Hey all,

Wife's dingo, steering box is really loose, lots of play in steering wheel. Is there any way to adjust the box..? doesn't seem to have ball joint problems, but noticed the wheels don't spin really free off the ground, got the noise going down road slow or fast like wheel bearing, but checked it out, but moving tires up,down,back,forth, nothing..little play i can see but the steering box parts move with it..

Any sugggestions..

 

Yes the box can be adusted, a little bit anyway. the adjuster is a preload adjustment & must be done with caution. just a little too tight & the steering wheel will not come back to center on it's own, little more too tight & you'll break the gear.

There is a stud with a jam nut poking out of the top of the box. hold the stud with an allen, loosen the jam nut without letting the stud move. when the nut is loose gently tighten the stud (clockwise) a quarter turn at a time, then drive. do tis till the wheel just starts to resist coming back to center on its own then back off just enough to free it back up. tighten jam nut.

Final tightening of jam nut is where I see the box damaged the most.you must be sure the center stud doesn't tighten when you set the jam nut.

If the box is really sloppy or there is any side play in the pitman shaft just plan on replacing the box, otherwise the above should do the trick.

 

The steering box on the 1998-1999 and some 2000's (that have steering box) can be adjusted.