Steering box adjustment question

[RickPA]

I want to use steering box adjuster to eliminate some play in the wheel. I found that I can adjust out almost all play by lowering the pin in the box. But I get a slight bind at a certain spot. When turning the wheel to the left I get the bind at about 8 o'clock on the first turn only. It's very easy to turn through it and as the steering wheel passes the 8 o'clock spot the bind disappears.

I know it's not ideal to have the pin rub like that but is it really doing serious damage? It sure would be nice to get the slop out of the steering.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

You can get all the play out, but the wheels may not want to return to center when you release the wheel after a turn. At least, that's what happened when I did it on my BJ8.

 

[Keoke]

There should be no binding in the steering box except at dead center,

 

[busybrit]

To understand the steering box adjustment, you need to take a moment and study how the steering box is set up. Generally, the slack in the steering box is caused by wear in the bearings located on each side of the steering worm gear. With the adjustment peg backed out all the way, or even removed the worm gear/steering shaft can move towards/away from the driver. This is the "end play", which is noted in the manual,,, somewhere. Once the end play is set correctly by adding/removing the shims the adjustment pin is replaced and adjusted accordingly.

By not setting the end play first, all you are doing is wearing out the worm gear groove and pin by putting to much pressure on it, which will result in binding, tight spots and the steering wheel not returning to center.