excess steering play

[609albert]

my 1954 mack LS85 (fire truck) has what I would call excess play in steering wheel(over 2'') .new tie rod ends didn't help, Is their an adjustment on the steering box ? or is the box just worn , 44K miles

[41chevy]

There is an adjustment at the box for the end play on the sector shaft, It's a jam nut and a screw. There is a Factory procedure and someone may have the specs. I did mine a 1/4 turn at a time on the road to drive it and set the play close to where I liked it with no binding To tight will eat the box.   But,are Drag Link ends are okay? Wheel bearings adjusted correctly? Those will add to the play too.

Edited March 16, 2017 by 41chevy

[kscarbel2]

Jack up the front axle and note if the steering gear's pitman arm is turning when you move the steering wheel in the amount you feel "play".

If it's not turning, as Paul said, experiment by, after loosening the adjusting screw's lock nut on the steering gear, turning it in a 1/4 turn at a time. You want to rotate the steering wheel lock-to-lock and note any binding (which would mean you need to back out the screw to the point you don't feel any binding). Some steering gears have a high point that you need to watch out for. You can't adjust tighter than that high point of the worm shaft.

 

[609albert]

Thanks for the info. I have the Mack book to check the specs.

[fxfymn]

Also keep in mind that the large steering wheels used on these trucks will really accentuate any play in the box. We are used to a small steering wheel and power steering on everything these days, so even a relatively minor amount of play feels huge now. 

[Mackpro]

Is it a power steering box? Some of the older TRW boxes have lots of play until the the engine is started.  I think it was the HF64.