Saginaw Gear Box adjustment

I am curious about the process a steering box gets when it is rebuilt. I have a remanned unit, probably about 4 years old. I am chasing down the issues with my jeep wandering down the road. I was looking at the steering shaft and column. The column has new bushing in the bottom and that took some slop out, next i went and welded my steering intermediate shaft solid, sind it was a slide setup, but the top will twist a bit before it will contact the bottom shaft to make the gear box turn. After welding, it fixed it alot, i can tell that part of the steering slop was out of the equation. LAST I am left with the gear box. I know i have tie rod ends and such, but i will get to them. The gear box seems to have some play before the tires turn. I am wondering if the rebuilders are sloppy enough to just slap seals in the box and not adjust the unit to make sure it is tight.

So I am going to try and tighten the top adjust a touch. What is too much? do I do it with the engine on and the gear box getting pressure from the pump? I know it only take a little bit. Looking for some expereinces from people who have tightened the gear box and what was their results.

 

I also found this

"I would be very careful adjusting this screw. On the Saginaw power steering gear boxes, this is the worm gear backlash adjustment. If you tighten this screw you can easily ruin your steering gear box. If an adjustment is needed, you will only turn this screw about 1/8 turn at a time and checking play. There should be about 1" play. Meaning the steering wheel should move about 1" side to side before the pitman arm shaft moves. There is a locknut around this screw on the top of the steerbox. It is normally dificult to see as the fan or fan shroud is above it. I would check all other sources of steering play before adjusting this. There is also an intermediate shaft u-joint that can cause play. If you have about 1" of movement side to side before the pitman arm moves then your steering play is downstream of the steering box. Probably tierod ends."

Looks like i may try a small bit of it tonight.

 

From the web.

To adjust the thing, loosen the lock nut and turn the screw in clock wise. Just a 1/8 turn at a time until you get close to 1" of play between going left and going right. One inch of on center play means you can move the steering wheel, at the rim, back and forth 1" before it goes left or right.

To judge whether or not you are close to 1" of play, start the engine and then stand outside and turn the steering wheel back and forth through the window opening while watching the front tire for movement. When you can move your hand one inch back and forth before you see the tire move, you are in the ball park. Once you get close to 1", then turn the adjuster only 1/16 of a turn until you are at or just under 1" of free play.

ALWAYS err on the conservative side if you are in doubt. You can damage the steering box if you get it too tight. Road test the Jeep after every adjustment. Find a nice smooth road with very little crown (crown = high spot in the center sloped toward the shoulders for water run-off) where you can drive at a steady 45-50 MPH plus so you can judge how much on center play you have.

The Jeep Service Manual warns against adjusting the box unless you remove it and go through a big long procedure involving setting bearing pre-load and over center torque.

When you turn the adjusting screw, you are moving the pitman shaft up in relation to the case. The shaft has a beveled gear on it and you are moving his gear closer to complete mesh with the worm shaft. Complete mesh is what you don't want to happen. There needs to be some play between the two.

Keeping your steering box in adjustment will decrease wear. The more play you have, the more wear will occur between the pitman shaft gear and the worm shaft. At some point you will no longer be able to adjust out the play and the box will have to be rebuilt.



The only thing I'll add Dan is to center the box, and take the weight off the front wheels when you do this....
I've adjusted many over the years