Pitman shaft moving up and down

[Blue85]

I have traced a clunking noise to the steering gear. As the steering changes direction, the pitman shaft is moving up and down a little inside the gear, accompanied by a little click/thunk sound. I figure it's time for another box, but in the meantime would you wheel it? Steering feel is fine - only symptom is this noise.

 

[k5blazerguy]

I have the same problem, I took it down to Big O tires and they found that issue. The guy said the gears are probably getting worn out in the box. I have a box outta 2wd suburban just been too busy to change it.

 

[Fred_M1010]

It's probably just the set screw on top of it that needs adjusting.
It pushes the sector shaft down to better engage it's counterpart.

Just make sure the shaft is centered when you adjust it.
Cause if it's not centered when you adjust it, it could bind later when centered.
Since it's designed to be tighter in that spot.

It could also be so easy, that the drag link isn't correctly adjusted so the box isn't centered now...
It's normal with a little slop when it isn't centered.
Count the turns on the steering wheel, and make sure it's the same to the right and to the left.

I hope this made sense, I'm not too good at explaining stuff in English

 

[Blue85]

This is very interesting because the problem did start around the time I moved the front axle forward 1". I did shorten the drag link about an inch and my steering wheel is centered. I could look for another position of the box where it's tighter, but wouldn't this mean it would make noise when I'm turning? I've been driving it 13 years and I have no memory of that.

The box bolts are tight, the ORD brace has been installed for years and there's no sign of the frame moving (while I'm down there). When I turn the steering shaft by hand I can see the pitman arm/sector shaft moving up and down. I can't feel any play between the pitman arm and sector shaft.

 

[rompinstompinmudmonkey]

Just set your sector shaft preload and you should be fine. The allen screw on the top of the box is the adjuster screw and the nylock nut locks the screw in place after the adjustment is done. Adjust in small steps though, turning the steering wheel lock to lock between adjustments to check for endplay. If you adjust it too tight you can bind and break the sector sahft gear

 

[Blue85]

I took the adjuster down about 3/4 of a turn. It seems tighter, but hasn't really eliminated the problem. I'm afraid to get it too tight because of all the horror stories on the web. I am going over everything, tightening bolts and will be replacing the drag link. I may adjust the box a little more, but where it is now I can tell that it's slightly tighter on-center than off, so it's probably pretty close.