how adj manual steering box?

in theory the worm screw bearing preload is set when the box is built and again in theory, unless its done a load of miles or the huge hex lock ring came undone. it will be right..or it will be the setting that it ends up at after you have built all brand new parts into the case and used the steering box in anger, basically less than what it was set at when everything was new and not bedded in by use. i.e its not really an adjustment that you do on the car. its normally set with no sector shaft mounted in the case.

with the sector/ballnut mesh the setting you apply with the bolt and locknut in the top cover
aim for 14 if you can measure. that caters for the drag from the worm screw bearings and the sector tooth mesh you just set
back it off if you feel the stiff centre at the rim of the steering wheel, with the front wheels off the ground or the linkage disconnected

better to be slightly tight than chattering loose

if you have no way to measure
do it up until you feel a tight point in the middle when you turn the steering wheel by the centre hub.
that tight point should not be felt when you turn the wheel by the rim. do this with the wheels up off the ground.

tight point noticeable at the wheel rim is a roadworthy test failure in many places.

that's ballpark right if you have no way to measure

if the box is off the car twisting the input spline with your hand, this is the point where it becomes really quite hard to do... its the point where you think if i had my welding gloves on this wouldn't be hurting my fingers.

stiff in the middle where you spend all of your time on a straight road, stops the teeth on the sector chattering along with road vibration, against the teeth in the ballnut, which is what wears them out, the same section of tooth gets hammered repeatedly in the same spot for the period where you do not need to change direction. bit of preload stops all of that.

after adjustment regardless of what is in the box oil or grease, top it off with 90 wt gear oil. you are doing steering work, ideal time to check the lube...

as far as i know US manual steering was an aluminium alloy case...all the ones i've encountered are.
the RHD for UK Australia South Africa etc cars got nodular iron case with a bulky chassis mount setup on the side.

case material shouldn't make a difference really, we are not talking in the same category as main or big end journal clearances here.


Dave