Adjusting steering box with shims

[drambuie]

Hello everyone! I would like to ask about taking the slack out of the steering box using shims as recommended in the bentley manual. My steering movement is not really all that bad but i would not mind a little more positive feel and a faster response in my steering wheel. I would assume by taking away shim thickness it would put more preload on the inner race which in turn would take out some of the end play in the box but not too tight as to bind movement and then turning in the adjusting screw a small amount as to remove steering wheel slop.I would like to ask if anyone has reshimmed a steering box before? What where the results? Any problems to watch out for? Would it be better just to turn the adjusting screw in a bit and not reshim the end play at all? Thanks for any advice pertaining to this subject. Michael.

 

[John_Progess]

Along these same lines I would like to know what is normal rotational play in the steering wheel. My car has about 3/4" rotation without affecting the tire movement. I was under the impression that shimming only affected the movement of the steering column in and out not the steering feel. There is an adjustment on the top of the steering box to adjust the amount of drag on the steering gear. Is this correct?

John

 

[drambuie]

Hello John, Thanks for your input, The shimming is for taking up end play, or as you say in and out vertical movement, I have about 1 inch of rotational left and right play in my steering wheel before the front wheels begin to turn, I know the top adjusting screw may help with this. I just thought tighting the vertical movement would add to a more positive over all feel in the steering. I just thought i would throw this topic out here and see what other members have done to create a more postive feel in there steering response other then rebuilding the whole steering gear in the car. Again, Thanks for your input! Michael.

 

[John Turney]

The top adjusting screw is for taking out the rotational play. The shims are to take out any play in the shaft bearings. I had to reshim mine when the bearings were reground because they were pitted. Sometimes the rotational play is too much for the adjusting screw, then one can replace the peg or turn it 90 degrees.

BTW, I've found the method in the manual for checking play in the steering box to be overly difficult. Try the following: Place a 2.0-inch block of wood under each upper A-arm of the suspension. There is a rubber rebound stop under one arm, place the block under the other.

Now, when you jack up the front of the car under the frame, the front suspension will be in its correct position. You can check the front suspension for looseness now that it's in the air and in its normal position. You can check and adjust the steering box so there isn't any play in the steering arm without disconnecting it from the tie rods.

Note that there is suppose to be less play when the steering is centered than when it's off-center. I've adjusted mine as tight as I can without binding in the center.

 

[drambuie]

Hello John, Thanks for taking the time to explan some of the points regarding steering box adjustments, I will give it a try with the blocks of wood and turn the adjusting screw in a bit to get some of my steering wheel slop out. I guess i am so used to the precise steering on my 350 Z and my TR-6 that when i first drove my 67 healey bj8 I felt like i was staring in one of those 1940 movies where they show a close up of the driver driving in a straight line but moving the steering wheel wildly from left to right! I hope to get things sorted out soon. Best regards, Michael.

 

[BoyRacer]

I have learned that adjusting the play (rotational slop) in the steering wheel only works with the wheels on the ground. The adjusting screw on top of the box lowers, or raises, the peg that tracks in the worm gear. This is how you tighten up the slop in the steering wheel. The tension on the adjuster inside the box is maintained with about 6 or 8 belleville washers. You can get a good feel with the wheels off the ground, but once on the ground, the feel is different. It may be too tight. Drive the car. If there is too much play in the wheel, tighten the screw a bit, then drive some more. If the wheel is too tight, then back the screw off a tad. A little trial and error is the best method.

 

[John_Progess]

Richard,
The trial and error method is what I used. At first it was a little tight but now it seems ok. My question is what about normal rotational free play for a Healey? Will replacing the "peg" decrease this steering wheel slop and can this be done with the steering column in the car? Thanks and have a good day!

John