my steering isa little loose and i know theres a setscrew on the steering box (which im assuming is what is wrong because i just threw new tie rods and such under it)
can anyone tell me where it is?

 

Steering Gear

Just be careful. It is easy to over adjust and possibly mess up the steering gear.

 

I would hesitate to adjust it,as previously said.
If it has not been fooled with before,or come loose,they usually don't require adjustment.
To do it right, it has to be removed and the oil drained completly,turned todead center, then the worm shaftpreload checkedwith an inch pound torque wrench and adjusted to specks.
It is not a trial and error adjustment.
they will have play at both left and right turn positionsby design, but not at straight ahead position.
If it has a lot of play straight ahead, it needs to be repaired/adj./rebuilt as something is amiss.

 

my steering was alittle loose, just tightened it up a little drove it. and readjusted. havnt had a problem took five minutes of my time to do. the only issue was getting used to the tighter steering after having a lot of play.

 

thanks guys

 

Hi Guys;

I have the same problem at poster stevelknievel... loose steering.

I tried tightening the set screw in the steering box (as suggested) on my (2 wheel drive) '89 Blazer but, alas, no improvement. I fact I just drove it around the block and now it won't "self center" after a turn ... I dont know if "self center" is the right term: the tendency for a car to straighten out if you let go of the steering wheel after a turn is called .... what? Anyway, I don't have it now.

I'll loosten up the set screw a bit right away.

In any case, this set screw adjustment "fix" didn't do the trick ... I still have about 3 or 4 inches of play (as measured on the rim of the steering wheel) before the steering engages and turns the front wheels.

Can anyone suggest what my next step should be? Thanks in advance.

Best regards,
Ken

 

Adjusting the set screw on the steering box should be a LAST resort attempt to fix a loose steering situation, just prior to replacing the steering gear itself.

Other sources of play would be in the pitman arm to gear box spline, pitman arm to linkage joint, worn out idler arm, and/or either of the inner and outer tie rod ends being worn.

 

I too had some play and adjusted the gear box, and it helped quite a bit. I replaced the tie rods, and my idler and pitman weren't too bad. I would also suspect the steering shaft, as the rag joint can wear out.