SUBJECT: # 10276: 96 silverado, play in the wheel, tightening steering box. help please.

Submitted by shelby (65.0.252.51) from SOUTH CAROLINA on 5/17/04 12:42:00 AM

my little truck has got some play in the steering. I need to tighten up the steering box to take some or all the play out of it. Its had those big wide tires and wheels on it since it was new. Does any one know how to tighten up the steering box on a chevy truck. any halp would be appreciated because I am currently clueless. I know this is a pretty common problem and hoping some one heres been through this before.

Thanks,
Shelby

1. 5/17/04 12:26:00 PM Submitted by Pb (216.40.209.92) from TEXAS says Have you.......
   Replaced the idler arm and pitman arms? My last truck with "big tires" would eat both of them regularly. I got pretty good and changing them after a few times. Even with the not so newer truck with stock sized tires, it wears out the idler regularly to. The pitman last a little longer. If you have not changed either or both, I strongly discourage any adjusting of the steering gear box. It will cause the worm gear to wear rapidly and can cause serious binding inside the gear box. That can be a big hazard and probably at the wrong time. Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth slowly while you watch the gear box, pitman, center link and idler arm. Try to see where the slop/slack is coming from. If the pitman arm doesn't move any when the steering wheel/shaft moves, there actualy might be a problem in the gear box. To adjust it, or tighten the worm gear, there is a large nut (like 22mm) with an allen nut inside it on top of the steering gear box. Loosen the large nut so the allen nut will turn. Only turn the allen nut a quarter turn at a time in a clock wise direction. If you have made a whole turn or more with no improvement, it's time for a new/rebuilt steering gear box.

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