TRW Steering Box

Automatic adam · May 11, 2022

I have to turn the wheel till the hand brake screw if covered before it starts to turn right

Vahe386 · Apr 9, 2023

04 LowMax said: ↑

As part of my annual inspection, my local shop changed out my steering box, said the old one was leaking oil (could not have been major because I didn't notice it).
It was steering fine, did have a bit of play but not enough to be concerned. Anyway, after getting back on the road, and expecting the truck to steer much better, was
disappointed to find it actually much worse with the "new" (rebuilt) trw box on it. I have 3-4" of freeplay on the steering wheel. The play, is all happening in the box, between the input and output shaft. Everything else, tie rods, u-joint, etc. are all good. I took it back to the shop and complained. 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. Huh? It seems to me that in a precision system such as a steering, you need all components to be tight (within reason of course) in order to work properly. Anyway he had a junior mechanic do a minor adjust on it, then told me to
try it. When it was done, he asked the junior mech how much he had set it, was told 1/4 to 1/2 a turn, then he tells him that you can actually turn them all the way in to stop, and back them off just a bit. Why he didn't tell him this in the first place I don't know. Anyway they sent me on my way to "see how it goes". Well, maybe a slight bit better, but not much. I will have to take it back to them, but I just wanted some input here on, first of all, does anyone agree with me that a rebuilt box should have only
a tiny bit of play between input and output shaft (so that you could maybe rock the shaft about 1/16 of an inch, not 1/2 to 3/4? I told the shop I questioned whether the truck would pass a roadside dot inspection and was told you can have up to a quarter of a turn in the steering wheel before they would be concerned! I don't think so! And does anyone know the part about setting up these boxes as far as the turning in all the way and then back off a bit? I want as much knowledge as I can get before I go back there. To me there are 2 things here that are unacceptable, that a rebuilt box would come this way, and second that this shop more or less scoffed at my concern and were reluctant to do much. There are 2 things on a truck that I will not tolerate, vibration-shaking, and wandering-steering. Feedback please.
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beltrans · Apr 9, 2023

When I replaced mine.... I remember with a drag link disconnected back adjustment screw till you feel free play while moving a pitman arm back and forth.. Then tighten adjustment screw till there is no more free play plus 1/4 turn and tighten lock nut...

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Automatic adam Bobtail Member

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Automatic adam Bobtail Member

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beltrans Medium Load Member

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