I bought a new steering gear box ($189) today and will replace the old one today. Can anyone tell me the steps to do this? Also, is the new gearbox already adjusted correctly, or will I have to adjust that allen nut when I get it on? Thanks in advance.

 

Well, I put the new (remanufactured) steering box on & it made a difference. Can anybody tell me if we are supposed to adjust that allen nut on top or are the new boxes already set up correctly?

 

I hate to tell you but it won't last long.

I went through 3 reman boxes before giving up and buy a new one at dealer.

 

Valv, how long do you think it will last(a week, a month, etc)? Do you think I should try to tighten up the allen screw?

 

If the truck Steers fine , and doesn't have a lot of play in the steering , leave the adjustment. If you do decide to adjust it , read this first so that you do it right , the worm shaft adjustment must be made first , THEN the overcenter adjustment (the "allen nut as you call it)

Click me

 

JKM, you might want to look up the TSB concerning steering wander, because according to that, over center adjustment is to be done first, followed by the bearing preload (or worm shaft adjustment as you like to call it). I'm not going to say you are wrong, but if you are right the "Cummins Army" is going to have some issues. Now that rubber seal next to the pitman shaft is leaking power steering fluid, not fast just dripping...... and the gearbox is only 6 days old! HELP!

 

When the steering box in the '98 leaked fluid out of the Pitman arm shaft, I just got a rebuild kit and put a new seal in there.

Lateral stress on the sector shaft usually gets that seal to leaking.

 

I'd like to see that TSB. I'm at home so I can't look it up.

I'm curious how it can be done as the worm shaft preload is done with the sector shaft out of the box.
Then the sector (over center) adjustment is done by a total torque adjustment. The worm plus the sector.

Usually adjusting the sector (the allen screw) while the box is installed in the vehicle isn't very successful. It will stiffen up the steering and not fix the wander.

 

Thanks for the heads up , But I have already looked at the tsb and it's really only intended for minor adjustments. To do the adjustment and do it right , you have to adjust the worm shaft pre load first, Or at least that's what they taught us when I took a week long course on Saginaw (amongst others) steering boxes, I think I am going to go with the information i learned during that week long course , instead of what a 2 page TSB from dodge says.

BigDave- the worm shaft pre load can be done with the sector shaft in the box, you need to back the adjustment on it way off , and have the box turned off of center postion to do it.

Here is the TSB for you

 

JKM, that's why I said I wouldn't say you are wrong. I know there are guys who know as much or more than I. I don't tend to trust what Dodge says either, though I do trust Cummins.

 

I think where they were coming from is, do the easiest first. If that fixes it by tweeking the overcenter by an eighth turn or so then fine, if not then you need to get into the heavier stuff. The TSB is talking about light adjustments and then major adjustments. Obviously, depending on what your attempting to do, your both right. In an overhaul you would definately do it the other way around. The best part is that all the information given is good information and for that, I for one thank you.