Steering box - Help!

[atk_man]

1980 240d....How do you adjust the steering box?

Thanks.

[Roncallo]

I suggest you go to the library and get the proper proceedure. Most librarys cary Mitchels manuals. However the basic way to do it in the car is to disconect the pitman arm and back out the pitman shaft screw (loosen the pitman shaft) . Then using a a very small torque wrench usually (in-oz) or (N-cm) measure the rotational torque of the stearing wheel. Then tighten the pitman screw so that the torque increases a specified amount (see manual) at the highest torque point. The highest torque point should occure at mid point of steering travel. Tighten down the pitman shaft screw lock nut and recheck.

John Roncallo

[atk_man]

Well, I was hoping for more of a layman's approach. So following common sense, here's what I did:

I turned the wheels all the way to the left, and adjusted the screw CCW until it seated, I then backed it off about 1/8 of a turn. I then turned the wheels all the way to the right and checked it again, then in the center.

I then took it for a road test and I wasn't happy with the feel. It felt a bit tight and didn't self center anymore. So I backed off the screw CW another 1/8th. Road testing again, it was better, but still not quite right, - so another 1/8th. Then life was good.

By the way, the play in the wheel didn't change at all, with the screw seated, or backed off 1/2 a turn, it was still about an inch.

[aqua190]

perhaps the play is in the tie rods?

[Roncallo]

1" should be about right. But if you feel you still have too much try this.

Try to look under the car with weight on wheels as an assitant rocks the steering wheel through it's range of play. Verify they are rocking it not enough to cause the wheels to turn. Look for relative motion between the following:

Pitman arm and center link
Center link and inner tierods
Outer tierods and spindels
Up and down motion of ideler arm
and take a carefull look at the pitman shaft to make sure it is not moving from side to side, it shoud only rotate.
You can also look at the ball joints but these are unlikely to cause steering play.

If you cant see this stuff with the car on the ground, you can jack it up and hold pressure on the wheels and of course while you are under there check for obvious play of any of those components.

Good Luck