Puke

98 2x4 auto. 24valve
I put a new steering box in,..did NOT do the preload adjustment beforehand. SIlly me, I thought they would never sell one that wasn't already set. Anyway, I've read that I can do this on the truck.. ,...do I have to use a mirror? How do you see it. The angle makes it so that you can't see it from below. And there is a lot of crap up above,.. I have read that this has been done many times, but I can't for the life of me see how I can actually see anything without using a mirror,..and nobody , in all the online posts,..has ever mentioned using a mirror.

Anybody who's done this on a 2 wheel drive, please let me know.?

NJTman

How do you know it wasn't set prior to purchase? Did you buy a junk AutoZone one?

When I spoke to my rebuilder, he said it wasn't possible to properly set the preload with the box on the vehicle.

Puke

I'm completely aware of the official factory method...off the truck.

I'm also completely aware of many posters who have done this on the truck rather than off. None of them mentioned a mirror, ..I am hoping someone who's done this on a 2x4 will chime in and let me know on that.

saggonwaggon91

I have done a few on the vehicle but it turns then to a "feel" type of adjustment. I would back it out till i felt play, turn in till the play was gone, then 1/8-1/4 turn more. Has worked for me for years without problems.

Puke

On my 2wd,..can I do that without using a mirror? It's easy enough to see the retainer ring because it protrudes outside the housing, but once it is off,..seems like the only way to see the front of it is if I look from above, even though I can't reach it from above.