Hey guys,
So I rebuilt the steering gear in my 1st gen. I mean I replaced all the seals and cleaned it all out, made it shiny again. There is still a lot of play in the wheel. Ive adjusted the rack and it has helped a bit. Just to try something, I cranked it all the way down, made sure to count the turns so I could return it to where it was, but even twisted all the way down, there is still a decent amount of play in the steering wheel.
When I drive I always have to hold the wheel turned to the left. BELOW. Are the gears inside just that wore out?

 

How much slop? Are you sure its all in the steering box? What about the shaft between the column and box? Is the box itself flexing its mount point? Frame cracking at all?

Is there a second adjustment on the rack??? Of only the one??? I know the recirculating ball fellers have an adjustment for gear to gear clearance, (what actually steers the truck) and a second adjustment for the piston that moved in there.... of course, the rack doesn't have that part......

 

yup/ Id bet its the lower steering shaft/ and "why to left"..... ever noticed the roads are crowned to the right? so youre fighting road crown. I'd bet if you get in the left lane the wheel would be off a lesser amount or maybe even to the right.

 

I guess I used the improper term, It's not a rack and pinion, has a steering box. I cranked on the allan screw on the top of box all the way down and its still has play in the steering wheel. The slop is about what you see in the pic, not quite, but both ways, and im pretty sure its all in the steering box, the steering shaft/ column shaft connections and joints all seem tight with no play, and you can see when you turn the steering wheel, and the slop " catches " theres no movement in the tie rods or the pitman arm. the box isnt showing any signs of flexing on its mount point, and I dont see any cracks in the frame. the only adjustment I know of is the allan screw on the top of the box. I'm just ready to kick over 310,000km and the only service on the box is when I rebuilt it. I didnt change any gears inside though, so the inner workings are all still original.

 

There are indeed two adjustments on the standard steering box. There is the alan screw on top, and the plug on the end where the shaft sticks out. (and the intermediate shaft mounts on that shaft.) There is a procedure in the service manual for adjusting those.

 

sometimes the wheels needs to be adjusted so that the steering works fine