How to Adjust Steering Box - Fix Sloppy Steering (Chevy S10)
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Here is how to adjust the gearbox to fix sloppy steering. Very easy to do! I did this on a Chevy S10, but should be similar to most vehicles.
Note There are other things that can cause sloppy steering. Be sure to check over your vehicle and make sure that the gearbox is the problem before adjusting. Like I said in the video, this may cause wear on the gearbox, especially if you over tighten it. Adjust it little by little until you get it where you want it. Again, DO NOT over tighten it!
There are also other ways to adjust it, but this is the easiest and fastest way to do it.
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Note: Do this repair at your own risk! I am not responsible for any injuries or deaths. Improper use of tools, vehicle lifts, jack stands, electrical equipment, cleaning/penetrating oil/fluid and other chemicals and tools used in this video can result in serious injury and can be fatal.
Channel tags: Mighty Mechanic, MightyMechanic
Chevy Silverado, Blazer, S10, GMC Sierra, Jimmy, Sonoma
THANK YOU especially for informing the lock nut and set screw is not metric, it's SAE, and the required Allen wrench is 3/16", the lock nut wrench 5/8", and to tighten the Allen set screw about ~45-degrees or so.
Many people are certainly conned into paying for expense steering parts when it only needed adjusting tighter.
Thanks! I have this problem in my 97 blazer. Really sloppy. Great quick fix.
Have this problem to , hopefully this fixs it
Great video on adjusting the box! I remember trying to take most of the play out and then it would bind at the outer end while turning sharp because the gears wear in the center where most of the steering corrections are made. Another thing is, i will not buy a Re manufactured box because all they do is reseal it. The Re Man unit will still have play in it. It's expensive but buy a new one.
Too late just bought a remanufactured one 🤦🏻♂️ and this one actually has more Play
@@adamtapia5071 same… Astro
Great easy fix. Will co tinue to monitor and adjust further uf necessary. I tightened mine a 1/4 turn to see how much ut would correct if i did. I was anxious to try this. Im so glad i did. It actually worked significantly enough to reduce slop and over/under/counter steering. Mine was pretty bad. I live near mountains. I feel a lil better now that I have less of an exaggeration when i turn ir change lanes. Great tip thanks for posting!
I had a similar problem today when driving my blazer. There’s a lot of slop and then suddenly it turns very quickly when I finally reach the end of the slop. It’s kind of dangerous
Do you tighten down the screw inwards? Or out? To tighten up the slop?
@@dirtmcgirt0420 clockwise to tighten...
@@el_chino_loco.305 thanks 😊
Dude. Thank you so much had the same issue in my 01 crewcab zr2. It was honestly scary to drive home when I bought it a few days ago. I had to turn mine about a half turn. The lock nut was loose when I went to adjust it. 😬😬😬😬
That was easy lol. Next video "How to repair long crack in windshield" :)
haha Yes it was. LOL! I am going to replace it here soon.
So easy you can do it with no shoes
Thank you sooo much. I bought a new one on amazon and she stirs newish again.
Took the time to make this video, and adjust it, only to say it still has play but you don't want to go any tighter? Should have just left it. Honestly a little bit more and you could have gotten it so much better. To just stop and say "I don't want to really tighten it any more" shows you don't really know how it all works
Do you need an alignment after this? My truck now pulls to the right a lot more than it did. The adjustment did fix about 80% of the looseness in the steering wheel at center from left to right.
Yeah cause the box is what keeps the wheels straight before an alignment.
Thanks for the update 🙌🏼 ❤
Nice to know I'm not the only one to work on my truck barefoot. lmao!
Lol!
Right been there
So what happen if you crank the Allen wrench to much???
Great video! I just had new tie rods and a new pitman arm installed on my 97 Sierra and somehow the play in my steering got worse.. will try this out for sure!
Also, I love that you were driving bare footed 😂 I do it sometimes too but I almost can't push my clutch in all the way without shoes on lol
Idler-arm or center-link or both could need replacing.
I di it 2 times on last 3 years same vehicle but first time hold the adjustment like 1years and happens again im thinking on buy new box
When you say wear out faster how much faster we talking?
its the difference between 3 years and 5 years
🤣
would be nice if someone would chime in to let us know what is actually happening when the screw is tightened up and how that is effecting the slop.
