Thanks my friend I watched your video and tightened that steering nut and the other nut on center of box and now it DRIVES LIKE NEW!! no more loose steering!!
Great video - thanks so much for posting this video! I've got a '70 with power steering that I bought 2 years ago and the steering "lash" is a good 2 1/2 inches. When driving, mine won't respond immediately to a turn of the wheel but then WILL respond all of a sudden at a certain point. I'm going to try this on mine but I also need to replace the rag joint. I've searched CZcams for instructions on replacing the rag joint but haven't found one yet. I've read that replacing one on a Corvette is not nearly as easy as replacing one on another GM vehicle so I dread starting that project (blindly). Thanks again for sharing this video!
Steering boxes get their slop from straight driving since that's where we are most of the time. So if you turn the wheel full-lock in either direction, you can snug the sector shaft pretty good and that will be all that you can get out of it and also be safe from breaking the box entirely. If you take out too much lash with the wheels straight on, you can break the box when you do turn full-lock because there is less wear. Hope this helps.
Nice. I was just working on a 68 327/300. It has a "rebuilt" steeringbox where it binds up so tight it wont return without effort. the top lash bolt helped but didn't fix it so Ill try the worm gear lash adjuster next. Thanks.
Good Luck! I dont think alot of those "Rebuilders" actually adjusts them. You probably dont have much adjustment to do, just back off a tad, or you'll have too much lash. Then readjust the vertical adjustment.
You're welcome sir. I was looking around like I mentioned in the vid and no one had one for this model (vintage) vette, so I researched and then performed the adjustment and it rode way better. To this day still rides and steers great...! Note: I read the paper as well. :)
Hello! Thank you for the great video! I bought my '77 just two months ago, and I've already learned the hard (and expensive) lessons about the lip seal issue with the fixed calipers, and overheating issues (and converting to electric fans and an aluminum radiator.) Next tomorrow morning is the gearbox! QUESTION: since I live alone in the woods of north Georgia, "Bubba" is not in yelling distance, so I'm gonna do this myself. Would it be more optimal to loosen both the horizontal and vertical screws at the same time, and make incremental, small adjustments to each--say, an eighth of a turn clockwise for each--then test the lash? My lash is so bad! It's like 10:30 to 1:30-loose!
Hi Allen, thanks for watching! To answer your question: No. A few things to consider first before attempting to adjust the steering gear. 1st: check for extensive wear or play in the rag joint. The joint between the steering wheel rod and the box itself. That usually causes alot of play in the steering system, especially if the ragjoint insulator is worn away or gone. 2nd: Check for excessive play in the tie rods and ball joints this is a dangerous condition and can cause the the car to steer out of control if one breaks away. Once you have determined that all this is ok, then the steering gear is excessively worn and adjustment may not really do any good. I was surprised when mine adjusted at all. (yea it was bad). So to reiterate, No, do NOT adjust the h and v worm gear adjustments at the same time. Start with the horizontal adjustment. work your way in until the lash feels tighter. (make sure you have ample grease in the box). Once you feel its tight (have someone help you, wife, g/f or friend if you can), back off just a tad. To avoid binding. (Note: if you make a turn and the wheel doesnt want to return to 0 degrees its too tight and it will bind). Once you have alleviated the h lash. start on the Vertical worm gear. the adjustment on the top of the gear box. If you still have excessive lash but just a little better, your steering box is worn out and must be replaced. Remember dont adjust too tight. Your steering will feel very hard and want to bind up or even stop due to the teeth clashing. Also remember to check and replace the grease. Good Luck!!
@@tracktoys9269 prudent advice! Thank you. So this morning, I started out, attempting to loosen the H screw. Wow...it would not loosen at all. So, I turned my attention to the V screw. That one opened up easily. Using an Allen wrench (your video showed your screw required a flat blade) I turned the screw clockwise 1/3 of a turn, then tightened the lock nut back. Jumped in the car, and immediately I noticed the lash was nearly gone! 11:45 to 1:15. Glad I stopped right where I did. It's the original gearbox, so I'm sure it's shot. Time to start saving up for a new Borgson (sp?) unit. The rest of the steering components looked great, including the "rag nut". I think some of it had been replaced at one point. Thanks again! Rime to thaw a steak and make a toast to a new friend in Texas. Welcome to the SEC!! Roll Tide!
yep im saving for mine too. They now have a few out there that have a quicker ratio, but they are slightly costly. On your Horizontal nut, I had to take a long prybar and pound with a rubber mallet until it moved. You may want to spray some WD or some other lubricant and let it soak to get it to loosen.
