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Old 07-21-2015, 06:14 PM   #1
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Sloppy Steering.......

Better to rebuild or replace the steering gear box? What are your thoughts and experience......

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Old 07-21-2015, 06:19 PM   #2
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Did you try to adjust it?
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Old 07-21-2015, 06:22 PM   #3
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Driving our bus home the first time we thought it had sloppy steering... Looked it up and it turns out that up to two inches of play is considered NORMAL! Ha!
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Old 07-21-2015, 09:26 PM   #4
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Worn tie rod ends and loose wheel bearings will also make for sloppy steering. For a quick check, crawl under the front of the bus and have someone move the steering wheel slowly back and forth. Watch for what doesn't move with the rest of the linkage.

One of my old cars had a loose cross shaft in the steering box that made the steering very sloppy. Once I figured out the problem it was easy to fix with a crecent wrench and a screwdriver.
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Old 07-22-2015, 07:31 PM   #5
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Year: 1971
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Engine: Cat 3160
This is not normal and it is not worn tie rods or loose wheel bearings. We've checked all of those. A mechanic friend indicated the problem was in the steering gear box, so we are wondering how to proceed with that.

sddwarf36..... how would we adjust it? Do you have steps for us to follow? My husband is pretty handy with mechanical issues, but this is one he's never done.
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Old 07-22-2015, 07:56 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onenationundergoat View Post
Driving our bus home the first time we thought it had sloppy steering... Looked it up and it turns out that up to two inches of play is considered NORMAL! Ha!
well ya see.....

that's only 1 inch of play in each direction....
start at the center, move 1 inch left, then back to center, then 1 inch right.

see, 1 inch of play in each direction!




in my defense, GilligusMaxibus did ask my thoughts.... he didn't ask for my "useful" thoughts
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Old 07-22-2015, 09:38 PM   #7
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There is a bolt sticking out of the opposite end of the steering gear
from the output shaft (sector shaft) usually on top of the steering gear.
It is usually slotted for a screw driver and has a lock nut holding it in
place. It's purpose is to adjust the play in the gears which are a tapered
cut. To adjust you jack up the front wheels so you have no pressure
on the steering gears when you turn the steering wheel. You now loosen
the lock nut and turn the adjusting bolt a little one way and see if it
takes any of the play out, usually clockwise tightens the gear mesh.
after you get the play where you want it you then turn the steering wheel
lock to lock to check for tight spots if all is smooth your done. If it has
tight spots in the steering travel you'll have to back off the adjustment.
Another way to make it steer straight down the road is to install a
Safe-T-Plus unit which keeps it going straight and makes a safer bus
in case of a blow out on a front wheel.
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