Steering play
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Steering play This is on a 97 astro van. If mod needs to move it to new section pleas do.
As the title states i have excess play int the steering. I jacked up the vehicle and inspected the tie rods, ball joints... center drag link, idler arms... ball joints were bad. I decided if i was in there i would replace all the steering components since they were under warranty. I ordered a reman lares steering gear box as well. Control arms and all new steering components were installed. While i had the gear box out i checked the steering column for any play. None. I bolted the gear box to the frame and hooked up the steering column. I hear so many horror stories about steering gear boxes being re-manufactured poorly so i decided to turn the wheel and see if the pitman arm turned (engine off without the hydraulic lines even hooked up). There was a huge amount of play before the pitman arm would turn (the top of the gear box was turning... no play in the column). About 60 degrees of play. So my question is... Is it any way normal for this to happen? Does the vehicle have to be started so it would have hydraulic pressure? I couldn't see it being normal but this is the first steering gear box i have installed.
As the title states i have excess play int the steering. I jacked up the vehicle and inspected the tie rods, ball joints... center drag link, idler arms... ball joints were bad. I decided if i was in there i would replace all the steering components since they were under warranty. I ordered a reman lares steering gear box as well. Control arms and all new steering components were installed. While i had the gear box out i checked the steering column for any play. None. I bolted the gear box to the frame and hooked up the steering column. I hear so many horror stories about steering gear boxes being re-manufactured poorly so i decided to turn the wheel and see if the pitman arm turned (engine off without the hydraulic lines even hooked up). There was a huge amount of play before the pitman arm would turn (the top of the gear box was turning... no play in the column). About 60 degrees of play. So my question is... Is it any way normal for this to happen? Does the vehicle have to be started so it would have hydraulic pressure? I couldn't see it being normal but this is the first steering gear box i have installed.
Thread Starter
TECH Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Ill answer my own question. There should be no play in the gear box... even without hydraulic pressure. If you guys know of a sponsor that will rebuild regular gear boxes, point me to them.
