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Large Tires Causing Excessive Steering Play (problem fixed)

1-ton

1-ton

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A few months ago I installed ORD cross-over steering and tie rod with a new 2-wheel drive steering box on my 91 V3500, and a set of new 36/13.50/16 tires. The steering gear box is an older 3/4" splined shaft type. These new tires and parts are causing a massive amount of steering play that my truck did not have before.

After some research I am pretty sure it is the original stock steering column intermediate shaft my truck still has causing the problem. I have looked at the Jeep XJ shaft modification, but since I have an older 3/4" splined shaft steering box, I do not think that will work. I have looked into a Borgeson intermediate shaft PN# 000935. This should fit both ends of my column and steering box. This part is somewhat expensive, but I think it is the only solution I got. Any thoughts are input on this.

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I have nothing to offer on the Borgeson product but the XJ steering shaft upgrade was the single best thing I did to eliminate slop.
 
nvrenuf said:
I have nothing to offer on the Borgeson product but the XJ steering shaft upgrade was the single best thing I did to eliminate slop.
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After reading a couple tech posts on the XJ shaft modification, it appears that that only works with the later style steering gear box that has the smaller 1/2" spline shaft, and not the early model 3/4" splined shaft steering box that I have installed on my 1991 V3500 that originally came with the later style 1/2" spilined shaft. The Borgeson steering shaft part is designed for the early model 3/4" spline shaft, but will still fit on the steering column side too. This all gets pretty confusing and complicated when you start swapping early model parts with later model parts on the old square bodies.
 
I understand some work and some don't, my point was the u-joint style shaft made more difference in how tight my steering feels than any other steering mod. (2 steering braces and crossover w/ high steer)
 
I have the earlier flared box with the bigger spline, the XJ shaft wouldn't fit on it hence the reason why I run the Savana/Express Van shaft
 
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You changed several things at once, let's back up. Maybe the frame is cracked around the steering box? What bracing/repairs have you done there? 20 seconds under the truck with someone else steering will tell you where 90% of the slop is coming from.
 
what blue85 said...get under there and have someone crank the wheel and turn the tires against a curb while its running...watch to see see if the box moves or the frame flexes ...If you haven't braced anything by the steering box box/frame yet...I would do that... if its not yet them it will be at some point till you brace it.... you should also be able to check the steering shaft for slop too..just do it while its running and the pump is going. sometimes the steering box bolts loosen up from the frame flex and you cant tell they are loose just by looking at it but once the box starts turning with the pump power you can spot it . your steering box could also need adjusting, so I'd check that too..it could be a combination of all of these in small amounts thats now a deal cause of the bigger tires.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/129-0801-saginaw-steering-box-rebuild/ last part talks about adjusting the box

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm ORDs kit is bolt in and easy to do..esp if your frames not cracked and you don't want to pull it all apart to weld in frame braces

orange circle cause

Inkedccrp_0901_03_z-steering_box_upgrade-steering_box_repair_LI.jpg
 
I too have massive steering slop but do not know when it started. My truck used to be a daily driver then set out parked in the woods for a few years. In 1997 I went up 15" lift and getting ready for militaries and 53's but NJ changed the lift laws so it sat till 2004. Lowered it down to 6", added ord steering brace, xover steer, d60 front (had d44 as I never did the rockwells) and had sloppy steering. I can say that the xover make my steering so much nicer and tighter turning radius but while driving down the road it is like on the old movies.. guy driving and rocking steering wheel back and forth.

I tried adjusting that nut and it didn't make any difference for me. in addition I have that XJ shaft in mine and it DID NOT make a difference.. so first I say the shaft is cool so I would do it but just want to throw out there that it MAY NOT fix your issue. I still have to determine mine. Mine maybe due to me.. I couldn't get my gear box lines off so I just threw the 2wd guts into the 4wd box and that maybe my issue.. who knows.. LOL
 
The "other" adjustment is probably where the slop is--at the steering colum end there is a large lock nut (looks like ones used on electrical conduit)--there is an adjusting plug on that end of the box with two holes for a spanner wrench...unfortunately it seems every time I or others have attempted to "tighten up" the steering box by messing with that end,it did help a lot to make it feel less sloppy,but the seals ended up leaking like a sieve after being disturbed..

I have had poor luck adjusting the pitman shaft lash screw too--usually that only makes the steering feel stiff and fails to return to center if you tighten the adjustment a tad too much,and once you disturb it,you never seem to be able to find a "sweet spot" again,or keep it from leaking around the screw threads..
I ended up buying a used steering box at a salvage yard after I tried messing with the adjustments..probably once things inside start wearing,they are beyond fixing by a simple adjustment..
 
I did not bother to list everything on my steering because it would make for a long post. My truck has all the steering box braces, steering box frame weldement plate, new steering box, new ORD cross-over, new ORD steering link, and all new ORD tie rod ends. The only thing not replaced is the intermediate steering shaft.
 
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Oh...new box huh...hmm...guess that kills the out of adjustment theory,unless they rebuilt it wrong or didn't pre-set the adjustments correctly..

It might be your lacking enough caster,causing it to want to wander around instead of tracking straight...have you checked the wheel bearings for excess play?--a few thousandths there can make a lot of slop in the steering at the wheel..
 
diesel4me said:
Oh...new box huh...hmm...guess that kills the out of adjustment theory,unless they rebuilt it wrong or didn't pre-set the adjustments correctly..

It might be your lacking enough caster,causing it to want to wander around instead of tracking straight...have you checked the wheel bearings for excess play?--a few thousandths there can make a lot of slop in the steering at the wheel..
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I intend to check that next along with the king pin pre-load just to make sure. I recently greased my bearings and tighten them along with having washers loading the king springs pretty good. The slop definitly is in the steering though.
 
I went for the gusto and dropped the big bucks on the Borgenson heavy duty intermediate steering shaft. Those things are supposed to be beefy chunks of steel compared to any Original Equipment replacement part. I did shop around for the Chevy Express van and Jeep XJ shafts. I found them, manufactured by Dorman Products, brand new for about $115. The Borgenson shaft I ordered is about double the price at Jegs. Thanks for the relies and input from everybody. I learned a few things from this post.
 
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