here you go...

16mm open end wrench (box should also work) and a 3/16" allen

there was enough room to put the allen wrench in no problem. loosen the locknut, then adjust as recommended, 1/4 turn at a time.

 

Steve,

Thank you very much for the pics. I was able to get mine adjusted! I had to take an old wrench, heat it and bend it though to get the lock nut loose. I couldn't get the wrench on then have enough room to turn it. There's a bracket just above where the wrench extends and I had about 1/16th inch movement before it hit. I had to reduce the angle if the wrench shaft and the end. Box end was flat, but then it hit against the screws on the outer edge of the top of the steering box. I got it though.

Almost 2 full turns with the hex wrench before it even made any difference in the steering. Final adjustment was just a tad past 2 turns.

I think I still need ball joints though. The steering wheel play is gone, but the front end still feels a little sloppy. Overall though it's way better than it was.

Now to go get the new bilsteins on the front, did the backs yesterday.

 

Ah frick, now I have a problem....the steering box is leaking like crazy around the nut where I made the adjustments. It's as tight as I can get it.

Screw it, I'm just going to have a new one put on when I get the ball joints done. Sigh.

 

And now I can't get the nut off the top of the shock tower so I can pull the tower off to get the old shocks out...grrrrrrrrrrr It's just turning out to be one of those fraggin days...think I'll go do something else.............

 

2 turns on the adjustment is way too much. I am not suprised that you have a leak but I am suprised where it is leaking from. lol

 

I'd like to see an exploded diagram of the box to see what the screw is actually doing... does anyone have access to it?

 

How can 2 turns be way too much if that's what it takes to make any difference?

Otherwise, there was no point in adjusting anything.

 

I think his standpoint is it should not be adjusted to begin with. I was told it was ok to do so years back and did it on my 2000 with good results. I did it again on my '05 and had good results. I just got back from WA (1600 mi RT) and the steering was pretty good. I did have a wheel bearing go bad so it did get wierd after that happened.

I suspect the slop in the ball joints led to the WB failure. I have a new one and plan on getting one for the otherside and will do the install this weekend. (I'd expect if ones bad, the other is not far to follow...)

 

Hmmm. Steering boxes must have been designed by women then. Put adjustment screws and nuts on them, but don't you dare adjust them!
Knowing full well a man is going to adjust it anyway....

Gonna have a look at the box again today. For as much as it appeared to be leaking, I'd expect a small puddle under the front of the truck, but haven't seen anything. I wonder is some seeped out while the lock nut was loose and I was adjusting the screw.

Wheels bearings, ugh. How many miles you have on your truck?

 

the adjustment procedures i have read about only call for 1/4" turns at a time and if more than 1 turn is needed than adjustment isnt going to solve the problem and a box will be needed fairly soon.

I have followed steering box information quite closely and people have adjusted them with good results and others it did short term improvement. most were short term improvements.