Can anyone tell me how to adjust my steering box? The steering wheel is loose when I drive. I heard of adjusting/tightening the steering box to correct it. Am I smoking my lunch?

 

Is that like a liquid lunch? There is an adjustment but not really sure what it is for at this time as I do not have my service manual in front of me. I will try to look tonight when I get home if nobody else has replied by then. I would check your tie-rod ends, upper and lower king pins to see if any of that is loose at all.

 

It can be done, most people just loosen the nut on the top and a little at a tighten up the allen head bolt in the center. Be careful or you can break the gear if you go to much. BUT, to do the box correctly you should set bearing preload first. According to Dodge you need to remove the box, loosen the Large locknut around where the steering shaft goes into the box, tighten up the preload with a spanner wrench and then tighten the bolt on the top.

 

How much pressure does it take to break the gear, if you know? I mean how much torque should I not exceed in order not to break the gear?

 

I recommend just adjusting it 1/16 - 1/8 turn and driving it. If it is better, but still loose adjust it again and so on, but if it starts to turn hard, stop adjusting it. I have done this to several boxes with much happiness. just my .002

 

Not much, adjust 1/16 of a turn at a time, check play and go another 16th, and so on.

 

That sounds logical, tighten and drive and so forth. When you say starts to turn hard, are you referring to the input from the driver to the steering wheel or the actual truck turning hard?

 

I am talking about the allen bolt that you adjust..

 

Ahhhh, roger that SHARPMACHINE.