My box is rebuilt, by me, using the Zip tutorial. I put it back together based on original positions and visible threads from pics i took before the rebuild. New rag joint, tie rod ends, damper, and PSCV. I have about 3" play in the wheel and I am chasing it when driving. 1) I was able to loosen the H nut about 1/2 turn (I could not tighten it any more) and no difference driving. I just loosed it about another 1/2 inch and will test it. I have not adjusted the V screws. 2) if it is still loose, then I assume I go back the other way and try to tighten it? 3) Is it possible the V is too tight as well so no matter what I do the H it won't help?
Today I was able to tighten the H plug to the point where I could not turn it anymore. I was moving the wheel at the same time and the play is down from 3" to 1" or less. The test drive has it handling nicely but it feels "more manual" vice steer with one finger--nimble but I have to control it for sure. I stopped the car and tightened the V 1/4 inch and no obvious difference. Upon return to the garage after test drives last night and this AM I see a power steering fluid puddle. Maybe 2 table spoons and it looks like it is coming from the damper. Trouble shooting suggestions?
Check your hoses, thats where mine gave me trouble. BTW, that hose is also special, not regular hose, it has certain bends in it to clear engine components. Its a formed hose.
Just one questionif it doesnt return to zero which nut do I loosen the big one on the side or the one with the screw driver?? or do both have to be loosened?? thanks
Hey Joe, thx for watching! What the procedure is that, with each adjustment when you get to a point that seems to tight, you back off on the adjuster just a tad, maybe a 1/4 turn.
Thanks my friend I watched your video and tightened that steering nut and the other nut on center of box and now it DRIVES LIKE NEW!! no more loose steering!!
Great video - thanks so much for posting this video!
I've got a '70 with power steering that I bought 2 years ago and the steering "lash" is a good 2 1/2 inches. When driving, mine won't respond immediately to a turn of the wheel but then WILL respond all of a sudden at a certain point. I'm going to try this on mine but I also need to replace the rag joint. I've searched CZcams for instructions on replacing the rag joint but haven't found one yet. I've read that replacing one on a Corvette is not nearly as easy as replacing one on another GM vehicle so I dread starting that project (blindly).
Thanks again for sharing this video!
yea mine was like that, it was scary to drive on the freeway. I have a new steering box , but havent had the time to do it..
Steering boxes get their slop from straight driving since that's where we are most of the time. So if you turn the wheel full-lock in either direction, you can snug the sector shaft pretty good and that will be all that you can get out of it and also be safe from breaking the box entirely. If you take out too much lash with the wheels straight on, you can break the box when you do turn full-lock because there is less wear. Hope this helps.
I replaced mine already. feels way better now.
Nice. I was just working on a 68 327/300. It has a "rebuilt" steeringbox where it binds up so tight it wont return without effort. the top lash bolt helped but didn't fix it so Ill try the worm gear lash adjuster next. Thanks.
Good Luck! I dont think alot of those "Rebuilders" actually adjusts them. You probably dont have much adjustment to do, just back off a tad, or you'll have too much lash. Then readjust the vertical adjustment.
Thanks for this man. I’ve been struggling with this as well. I found Jim Shea’s paper but it’s kind of dense for a driveway mechanic like me.
You're welcome sir. I was looking around like I mentioned in the vid and no one had one for this model (vintage) vette, so I researched and then performed the adjustment and it rode way better. To this day still rides and steers great...! Note: I read the paper as well. :)
Your rag joint looks like it could use replacement as well which I better would improve steering even further.
probably does, I have a steering gear assy for it as well. One of these days I will replace it.
Nice one
I replaced my box and ram and it helped but still felt to sloppy for me. Installed the newer Borgeson system and wow!
i replaced mine last month. Rides much better. The shop I took it too had to readjust it. It was a little loose as well out of the box.
