I had my car up on stands yesterday and noticed I have some side-to-side play at the steering gear (wheels move 2-3°). I adjusted the sector mesh and the sector shaft, but the play remains. How do I tell if it's the pitman arm or the (power) steering gear? It looks to me like the shaft is moving in unison with the arm, but it's hard to tell.

Thanks in advance,

Nat

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

You can use a big channel lock pliers to squeeze the pitman arm joint (along the stud axis) where it connects to the drag link. More than about 0.060" play and you should replace it. Can check all tie rods and idler arm the same way.

2-3 deg does not sound like a lot, but I'm not sure where you're measuring that.

What car is this?

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

It's a 1970 Dart. As far as the measuring goes, it's more eyeballing than an actual measurement.

Thanks,

Nat

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

is this a power steering gear?

with the engine running and all wheels on the ground, how far can you turn the steering wheel before the front wheels respond?

have a friend turn the wheel back and forth while observing every joint for sloppy movement. if the steering box is worn out, that will become evident by watching the arm move relative to the steering wheel.

you can quantify how bad your joints are as lou suggested. watching physical freeplay while the steering wheel is moving will point out any trouble areas quickly.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

Thanks Step,
I'll give it a good going over this weekend.

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!