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#Post#: 951--------------------------------------------------
Steering box adjustment
By: rog8811 Date: January 6, 2012, 8:32 am
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I hate adjusting something when I am not sure what turning the
adjustment screw does. When it came to taking up the slack on
my steering I was not too sure of what went on inside the
steering box so I did some research, I have distilled what I
found in the following note and drawing.
The square end adjusting screw, accessible from inside the wheel
arch, is locked in place by a large hexagonal nut.
The adjustment screw pushes on the pivot centre of the output
shaft.
Firmly attached to this shaft, inside the steering box, is a
heavy bronze crank.
The bronze crank on the output shaft has a taper sided slot that
slides on the taper spigot of the steering column nut.
Winding the screw in will push the tapered slot harder onto the
taper spigot.
Adjusting the steering box is best done with the help of another
person to move the steering wheel back and forth to report
improvement in the slackness as you wind the square ended screw
clockwise, they will also be able to detect tightness which may
suggest you have tightened the adjuster screw too far.
#Post#: 1019--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steering box adjustment
By: estwdjhn Date: January 6, 2012, 10:49 am
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One thing to add to this - as I understand steering boxes are
designed to be a little tighter set dead ahead, (so it behaves
better at speed on the road) and get slacker as they approach
full lock in each direction (I think to make them easier to
turn), so before adjusting the steering box it's worth ensuring
that the range of output that is used is centred on the total
range of movement, and then making sure the steering is set more
or less straight ahead when adjusting up.
#Post#: 1161--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steering box adjustment
By: rbrtcrowther Date: January 6, 2012, 3:22 pm
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Interesting....I was told to have the vehicle jacked up and to
adjust the box in the straight ahead position and then turn the
wheel lock to lock while checking for tight spots. Most ware
would be in the straight ahead driving position and to remove
all the play in this area might lead to it tightening up on full
lock and thus increasing ware as the parts bind up in this
seldom (relativity speaking) used part of the box.
Can't remember where i got this information from but
it was a while ago ??? It works for me Adjust the slack then
jack it upa and make sure it does't go slightly as you turn it
to full lock full lock..
#Post#: 1177--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steering box adjustment
By: Sunny Jim Date: January 6, 2012, 3:48 pm
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That is certainly the case with a worm and peg type box fitted
on smaller cars (like my A40). It is probable that the
recirculating ball type does not suffer the same problem?
That said, whilst new old pattern steering boxes are not
available, you can buy all the necessary components to build one
from scratch - you just need to get the correct parts to suit
your column! You can change the inner and outer column as a pair
onto most box castings though.
Sunny Jim
#Post#: 1193--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steering box adjustment
By: rbrtcrowther Date: January 6, 2012, 4:01 pm
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I knew it was a good idea hanging on to those two steering
boxes. neither have any play i just can't be arsed to fit one
of them to my landy at the mo. I need to make a puller for the
drop arm really rather than beat shit out of it with a huge
drift and lump hammer...I doesn't do the box much good.. it's on
the list of jobs just under "compleate Scammell.."
#Post#: 1203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steering box adjustment
By: rog8811 Date: January 6, 2012, 4:24 pm
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rbrtcrowther said
[quote]Adjust the slack then jack it up and make sure it does't
go tight as you turn it to full lock full lock.. [/quote]
Exactly what I did once I was happy with the feel of it with
wheels straight ahead on the ground.
There are other things to check which I didn't cover above, you
need to be sure that the crank is set to centre of the box when
wheels are in a straighht line, for two main reasons:-
One is that with the crank adjusted off centre will give a tight
spot when turned due to the construction of the crank as
mentioned above....
estwdjhn said
[quote]as I understand steering boxes are designed to be a
little tighter set dead ahead[/quote]
The second reason is that your turning circle will be tighter
one side compared to the other.
#Post#: 1241--------------------------------------------------
Re: Steering box adjustment
By: rbrtcrowther Date: January 6, 2012, 5:00 pm
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The steering ratio also changes as you approach full lock so if
it was way out of center it might be easier to turn full left
and harder to turn full right ( or the other way round)
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