didn't complain of a scratch that wasn't there. Luckily we had a body shop detailer, that was a regular, that would color sand and buff the paint for us. In turn we would do services and such for free on his Honda. Sweet exchange.


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[tcwaltz]

Beleive me, I do that now. When I rent cars I do video all the way around and take pics of nicks and scratches.

 

[1955moose]

We did that at the Harley rental shop. We had a sheet with a black and white diagram of a bike on both sides. We marked scratches, small dents, etc. when the bike came back we had to check it over carefully. Honest customers are rare, they don't want to tell you I screwed up.


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