Sloppy and Excessive Steering Play

As suggested in the Haynes Shop Manual for 84 300D Turbo Diesel

Using a 19mm deep socket wrench, I loosened the lock nut in the steering gear box. Using an Allen wrench, I turned the adjusting
bolt CCW as far as it would go and retightened the lock nut.

Result: a noticeable small reduction in steering play but still excessive (more than 1 inch of sloppy play). I think the steering gearbox needs to be rebuilt. Can this be done? Or exchange for a rebuilt one? A new one is absolutely price prohibitive!

www.car-part.com has a few used ones. My concern however, is the quality. Can it be bench tested to ensure quality (before I buy it and have it re and re)?

BTW, all my other steering components appear to be okay.

Thanks for your help.

[GermanStar]

Rebuilding a steering box to eliminate excessive play is not a practical alternative due to the price of components invloved. You'd be better advised to simply pick up a rebuilt box.

Ron
http://germanstar.net

Ron:

Where can I locate a rebuilt steering box close to Vancouver, BC? I'll be willing to cross the border up to say, Bellingham, Washington.

e.g., Fast Lane gives a core credit of $225, not bad.

[GermanStar]

Any U.S. parts vendor can ship to you within a couple of days. That's a core charge, not a core credit that you're looking at.

Ron
http://germanstar.net

[jassz]

Where can I locate a rebuilt steering box close to Vancouver, BC?

Try Jeff at www.hopefungautoparts.com. He's in Richmond, very helpful, good prices. When bringing anything over the border you have to pay GST, PST, duty AND often a brokerage fee. Makes one really unmotivated to return something if it's not right. :p

I also have a pretty good source for used parts, if you're ever looking. Several, actually.

[samiam4]

Are you sure it's the steering gear?

Many other parts can and do give play/wear out first. I'd look closely at tie-rod ends, idler arm, ball-joints.


Michael

[william rogers]

can someone explain FastLanes core credit I thought that if the core credit was 200 on a 500 dollar part that you paid 700 and got 200 back when you sent the old part in? right or wrong......
William Rogers........

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jassz
[B]Try Jeff at www.hopefungautoparts.com.

Hope Fung do not carry a rebuilt steering box, unfortnately.

BMV has a couple of used ones but I would prefer a rebuilt one vs used. Cancraft out in Langley rebuilds steering box, I was told. Have you heard of them?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by samiam4
[B]Are you sure it's the steering gear?

All other steering components appear to be in order and thru process of elimination, all fault points to a worn out steering box.

Thanks for your tip.

Originally posted by william rogers
can someone explain FastLanes core credit I thought that if the core credit was 200 on a 500 dollar part that you paid 700 and got 200 back when you sent the old part in? right or wrong......
William Rogers........

As seen on Fast Lane:

Stock: M1050-106153 Product: Steering Gearbox Brand: Maval List: $966.60 Price: $557.87 Core: $225.00 Ships: Today

The way I interpret it, Price - Core=$332.87 which makes sense as German Star sells it for about $395 without core.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GermanStar
[B]Any U.S. parts vendor can ship to you within a couple of days. That's a core charge, not a core credit that you're looking at.

As seen on Fast Lane:

M1050-106153 Product: Steering Gearbox Brand: Maval List: $966.60 Price: $557.87 Core: $225.00

In the above pricing I pay $557.87 and get a refund of $225 when I ship back the old part, am I correct?

[WilliamJ]

Originally posted by GermanStar
Any U.S. parts vendor can ship to you within a couple of days. That's a core charge, not a core credit that you're looking at.

Ron
http://germanstar.net

[WilliamJ]

it always hels to check the tech board first

Steering Wheel Play

Originally posted by WilliamJ
it always hels to check the tech board first

Steering Wheel Play

Gotcha. Yes I did a search and read all about it. The how to's "calibration", the "jig" is not explained in detail and locally, I have not found a mechanic that understands and has the know how to repair it. Rebuilding or exchanging it for a rebuilt one seem to be the answer

[Rick Miley]

If you could do without the car for a while, what about removing it and sending it to Donnie (Benzmac) for adjustment?