Play in Steering

[p24-1953]

When parked i can move the wheel left or right a 1 1/2" from center. What causes this? steering gear box, pitman arm's being worn. King Pins?

where should i check first?

[martybose]

The first thing to check is the adjustment bolt in the top of the steering box itself. Just go slowly on the tightening up, you do not want to tighten it enough to bind up the steering!

Marty

[greg g]

You might try taking up some of the slack with the adjustoment on the sterring box. On the top of the box you will see a lock nut a star wheel, and a bolt with a slot in it. Remove the lock screw loosen the star wheel a about 4 turns and then turn the cloted bolt clock wise about a turn or two, see if that makes any difference. If it does, screw the star down, and fasten the lock nut.

Don't go too far as you don't want to put alot of stress on it

Also check the mounts from the box to the frame mounts. They have rubber bolt isolators that deteriorate and get sloppy, allowing the box to twist before it imparts motion to the linkage.

[grey beard]

P24,

You just got some good advice from the two guys in the thread above. Just one caveat - please make sure your steering wheel is dead straight ahead when you make this steering box lash adjustment. If it is off center, you will wind up with a tight spot over center when you drive. This is the spot where you do most of your driving.

The reason for this is that the worm and sector gears inside the box - which mesh load you are adjusting with the screw on top of the box - were designed to have a high spot in the center to help the wheels return to center after a turn is completed.

A few other items that can cause or contribute to steering wheel play are:

1. loose front wheel bearings

2. loose king pins

3. worn tie rod ends or control arm ends

4. loose steering box bolts through the frame

5. loose pitmon arm on the bottom of the box.

and it goes without saying,

6. loose wheel lugs

Here's a trick I learned from an old expert when I worked as a truck mechanic in a factory IH branch dealership many years ago;

If you jack up a front wheel with a solid axle and observe the wheel drop down from upper/lower play, the king pins are worn. If the wheel tips in at the top when you jack it up, the wheel bearings are loose. Of course there shold be no play once the front wheel is off the ground. If you can grab it top and bottom and feel discernable play, see if the play is inward at the top or inward at the bottom.

Now you know how the experts can tell so quickly without looking at the inner wheel, just where the wear is! JMHO

[p24-1953]

What is the symptoms and how do you diagnose tie rod damage? the boots on mine are shot and i wonder if they are damaged in any way?

[martybose]

The easiest way is just to jack up one wheel, then grab both sides of the tire and try to turn it. If the tierods are bad, you will feel and hear it!

Marty

[YukonJack]

Did anyone mention the 4 bushings in the pitman arm?

[p24-1953]

nope not yet? what where are they?

[Rodney Bullock]

please jack the car up before you make those adjustments to your box, as the gentleman said find the crown on center! I did mine and had to relearn how to drive my car.

[Dodgeb4ya]

1953/4 Plymouths don`t use the 4 rubber bushings in the pitman arm like 41-8 Mopars. They just have 4 tie rod ends.

Bob

[Jerry Roberts]

Before you attempt to adjust anything , have someone turn your steering wheel back and forth where it is slack while you are looking at all of the steering components underneath . Look and see if you can see where the slack is comming from .

[BobT-47P15]

One time on some old car, I tightened that steering box adjuster too much.

The wheel was real hard to turn and the front end still had all the play in

it.

[jd52cranbrook]

I remember when I was 17 had a 53 Chevy with lots of steering play. I tightened the steering nut as described so much it never would come back on its own after a turn. One night doing what stupid kids do on weekends, I made a turn to fast and ended up in someones living room.