I put a new steering box on my car and it really tightened up the steering and there was hardly any play. I had the front end aligned and now there is slack in the steering. I can turn the wheel side to side with no steering result. Could this be from poor alignment?

The steering gear may not be centered; there is really supposed to be almost no free play only right around close to center. When making turns, it is normal to have considerable play. Most likely the steering column shaft was installed in the coupling at the bottom of the steering column is one-half turn off from what it is supposed to be, or the steering gear splined shaft which goes into the coupling is one full turn off. Then, the alignment shop adjusted the tie rod adjusting sleeves to center the steering wheel with the front wheels pointing straight ahead while also setting the toe-in, but the steering gear ITSELF is not centered. The way to tell is if the car makes sharper turns left than right or vice versa.

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1964 Dart 225 1966 Valiant 225
1966 Dart 273 1966 Barracuda 273
1969 Dart 225
'64-170 engine '66-170 engine
(two) 198 crank/rod sets in custom-fitted wooden boxes

wooden motor scooter with hybrid-electric drive

I got in my car today and had the wheels centered. The steering wheel is completely upside down when the wheels are going straight. I turned the wheel both ways and had almost a full turn more to the right than i did to the left.

I took the car to the guy that put the box on and told him my problem. I asked if the steering shaft going into the box could be off a turn. He said there was a pin in it and you could only put it in one way. Is this correct or could it be put together wrong?

I also started checking on the play in the steering. With the wheels centered (and the steering wheel upside down) i can wiggle the steering wheel back and forth and watch the steering column turn but the pitman arm remains still. There is probably a 1/4 of a turn play in it, an 1/8 of a turn to each side of the center. This was not there before I had it aligned.

Any ideas, suggestions or information on this? I am taking it to the alignment shop for them to get it right tomorrow and want to know what I am talking about. Or does it sound like I need to take it to the guy that put the box on?

Sounds like the guy who put the box in put the pitman arm on wrong...

.......or the alignment guys centered the tie rods wrong....

either way ....it isn t your fault and you should not have to pay to have it fixed.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

The alignment guy said that the pitman arm should point straight towards the back of the car when everything is centered. Is this correct?

I am just wondering who I should take it to first?

What about the play in the steering? The box is a brand new Steer and Gear 20:1 box. I am afraid the alignment guys tried to adjust it for some reason or another and have it out of wack.

The pitman arm can only go in one way. There are 3 wide splines allowing only one way the arm can slide onto the box.
I think that the alignment guy adjusted somthing he should not have.
When I replaced the pitman arm, idler arm and all 4 tie rods the alignment shop would not align it untill I took the play out of the box.

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I took it to the alignment shop this morning. I stopped by to check on it and they said it was finished. They told me that the pitman arm was put on wrong and there were four different ways to put it in.

Are they just claiming that was the problem so they did not have to admit to doing a poor alignment job?

I have noticed that when going through a curve the steering wheel feels like t jerks over a little bit toward the direction of the curve. It almost feels like the wheels are wanting to turn all the way. It seems like they really bite in and cause that little jerk on the wheel. I have never experienced this in all the years that I have driven the car. Any ideas? I will be ditching the CarQuest special shocks for some KYB's soon. Will this possibly alleviate my problem?

I stand corrected you can put it on 4 ways. I just double checked mine.

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I dont see the shocks helping your problem any at all. Although I would get a good set of shocks becuase it can help the handling & ride so much it is worth it. But it is not going to fix a problem. As far as KYB, it seems that many are having very good results with the Eldebrock shocks, they are more expencive but worth it.


Something is wrong, and the fact the the alingment guy let the car go out the door the first time with problems, No matter who caused it, tells me that I would not be letting that guy touch my steering again. I dont care what is going on, if you align a man's car, and there is something not right you tell them. This kinda thing can get people killed & he would be responsible because he was the last person to work on it.



You speak of this steering box as if it was brand new, or a new rebuilt box. Is this correct ? You need to determan if the box has play.

Two things to check right off. Many times after a box has been replaced I have seen the mounting bolts come loose. This will let the box move around when you try to steer. The coupler that joins the steering shaft to the box has a little ujoint type setup in it. This is inside the square box looking peice that is at the end of the steering shaft right before it hooks to the box (the piece the lock pin/bolt goes through). Play can get in this joint and cause problems. I have even seen people pull it apart by mistake when changing boxs & one of the pieces fall out without them knowing.

So check the box mounting bolts, and check the coupler that is in between the shaft & box for slack. If both are OK and the slack is in the box, it needs checked by someone that knows if ajusting it will cure it, or if the box needs replaced. It could be if it is a rebuilt box that something within came loose after driving a bit & allowed slack.


The Mopar front steering is different than any other on the market. Some alignment guys dont understand or know how to really check them to know if there is problems. There can be problems that are hard to see that will make the alignment go crazy. It will check right on the machine, then you go drive it & it changes. Most of the time it will be a problem in the lower control arm if this is happening. Even when everything is right, some guys just cant get them in alignment becuase it takes some work & they dont want to put that much into it.

Anyway, you need your car checked buy someone that knows and understand the setup. The fact the the alignment guy let you out the door with problems the first time is bad enough for me to tell him where to go, now you have left with the car a second time & it is still not right. I would not chance a third time. Find a new alingment guy.


Jess

I have found that there is play in the steering coupler. I have read the service manual and I am still not sure what I need to purchase to fix the problem or how to do it. I am having a hard time understanding the instructions in the service manual. Any help?

most of the resto parts suppliers have rebuild kits for the coupler. I believe they are around 20 bucks or so. Make sure that you LOOK at the parts when removing the old and install the replacement parts the same way. You can put the shoes in both ways. if you have more slop after installing the new parts,,, the shoes are in backwards.

I've taken apart and fixed several Mopar steering couplers, and more often than not I've found that some the sliders inside were completely broken. The factory seal is a real bear to get on right, but there is a nice aftermarket boot I've seen that I'd certainly get before I'd fight with the factory one again.

What company have you guys bought the rebuild kits from?

Straight from Ma Mopar.

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Slant Cecil

I have not been able to locate a rebuild kit. Don't see it in Year One or any of the other resto places and the local dealership gave me a part number and said it was discontinued.