How tight is too tight?

been trying to take care of the last little bit of slop in my steering ('53 M38-A1 Ross setup) and decided to take the drag link apart again and make sure I got everything put back together correctly. Well, I did put it back right with the exception of using the origional screw things on the ends. I had the kit but did not use the replacement end caps/screw things, so that was why I could not seem to get things tight enough. The origional had a larger diameter head that would stop on the draglink end before getting tight (using the new springs), the replacment end screw/cap things crank all the way INTO the draglink ends. So, thats what I did. Now, for the question...how tight are those supposed to be? I cranked on them pretty good and noticed that while even in the air, it takes a fair amount of effort to turn the wheels. I have not driven it yet, but I'm almost thinking that I should back those end cap/screws off about 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. What is the spec on this?

Dondo

p.s. Oh, it didn't fix much of the slop in the steering. It's looking like the slop is coming from the steering gear box itself. Can those be tightened?

 

Kind of an update on this thing. I drove it around a little this evening and while going around a corner, the wheels did not want to self center at all. You needed to actively counter steer back to the center otherwise you'd just drive in tight little circles. That says to me to back the draglink off some.

Dondo

 

What is the "over center freeplay"?

I poked around on the web for awhile and found a site that mentions 20lbs for the draglink.

http://members.tripod.com/torquespecs/jeep_cj_49-86_sus-strg.htm

I need to back them off. That is for sure.

Dondo

 

My Cj had REALLY loose steering when I got it. I tried to adjust out the play at the steering gear box but when it "felt about right" with the wheels straight I tried to turn them and it was way too tight. I took apart the steering gear box, replaced the sector shaft, and put a new bushing in while it was apart. The old sector shaft was visibly worn and the steering was a bunch better afterward. Do you have a shop manual? If you'd like I'd be happy to burn a copy of the pages in mine about the steering gear box, etc. and email them to you.

 

boeingcostar -- I have a Haynes and a Chilton manual for my Jeep as well as the original military service manual. Is your shop manual the same thing?

Dondo