How much play in a steering box?

[ascuro]

My steering's still a little loose on the road...got new balljoints, bearings, DLE's, TRE's. No play in the rag joint or shaft - the only thing I can find is some play in the steering box.

I can turn the shaft just under 1/8th of a turn before seeing any movement on the pitman arm. Is that within specs? I can't find any guidelines.

 

[Burt4x4]

1/8" isn't all that much. If you do decide to tighten the slop with the set screw on top of the box just be carful not to trun it too much. I have read if it's two tight it will heat up real fast...

 

[4X4HIGH]

Burt, he said "I can turn the shaft just under 1/8th of a turn" not an 1/8".

 

[3 on the tree]

My 70 manual box is the same way. That little bit of slack actually helps when wheeling, takes some of the "snap" out of the steering wheel when going over rocks.
By the book, adjusting the box preload requires a torque wrench set at like 10 ft lbs. For 30 years I've been doing it by feel and haven't trashed a box yet.
Jack the whole front end up in the air. Tires can stay on.
Back off the jam nut and turn the prelaod screw in bout 1/2 a turn.
Turn the wheels lock to lock a couple of times.
Repeat turning the screw in and turning wheels.
When you can feel the steering tighten up when turning to center, then you are just a little too tight. Back the screw off a bit and tighten the jamnut.