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How to adjust steering box?


Meintii

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My steering wheel turns about 1in (loosely) with-out moving the tires. This makes it seem almost dangerous at speed. How can I adjust this to make it tighter? I know it involves the steering box and the nut and screw on there.

Is this all thats wrong?

Zac Cardinal

1972 2002tii's Blog

1976 2002 "Margie"s blog

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Guest Anonymous

the slotted adjustment screw. DO NOT get crazy and turn it excessively. Use half turn increments and check to see if the play is removed. Buy some sort of repair literature to help with these types of repairs or take a basic automotive class at your high school or junior college.

shermanmartinez@hotmail.com

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Yea I have the Hanes, alot of experience with these cars (is a third of my life alot?) But the hanes is unclear on alot of things... I just wanted to make sure that tightening or loosening that adjustment screw was all that need to be done ;)

_zac

Zac Cardinal

1972 2002tii's Blog

1976 2002 "Margie"s blog

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off the ground. That way you can tell if the play is actually in the steering box, or in the center track rod or tie rods. Excessive play there, of course will mean replacing the worn parts.

When you're adjusting the steering box, you'll find there is gonna be some play at dead center--that's where all the wear takes place on the worm and roller, so don't try and adjust all the play out at the center. You'll overtighten the adjusting screw and wear the box out faster.

Also make sure there is plenty of the proper lubricant in the steering box, and that the idler arm bushing isn't worn.

cheers

mike

'69 Nevada sunroof-Wolfgang-bought new
'73 Sahara sunroof-Ludwig-since '78
'91 Brillantrot 318is sunroof-Georg Friederich 
Fiat Topolini (Benito & Luigi), Renault 4CVs (Anatole, Lucky Pierre, Brigette) & Kermit, the Bugeye Sprite

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off the ground. That way you can tell if the play is actually in the steering box, or in the center track rod or tie rods. Excessive play there, of course will mean replacing the worn parts.

When you're adjusting the steering box, you'll find there is gonna be some play at dead center--that's where all the wear takes place on the worm and roller, so don't try and adjust all the play out at the center. You'll overtighten the adjusting screw and wear the box out faster.

Also make sure there is plenty of the proper lubricant in the steering box, and that the idler arm bushing isn't worn.

cheers

mike

does anyone have a picture of the idler arm bushing?

Zac Cardinal

1972 2002tii's Blog

1976 2002 "Margie"s blog

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.....what Mike said, plus . . . . . . .

it's a 'friction' measurement as the steering

passes through the CENTER point - that your measuring

(wheels off the ground, and the steering linkage

disconnected from the steering box pitman arm)

so your just turning the steering column and the box only,

not tie rods or struts connected which adds to the friction feel !

no adjustment at the idler arm - but the bearings can

either be dried out from exhaust heat, water, age,-

or very loose from wear

02STEERINGIDLERbearing.jpg

02steeringfrictionadjustmentpart2.jpg

02steeringfrictionadjustmentpart1.jpg

TOOLSSteeringFrictionTorqueMETERS.jpg

look & FEEL for loosness in the tie rod ends first !!!

and the center link before you fiddle-pfahrting with

the steering box!

02STEERINGFRONTANDREAR.jpg

'86 R65 650cc #6128390 22,000m
'64 R27 250cc #383851 18,000m
'11 FORD Transit #T058971 28,000m "Truckette"
'13 500 ABARTH #DT600282 6,666m "TAZIO"

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Zak, the blue thing is the bottom of the idler bush, there is one on top too under the goldish looking cap.

If you adjust the steering box, be careful on your first test drive. If you get it too tight, the car will not return to center on its own after making a turn. Plus there are other problems with a too tight of steering box.

Clean the box to shiny clean before working on it or checking the fluid level

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"90% of your carb problems are in the ignition, Mike."

1972 2000tii Touring #3422489

1972 2002tii with A4 system #2761680

FAQ member #5

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Guest Anonymous
Yea I have the Hanes, alot of experience with these cars (is a third of my life alot?) But the hanes is unclear on alot of things... I just wanted to make sure that tightening or loosening that adjustment screw was all that need to be done ;)

_zac

Sherman and William are correct. It seems most of the questions posted lately have been discussed in the archives. This includes suspension issues and CD's always-welcome schematics.

I do not know "hanes." There is a how-to series from a publisher named Haynes that is a fairly good primer along with the shop manual. In general, experience is always a good thing and the more usually means the better. The amount is not the only measure of experience. Quality counts too. lol

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I agree. All of the above. And more.

If you ever studied the internals of the steering box you'd see that they are extremely strong, long lasting and reliable. Everyone wants to mess around with the Adjustment Screw because "it's the easy way". Or so they think and a quick fix for another problem that they haven't diagnosed correctly.

If you were coming to '02Fest Midwest this weekend, you'd learn a lot about steering boxes. I'm taking apart a few units for a "tech talk".

Oh, what the hell. You aren't that far away. Join us. Saturday afternoon-Soldiers Memorial Park.

mac.

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If you were coming to '02Fest Midwest this weekend, you'd learn a lot about steering boxes. I'm taking apart a few units for a "tech talk".

Mac,

Can't wait for your "show and tell" this weekend. I even bought a spare box to play with. Should I bring it along?

Fritz Bimmer

72 Golf

73 Chamonix

66 P car

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Check out the following discussion posted right here in this fantastic forum:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,0/page,viewtopic/t,311257/highlight,/sid,a9a6a23b028d3a9649761907879cbe9e/

Use the Site Search kung fu that comes FREE with your FREE subscription to the world's leading BMW 2002 infogasm, BMW2002FAQ.com. Site Search is your friend, and will help you make new friends right here, on the the world's leading English-speaking BMW 2002 technoplast, BMW2002FAQ.com.

I lol'd :)

-=Scott=-

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Sure. Bring your spare box along. Maybe we can tear it apart and determine if its salvageable. You bringing wrenches or me?

Arriving Friday? Meet for dinner?

macitz AT gmail DOT com.

mac.

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  • 2 months later...

No.. I still haven't looked at this. (slaps wrists) Im thinking after I fix my Block ground issue and rewire the wire that caught on fire, tomorrow, ill look at it. So I guess just text me with your new address and Ill see you Saturday afternoon around 1:30pm.. (after I get off work), and we will get your car driving in a straight line at least ;)

and my gas can. haha

Zac Cardinal

1972 2002tii's Blog

1976 2002 "Margie"s blog

IMG_2146copy.jpg

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