Hey folks, does anyone have a brand & catalog number on the special pin-spanner needed to adjust the steering box input shaft bearing plug?
DC's procedure lists a "DC special tool#" they use but that doesn't help me go down and buy/rent one to use. Smallest adjustable one I can check out from work has pins that are too large in diameter to fit.
I had my front end balljoints done late last fall, and I still have some residual steeringwheel play and I have conclusively determined it is ALL in the gearbox.
I checked and it needs the input shaft bearing plug tightened to remove the slop. Over center adjustment didn't help.
Procedure shows REMOVING the g-box from the truck but I believe I can do it from underneath by just removing the steeringwheel shaft and telescope it up out of the way and loosening the locking ring to adjust it.
Any ideas?
Thanks...

K.

 

All of their tools come from Miller/SPX.

 

Will a regular spanner wrench or punch and hammer work? Sometimes having the special tools make the job easier but if your creative it can be done without them.

 

Well, I've had no luck finding a so-called C-4381 (miller/spx?) tool in town..
Miller/SPX's website is completely useless for handtools... E-mail response only? Great!
I've had our plant's toolroom guy calling around to the (quality, well stocked)area tool companies and they all come back with "Nope, that number doesn't mean much to us.. We think it might be a special metric spanner, and we doan' got no stinkin' metric spanners"....
I really hate to use a punch and hammer to tighten the plug so I think I'll just try to find (or make)a generic smaller adjustable spanner even though the pins are going to be a sloppy fit.

K.

 

I used 2 punches. Insert the first one in the hole on the nut, then place the 2nd punch across the first punch at 90 deg angle and under the input shaft stub.

 

VSSMAN: How tight was the plug on your truck?
I assume there is an O-ring deep inside that will provide some initial resistance especially if it has not been moved in a while, then add dirt, corrosion, etc...
This weekend was way too cold and sloppy to do anything except stay inside by the fireplace...
If things dry off a bit this week, I may crawl under there and see if I can improvise a home-made spanner...

K.

 

I'm hoping one of my wrenches from a 7" grinder will be big enough..

I need to adjust mine badly.

 

I used a long thin punch and a hammer (light taps) to loosen the lock nut. The adjusting nut was easy to adjust with hand pressure on the punches. Easy adjustment to do.

 

Thanks for the feedback.. I think that I'll just try to wing it with a homemade version since it(hopefully) isn't likely to be too tight...
Yes, mine needs it adjusted pretty badly... All balljoints,tierod ends, idler arm, pittman arm are new or in great shape. Overcenter adjustment didn't help near enough.
I had the front end up on jackstands last week and I positively verified the input shaft has some end-to-end play that is causing the slop, just like the TSB indicates...http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997/19-10-97.htm

K.