Hello! Thank you for the great video! I bought my '77 just two months ago, and I've already learned the hard (and expensive) lessons about the lip seal issue with the fixed calipers, and overheating issues (and converting to electric fans and an aluminum radiator.) Next tomorrow morning is the gearbox! QUESTION: since I live alone in the woods of north Georgia, "Bubba" is not in yelling distance, so I'm gonna do this myself. Would it be more optimal to loosen both the horizontal and vertical screws at the same time, and make incremental, small adjustments to each--say, an eighth of a turn clockwise for each--then test the lash? My lash is so bad! It's like 10:30 to 1:30-loose!
Hi Allen, thanks for watching! To answer your question: No. A few things to consider first before attempting to adjust the steering gear.
1st: check for extensive wear or play in the rag joint. The joint between the steering wheel rod and the box itself. That usually causes alot of play in the steering system, especially if the ragjoint insulator is worn away or gone.
2nd: Check for excessive play in the tie rods and ball joints this is a dangerous condition and can cause the the car to steer out of control if one breaks away. Once you have determined that all this is ok, then the steering gear is excessively worn and adjustment may not really do any good. I was surprised when mine adjusted at all. (yea it was bad).
So to reiterate, No, do NOT adjust the h and v worm gear adjustments at the same time. Start with the horizontal adjustment. work your way in until the lash feels tighter. (make sure you have ample grease in the box). Once you feel its tight (have someone help you, wife, g/f or friend if you can), back off just a tad. To avoid binding. (Note: if you make a turn and the wheel doesnt want to return to 0 degrees its too tight and it will bind).
Once you have alleviated the h lash. start on the Vertical worm gear. the adjustment on the top of the gear box. If you still have excessive lash but just a little better, your steering box is worn out and must be replaced. Remember dont adjust too tight. Your steering will feel very hard and want to bind up or even stop due to the teeth clashing. Also remember to check and replace the grease.
Good Luck!!
@@tracktoys9269 prudent advice! Thank you. So this morning, I started out, attempting to loosen the H screw. Wow...it would not loosen at all. So, I turned my attention to the V screw. That one opened up easily. Using an Allen wrench (your video showed your screw required a flat blade) I turned the screw clockwise 1/3 of a turn, then tightened the lock nut back. Jumped in the car, and immediately I noticed the lash was nearly gone! 11:45 to 1:15. Glad I stopped right where I did. It's the original gearbox, so I'm sure it's shot. Time to start saving up for a new Borgson (sp?) unit. The rest of the steering components looked great, including the "rag nut". I think some of it had been replaced at one point. Thanks again! Rime to thaw a steak and make a toast to a new friend in Texas. Welcome to the SEC!! Roll Tide!
yep im saving for mine too. They now have a few out there that have a quicker ratio, but they are slightly costly. On your Horizontal nut, I had to take a long prybar and pound with a rubber mallet until it moved. You may want to spray some WD or some other lubricant and let it soak to get it to loosen.
@@allenvaughan1 if the H was out of adjustment the V wont correct the play much.
My box is rebuilt, by me, using the Zip tutorial. I put it back together based on original positions and visible threads from pics i took before the rebuild. New rag joint, tie rod ends, damper, and PSCV. I have about 3" play in the wheel and I am chasing it when driving. 1) I was able to loosen the H nut about 1/2 turn (I could not tighten it any more) and no difference driving. I just loosed it about another 1/2 inch and will test it. I have not adjusted the V screws. 2) if it is still loose, then I assume I go back the other way and try to tighten it? 3) Is it possible the V is too tight as well so no matter what I do the H it won't help?
Today I was able to tighten the H plug to the point where I could not turn it anymore. I was moving the wheel at the same time and the play is down from 3" to 1" or less. The test drive has it handling nicely but it feels "more manual" vice steer with one finger--nimble but I have to control it for sure. I stopped the car and tightened the V 1/4 inch and no obvious difference. Upon return to the garage after test drives last night and this AM I see a power steering fluid puddle. Maybe 2 table spoons and it looks like it is coming from the damper. Trouble shooting suggestions?
Check your hoses, thats where mine gave me trouble. BTW, that hose is also special, not regular hose, it has certain bends in it to clear engine components. Its a formed hose.
Just one questionif it doesnt return to zero which nut do I loosen the big one on the side or the one with the screw driver?? or do both have to be loosened?? thanks
Hey Joe, thx for watching! What the procedure is that, with each adjustment when you get to a point that seems to tight, you back off on the adjuster just a tad, maybe a 1/4 turn.
@@tracktoys9269thanks bud