Tail_Gunner
CRJ & ERJ A&P Mech.
For the last 9 months or so, I've been working towards getting rid of a significant amount of slop or freeplay in the steering.
I started with the ball joints since they are the "cornerstone" of the steering. Any changes made elsewhere are pointless if they are loose. Mine had over 120,000 on them anyhow. So out with the old ball joints and in with the new ones. While the old ones seemed rather loose after I removed them, any decrease in the slop in my steering was between inconclusive and maybe.
I had already tried adjusting the steering gear. It seemed to help for a while, but slop was still there. So I went with a new steering gear. there was a definate improvement after that. But with the camper behind the truck and a good wind trying to put it all in the ditch, the remaing amount of freeplay became much more noticable.
Next I tried to see how much slop there might be in the ends of the rod that goes from the steering gear arm to the right side of the tie rod. I tried using a dial indicator but couldn't get the magentic base solidly mounted in a position where I could get a reading.
So I broke down and just got the parts for a new assembly. Once I got it in, the improvement was very significant. This is a good thing since I was running out of things to replace!!
This past weekend we towed the camper south across "Da Bridge" and spent some time with some old friends at a state park.
Now instead of fighting the slop in the steering, I can put the truck where I want it and it stays there without wandering towards the right or to the left .
I started with the ball joints since they are the "cornerstone" of the steering. Any changes made elsewhere are pointless if they are loose. Mine had over 120,000 on them anyhow. So out with the old ball joints and in with the new ones. While the old ones seemed rather loose after I removed them, any decrease in the slop in my steering was between inconclusive and maybe.
I had already tried adjusting the steering gear. It seemed to help for a while, but slop was still there. So I went with a new steering gear. there was a definate improvement after that. But with the camper behind the truck and a good wind trying to put it all in the ditch, the remaing amount of freeplay became much more noticable.
Next I tried to see how much slop there might be in the ends of the rod that goes from the steering gear arm to the right side of the tie rod. I tried using a dial indicator but couldn't get the magentic base solidly mounted in a position where I could get a reading.
So I broke down and just got the parts for a new assembly. Once I got it in, the improvement was very significant. This is a good thing since I was running out of things to replace!!
This past weekend we towed the camper south across "Da Bridge" and spent some time with some old friends at a state park.
Now instead of fighting the slop in the steering, I can put the truck where I want it and it stays there without wandering towards the right
or to the left .
