TRW Steering Box

Maybe the pitman arm is loose, that will cause excessive steering wheel play. Raise the hood, grab hold of the steering shaft and twist it back and forth keeping close eye on the splines inside the pitman arm. There should be no looseness there at all, if there is grab a couple of wrenches and tighten it.

 

I wrench??? How about a impact that's wat I had to use

 

2 big wrenches and one cheater pipe same difference. Nice to have a helper to hold one side. Don't get too crazy with it....

 

Seriously sounds like a bunch of part changers who are clueless. Sounds like a scam.

I would go back and tell them to either adjust it right, show you why there is play when there wasn't or you will take it to a dealer who will do the work right and send them the bill.

Just because it is leaking doesn't mean the box needs to be changed, I would have asked for the original one back to inspect it. They make seal kits for all these boxes, it takes a bit more time to change the seals on the box than it does replacing it.

Adjusting the box is easy, it takes 15 minutes to properly do and any mechanic should know the basics.

I have to add that the comment "The head mechanic looked at it, said he could do a small adjustment, but that you don't want it too tight because it will wear the gears prematurely." would have me very worried that he has no clue what he is doing in the first place.

 

Unacceptable period! It should feel like a new truck after that kind of bill. If it is WORSE than the old one then, how is that fixed. He just charged you to put on worse parts. Do as others have said, stick it to him, and if they dont do what makes YOU feel good about the steering of your 80,000 lbs. truck have it looked at somewhere else.

 

I understand but you are the customer. I worked around a lot of mechanics and know that even if they have 60 years (I worked for one that was in business for 62 when I was hired), does not mean they are all that great. If he is concern with keeping you as a customer, then he should adjust the bill or eat the costs completely.

As I said, the box didn't need to be changed out, anyone can change the seals in it for less than a $100.

so I think you are right in your assessment.

It is possible to adjust the box, it should have been done right when it was put on.

TRW has a book on their site - TRW800.pdf - that will give you a one page description of how to adjust the box. Yes it can be done, you have to drop the cross link off the pitman arm and then have a torque wrench and other tools to do it right.

 

Sector Shaft Adjustment
Tools Required Materials Required
Screwdriver
3⁄4" Socket
3⁄4" Open end wrench
This adjustment can only be completed on the vehicle if
the adjusting screw jam nut is accessible. This nut is
located on the side cover.
Photos in this section were taken on a mock frame rail for
clarity.
Center the sector
shaft
1. With the engine on, rotate the steering wheel (input
shaft) until the timing mark on the sector shaft lines
up with the mark on the housing. The line on the
sector shaft should be at a 90° angle from the input
shaft. The sector shaft is now on its "center of
travel". Turn the vehicle off.
Remove the drag
link
2. Remove the drag link from the pitman arm.
To avoid resetting the poppets, do
not rotate the input shaft more than
11⁄2 turns from the "center of travel" position while the
drag link is disconnected.
Check for sector
shaft lash
Loosen jam nut
3. From the "center of travel" position, grasp the
pitman arm and gently try to rotate it back and forth.
If looseness or lash is felt at this point, the sector
shaft is out of adjustment.
4. Loosen the jam nut.
3⁄4" Socket If the gear is removed from the
vehicle to adjust the lash:
• Leave the pitman arm connected to the gear.
• Best option is to follow the Final Adjustment
procedure on page 67.
• Alternate option is to continue with step 5 of this
procedure.
Position adjusting
screw
Adjust shaft
5. If no lash was detected in step 3, turn the shaft
adjusting screw counterclockwise until you feel lash
at the output shaft.
6. Slowly turn the shaft adjusting screw clockwise until
you feel no lash at the output shaft without using
more than 10 lbf•ft (14 N•m) of torque. From this
position, turn the screw clockwise 1⁄8 to 3⁄16 of a turn
more. Hold the adjusting screw in place, and
tighten the jam nut. Final jam nut torque 43 lbf•ft (58
N•m).
Screwdriver
Screwdriver
3⁄4" Open end
wrench
Recheck for lash
Connect drag link
7. Turn the steering wheel 1⁄4 turn each side of center,
then back to center and recheck the pitman arm for
lash. You should feel no lash; if there is lash, repeat
steps 4, 6 and 7.
8. Reconnect the drag link to the pitman arm according
to manufacturer's specifications.
Maintain grease in the sector shaft
bearing through the grease fitting
in the housing using only a hand operated grease gun.
Add grease until it begins to extrude past the dirt and
water seal. Do not use a power grease gun because it
will supply grease too fast; this could adversely affect
the high pressure seal and contaminate the hydraulic
fluid.

 

I replace my trw gear box today. When sitting the poppets I noticed when I turned the wheel all the way right towards the end of the turn the steering wheel kept moving about 1in but not the wheels. Took it out on a sets drive I can make a left turn with ease but when turning to the right there is play before the wheels start turning. Can some one tell me what I did wrong or need to do?