adjusted steering box - removed play in steering

dhvaughan · #1 12-30-2006, 11:45 PM

so the day after christmas was 'work on the truck day'. steering wheel had a lot of play in it - about 2 inches of turn. i adjusted the play out and it drives a lot better. here's how...

spray the top of the steering box with a little brake cleaner to clean the dirt off.
work on the truck from underneath. key turned on one notch to unlock the steering wheel, but truck not running. wheels on ground.
use a 16 mm wrench and a 4.5 mm hex wrench (i think, if not 4.5, then 5.0)
insert the hex wrench into the center of the adjusting screw and point it towards the front of the truck.
hold the hex wrench and loosen the locknut.
have wife, g/f. wiggle steering wheel, or else get up and down a lot.
tighten hex wrench about 1/4 turn at a time to take up the play. i turned mine about 3/4 turn to take up 2 inches of play in the wheel.
hold hex wrench and tighten locknut.
you're done, take it for a test drive.

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erikb45 · #2 12-31-2006, 01:09 AM

thanks for the tip sounds fairly simple

damageddakota · #3 02-05-2007, 05:19 PM

dose this apply to where the steering shaft goes into the box because thats where the play is in mine?

bamory · #4 02-05-2007, 07:02 PM

Check out the Dodge Ram facts at the top of 2nd gen page. Really all the DYI and facts should be in one, we need a new moderator on the section that will put them all together...........

dillonjm · #5 02-05-2007, 08:10 PM

Just a tip, don't over tighten the adjustment screw. You can cause premature wear of the steering box.

Other than that, great tip for everyone.

dhvaughan · #6 02-05-2007, 10:23 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: damageddakota
dose this apply to where the steering shaft goes into the box because thats where the play is in mine?

yes.

nolazach · #7 02-06-2007, 03:49 AM

Thanks so much. Mine had gotten to the point where I felt like I was gonna get pulled over for DUI. The truck would go to the left and to the right on the interstate. Did this after seeing it. I wish I would haver known about this earlier. Thanks

BradBeyer · #8 12-13-2007, 10:49 AM

how do you know if you adjust it to much...I did this last night and it got rid of the play but just want to make sure I did not over do it.

Brad

ryans590 · #9 12-13-2007, 11:47 AM

your steering will feel like its got a memory and not center properley

VWandDodge · #10 12-13-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: ryans590

your steering will feel like its got a memory and not center properley

Like pulling to one side? *HINT* Brad!