There are multiple gears in the gear box. The slip comes from worn out fears creating space between them. When you tighten the bolt you push the gears together to remove that space and thus remove the sloppy play. But if over tightened you force the gears together so much you push out all the oil and the gears will over heat and wear out rapidly.
@@Dyllanwolf thankyou for the insight!
@@Dyllanwolf So the Tim Shade comment a few up from yours, about cranking down the allen screw and backing it off half a turn, will actually squeeze out the lubricant and cause premature wear, even when the allen screw is backed off 1/2 a turn???
When you like it sloppy but not too sloppy
I'm going to try this on my 2002 GMC Sonoma S15. I would very much welcome any advice/suggestions/recommendations regarding another issue I have. I have replaced the front (factory) shocks on my 2002 GMC Sonoma S15 with brand-new Bilstein shocks. But, I still feel every little bump/imperfection on the surface of the road. What else can I look at replacing to get a "smoother/less bumpy" ride?
thanks for the help , now my blazer will be little tighter
Aye
You have a trailblazer? Or a blazer? How did it work out for you???
@@odog575 1980 Chevy k5 Blazer 4x4 I'm actually almost done dealing with blown head gasket...then I'm going to try this....I'll let you know though
Thank you, really helpful!
How do I determine which side is High pressure & which line is low pressure on the steering box? I got one that was exposed to the elements and water got in, now I’m trying to flush it out. It’s started foaming from the water or I’m I better off coughing out the $220 & getting a new one???
I ended up going 3/4 of a turn on my 2000 GMC Sierra, no slop at all now.
Jeff you tightened your S10 steering box set screw 3/4 turn? Wow that's bold! I tightened mine 45-degrees and it did not seem to reduce play much, but did make the steering feel a little stiffer. Because I felt more resistance steering, I did not tighten it beyond the 45-degees for fear of damage from too tight. But OK maybe I should just be a man and try tightening my S10 steering box set screw a full 3/4 turn...
Thanks Jeff!
I went a 1/4 turn at a time, turns out 3/4 turn was a little much, so I went back a 1/4 turn, I found when you go a little too far the wheel doesn't want to go back to center on it's own, meaning if you are going straight and you just bump the wheel to the right or left it wants to stay in that direction, a little bump and it should come back to center, if that makes sense.
Jeff .S from what I've heard it's suggested not to go beyond a 1/2 turn. Sounds like you should be good now.
If you adjust your steering box 1/4 then a week later it needs adjusting, your box needs replaced. Also once you adjust it, its goes back to slop even worse later on.
You forgot a few things. The greatest amount of wear on the worm gear is in the straight position. ALWAYS rotate your steering wheel 1 turn to the right or left , turn screw till it stops then back off 1/2 turn .
how far?
Tim Shade one full turn???
So what you have said, just to be 100% :), is to TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 1 FULL STEERING WHEEL TURN, EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER, THEN LOOSEN THE NUT AND FULLY TIGHTEN DOWN THE ALLEN SCREW, THEN BACK IT OFF 1/2 TURN, THEN TIGHTEN THE NUT, THEN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK 1 FULL TURN OPPOSITE OF WHAT WAS DONE BEFORE THE ADJUSTMENT, AND NOW SLOP SHOULD BE GONE.
That's the correct procedure??? Thanks!
That screw tightening only makes the steering stiffer but doesn't get rid of the play.
How do u get rid of the play? I have alot of play in my 2000 s10
I agree
Steeri g shaft lower replacment
Bro this a pretty good video you know, thanks
Are you going to replace your rag joint
It is the same procedure for my 2000 gmc safari?
Excellent...Thanks !!!
The adjustment screw to to set gear lash from the factory to to adjust steering play, excessive play needs a new box, the adjust ment u did only miss aligned the gears further causing quicker wear and eventual possibility of gear failure with loss of steering.... This is not proper procedure
What is then
shawn V no shit genius he said it in the video
Nice job. I will study in your job
I have a doubt, is it necessary to loosen the lock nut or just turn the set screw a few degrees to the right? I got a chevy blazer with that problem
I know this was a year ago, but still, good luck turning that Allen screw without loosening the lock nut. That nut is what locks it in place after the adjustment and keeps it in place.
im having trouble loosening the nut with the 5/8 ive used a wrench and a socket and it wont budge can someone help?
