two adjustments
proper way
first undo the box adjuster nut facing up on the top cover of the box, allen headed or slotted sector shaft adjuster
1) take box completely out of car. undo the massive hex shaped ring at the input/steering shaft end of the box
2) clean threads and wind in the aluminium adjuster (this is basically the top of the steering box around the splined steering column section)
3) wind it in until it takes a specific torque to turn the steering through the centre of travel (need manual for the torque but one of my multi point sockets fits the spline perfectly for testing this)
4) lock up the ring again
5) then wind in the adjuster to mesh the sector again. set with box at mid point just tight enough so that the steering feels slightly stiffer in the middle
cowboy way
1) wheels off ground
2) undo the sector mesh adjuster lock nut with allen headed or slotted stud through it on top cover of box
3) undo big hex lock ring clean threads
4) get under car with foot long bit of wood and a hammer.
5) tap round the aluminium end of the box that is round the splined steering column end.
6) do up lock ring
7) adjust the adjuster on the top of the box so the steering feels slightly stiff in the middle
the locking hex ring and aluminium bit adjust how hard 1 shaft in the box is wedged between its ball bearings. too tight and you will flat spot the balls.....nothing worse
the box adjuster sets how hard you wedge a set of steel teeth on the steering sector shaft into the valleys in the ballnut/rack
obviously in both cases too loose is a bad as too tight.
yours sounds like play between the sector teeth and the ballnut/rack
so try adjusting just that first that's the asy adjustment from the top cover of the box not the big hex ring/aluminium bearing adjustmnet.
everything in your steering box is available new apart from the RHD ballnut.
Other options
manual box and an adaptor to lengthen your steering column from firmfeel or borgeson
rebuild kit should be purchased based on thin or fat sector
thin sector is 1.125 inches
takes this seal
~ Width (in) 0.256
~ Shaft (in) 1.125
~ Bore (in) 1.561
~ Outer Diameter (in) 1.565
fat sector takes this seal
~ Shaft Size : 1.247"
~ Housing Bore : 1.687"
~ Width : 0.312"
~ Outside Diameter : 0.312"
input seal same on all
you can get them reconditioned in the UK
and buying the seals from a UK bearing supplier works out less.
housings can be machined to move seals in slightly so they run on unblemished bits of sector shaft
needle rollers inside are awkward but not impossible to get based on part number expect them to be 30-60 quid
Dave
