STEERING BOX ADJUSTMENT

[Seaside Pete]

Hi, I am sure this subject has been dealt with before but, can anybody tell me where to adjust the steering box on my P15 as I have a lot of play on the steering wheel. I have purchased a rebuild kit but would like to try some adjustment first. It would be great if someone could include a picture of the exact location.

 

 

Thanks

 

Pete

[Cpt.Fred]

Pete,

 

i'm about to do the same thing here.

Here's what i have for the up to '42 models, should be about the same for you, i guess...

 

 

Hope this helps, let us know how it went!

 

Fred

[Andydodge]

Pete...........not trying to be a smartypants but haven't you got a workshop manual?......lol..........the pitman shaft/roller adjustment is with the screw that lives under the large nut on the top of the steering box........undo the nut, lift off the locking "star" washer and adjust the pitman shaft rollers with the screw by turning clockwise to remove free play, then reinstall the star lock washer and lock nut..........the worm is adjusted via the shims between the plate and steering box housing by removing/installing shims to adjust the worm bearings end play..........usually the worm and rollers are worn and are not easy to find.......bearings, seals etc are available and should all be in the rebuild kit........I'd also be hesitant about using a leather pitman shaft seal.........I'd take the shaft & housing diameter and get a neoprene seal, but that's just me...........sorry no pics at present.........btw this work is supposed to be done with the car jacked up , wheels off the ground................Fred, thanks............andyd  

Edited June 24, 2015 by Andydodge

[austinsailor]

The second one Andy mentions is usually what is needed. It's not that clear in the manual if you're not famailar with it. If you are, you probably don't need the manual.  As the manual and Andy mention, you have to remove the roller (I've always heard them called Sector gear) by pulling the pitman arm, removing the top cover of the steering box and just pushing it out. If your box has oil in it (meaning the seal is good and nobody has put grease in it) clean the pitman arm well before pushing it up or it will damage a good seal.

 

There are a number of shims under the roller (sector) which make the adjustmment. They are different thicknesses, so you can remove a thin one, a thick one or some combination to get it right. You'll have to try several times to get it right, when you think you have the correct amount of shims removed, assemble it with the top on, adjust, and see how it feels. My method is to remove until it seems just snug, then try one thin shim less and one thin shim more. With one more you should feel just a slight amount of play. with one less, it should feel tight.  Play around with it and get a good feel of what it is like.

 

The adjustment screw is not to adjust it, but to hold the roller in the proper place against the shims. It's tru that if you loosen it you'll have more play, and to some degree, if you tighten it, it take out some play. But only until it hits the shims, which is the true adjustment. (This is not true of the pickup boxes, the screw on them both pulls up and down on the roller, and there are no shims.)

 

This is also a good time to clean out the box and replace the seal, which is the reason most of the worm and rollers are bad. If a box has a good seal and is kept full of oil that will flow, it'll most likely outlast us. It's the lack of oil that kills them, not normal wear. If you don't make sure it'll hold oil, all the above is just a waste of time.

 

I can also tell you that even sending the box out to a "professional" to be rebuilt may not turn out as well as you'd like. I did with my first one, and paid good bucks to have it all repaired. New worm and sector, as well as seals, bearings etc. I put it in, and some time later I found it just had thick grease in it. It wouldn't have lasted very long that way.

 

You've gotten a lot of info for just asking how to adjust it, but you can make it last as long as you will by just getting it right now.

 

If you do need a new worm or sector, sectors are not hard to find, worms are around but more scarce. The good news is, all you have to do is find a good worm of the right size (2 1/4" long gear) and direction (right hand thread) and you can graft your new worm end onto your old shaft and you'll be up and running.