Spray with pb blaster first. Wait about 10 min and try again. It will break the rust or dirt that is locking the treads up! Wd 40 can work to. It's just not as strong as the pb blaster
Wheel straight , vehicle on flat road , loosen box 1 full turn, then tighten all the way till you just lightly feel it stop,then loosen half turn it will be dead centered and no play , take around block ,then back off 1/8 take block will have 1/4 play right to left from center wheels straight,then back off one more 1/8 will give you half inch play left and right tighten lock not and drive baby.
😊
My truck was recked on the front passenger side It is a 1995 ford f150...my my stiring is off
88 sierra, i got the lock nut loose but the actual adjuster won't budge. wtf?
Does it work on Montero sport
For a 2nd gen. Blazer, is it possible that a loose box can cause thump noises from front suspension (under braking and turning-wheel-while-stationary)? I had my frame welded at the front drivers side, a few years ago; it was making a bit of noise. And the steering box was always loose, since 8 years ago, I've had it tightened twice. But in the last week, I'm hearing and feeling noises, and the steering is looser. I just don't know if it's a different issue or not. Been under the truck 4 times but I can't notice anything amiss. Not a mech. by the way.
I have a 95 s10 and it has a lot of play in steering. If I press the brakes hard I hear a thump on the right side. Usually doesnt happen unless I have to brake pretty hard
You need a whole new front end my guy
Why the steering gets sloppy?
i have a 95 gmc sierra Z71 with terrible steering,i replaced rag joint,so now my steering is hard as hell to turn,and slop is still there,how much are you supposed to tighten those nuts and bolts on the new rubber piece,i might have over tightened them,will losing them up a bit help ? anybody know ? then i can try this,and then look into all the other stuff ughh.
Would I need to adjust a new rebuilt steering box. 94 suburban 2wd.2500.
Still have slop. And it's not anything after the box.
Check before the box and make sure there is no slop in the shaft joints. You shouldn’t need to adjust a new box. If you can’t find anything there, double check underneath (everything after the box). I know you said you don’t have slop after the box but I would check again to be positive before condemning a new box. Lift the vehicle and grab the wheel at 9 and 3. Shake it back and forth and see if you feel anything. Go ahead and do it at 12 and 6 as well. Chevys are known for bad pitman and idler arms.
@@MightyMechanic found rag joint sloppy. Play in. But box still has slop after the rag joint. Nothing after box moves but box & rag joint at the rag joint area. 🧐
tighten is clockwise?
+Kurt M yes it is clockwise.
Righty tighty lefty loosy
I assume this is the same for a Blazer as well?
Yes, it's the same.
Most mechanics say don't try to tighten the steering box on a Jeep. It is very easy to over tighten and burn the box right out. What do you think??
I had major slop in steering, so I swapped out the box but still has slop but not as bad as before:(
Rag joint, idler arm, pitman arm. Three major things to check if you've already replaced your box
Hey man I have the same problem
How to fix a steering box: remove steering box, replace with rack/pinion
Rag joint???
This is NOT the correct way to adjust a steering box!!! The correct procedure requires removal of steering box from the vehicle. Preload must be adjusted on the input shaft first! Secondly the Allen screw can be adjusted but note: over tightening of the Allen screw will cause the box to bind in the centered position. The method shown in this video and most others on the internet WILL cause damage and internal failures at minimum.
Let’s ignore the crack on the windshield
whattaheck you don't wear any shoes on?😂
How many effing ads do I have to watch before I can see the video? Holy shit.
Actually this is all a shot in the dark and definitely not the way to do it. You're just guessing and hoping. May work may not. Most of the time not. You have to have the box out of the truck and on the bench, adjust the end play first at the input shaft, then adjust the allen screw by feel. Most of the time it's the end play that's loose at the input shaft. Ask me how I know.
How do you adjust that?
Well, how do you know 🤔
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼😎
Domestic.
Incorrect method!
Cute guy!'
Not to judge or anyting this video was pointless there is no improvement made and you still putting yourself at risk driving an unsafe vehicle because the steering wheel is still wondering I would take your vehicle to a ASE Certified mechanic and have them to fix the vehicle all you need is a new intermediate steering shaft.
You can’t see the improvement very well in the video but it reduces play. This is not a long term fix, only to last you a while to save up for a steering box. This is not unsafe to do. And if you listened to what I said in the video, the other steering components did not have play. So putting a steering shaft would have done nothing.
The grippers on the parking break