Acceptable steering gear slop?

[36tudordeluxe]

With the car on jack stands and tie rod & drag link connected, I can wiggle the tires back and forth about 1/2" in either direction while the steering wheel is held in place.........that can't be right? The adjusting screw for the sector shaft is screwed all the way out. Do I correct the slop by removing shims?

[Mart]

The adjuster screw needs to be turned in to remove the slop. Do you understand how to adjust that steering box? You have to use caution and a degree of skill. you could damage things if you don't know what you are doing.

Mart.

[George/Maine]

These old cars have a lot of play not like newer cars.
The way to check play is wheels straight weight of cars on ground.
Move the steering wheel with little finger back and forth and see how much movement you have.
With stock wheel 16 17" the max should be 2" or less.
When you check lock to lock left and right. get middle.I think its 3 1/4 or 1 1/2 turns. Now how far is your steering wheel off.
What happens when you have wrong shaft and the worm is NOT put on right,there are marks on bottom of shaft. This puts the key at 12 oclock or close to that.You don,t want it a 3 oclock.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 36tudordeluxe

With the car on jack stands and tie rod & drag link connected, I can wiggle the tires back and forth about 1/2" in either direction while the steering wheel is held in place.........that can't be right? The adjusting screw for the sector shaft is screwed all the way out. Do I correct the slop by removing shims?

Thought we covered this:
"Turn the sector shaft thrust adjusting screw in a clockwise direction until all end play is removed from the sector shaft."

clockwise should be in. All of this is done after the preload is set on the worm gear bearings.

[1931 flamingo]

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Is the pitman arm tight??
Paul in CT