<VV> Steering Adjustment

[R]

This is the way I have done it. 
Directions below from “ The HAMB”
Forum.  


There are two adjustments, the worm bearing tension, and the gear mesh adjustment. First, jack up the vehicle so the front wheels are off the ground, so the steering is free to turn and, the steering box is centered. Put jack stands under the frame!

Whatever you do, “do not” try to adjust out the play at anything other than straight ahead!! You'll kill the box on short order because the worm has a high spot in the center position.

{Before attempting to do this first adjustment, make sure that you back off on the gear mesh screw on the side of the box from 1 – 2 turns.}

The worm bearings are adjusted by loosening the big lock nut, then turning the bearing housing. On the reversed Corvair box, look at the top of the box, where the steering shaft (to the steering wheel) sticks out. On other steering boxes, this adjustment is at the bottom of the box, at the front. Usually a hammer and blunt punch will loosen the locknut. The bearings should be adjusted to get a few inch-pounds of drag on the worm gear (steering wheel), but you can adjust it by tightening up to remove the play, then go just a smidgen tighter, and tighten the locknut securely {make sure you hold the adjusting nut in place while tightening the lock nut}. Now, turn the steering wheel from lock-to-lock. There should be no binding. If there is, loosen the worm shaft adjustment slightly until the binding is gone.

Next, adjust the gear mesh, which is the slotted screw with a {usually} 5/8" hex locknut. Get the steering centered (wheels straight ahead), and loosen the locknut. Gradually tighten the adjusting screw in, while frequently checking the steering play by turning the steering wheel back and forth a turn or two...but leave it centered when adjusting. Eventually, you will take up the slack, unless the gears/bushings are really worn, in which case the adjusting screw will go all the way into the box. Tighten till the slack is all gone, then add about a half turn of preload to it. If all is well, you should feel the steering get just a little bit harder as you pass thru the center of the steering wheel's travel. Tighten the locknut securely.

> On Mar 20, 2019, at 7:58 PM, Bryan Blackwell via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
> 
> Doc is spot on about tightening the locknut, the screw always wants to move with the nut.  A crowfoot wrench is a handy solution.
> 
> --Bryan
> 
>> On Mar 20, 2019, at 3:18 PM, roboman91324--- via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 4.  Once the adjusting screw is where you want it, you must re-tighten the lock nut.  This may seem straightforward but it deserves some explanation.  If you try to just tighten the nut, the screw will probably move in with it.  This will over tighten the box.  Insert your screwdriver into the screw's slot and hold it in place while tightening the lock nut.  Use the largest screwdriver that will fit in the slot to get leverage.
> 
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