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Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-09 3:48 PM (#636907)
Subject: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		First I would like to say that it's good to be back here. There was a mixup with my password and I contacted the "administrator" several times with no response. I finally found out what he had changed my password to in an old email that I had fortunately saved.

Is there an adjustment screw on the steering box so I can tighten the steering up a little? If so where is it? I have a factory shop manual and it mentioned removing the steering wheel but I thought I would ask here first before attempting that. Any help would be appreciated.

I went to an AACA sponsored car show in Louisville last Monday (Labor Day) and met a lot of nice people and had a good time. I got a good parking spot in the shade which was great since it hit 90 degrees that day....



Edited by Dodge55CustomRoyal 2024-09-10 7:53 AM




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1960fury
Posted 2024-09-09 4:00 PM (#636908 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: northern germany		It can be tightened mostly somewhat, but mostly it is the steering shaft rubber insulator. Easy at home fix with great results. Do a site search
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Powerflite
Posted 2024-09-09 5:47 PM (#636911 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: So. Cal		It would help if you mention if you have manual steering or power steering. Manual boxes don't have the rubber insulator, but do have the adjustment screw. Most likely moving that screw beyond where it was put when first manufactured is a bad idea. Usually, the sloppiness in steering comes from your idler arm or other steering components on a manual steer car.
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-09 7:16 PM (#636914 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		It has power steering. I was hoping the problem is something simple like turning an adjustment screw because I'm not going to replace a rubber insulator or an idler arm. Thanks for the response....
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Shep
Posted 2024-09-09 9:42 PM (#636917 - in reply to #636914)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: Chestertown, NY ( near Lake George)		So, turn it clockwise, say half a turn, see if it helps. Careful, too tight will cause the steering to not return to straight away after going left or right.

Edited by Shep 2024-09-10 12:09 PM
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mikes2nd
Posted 2024-09-10 10:32 AM (#636921 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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All 50s cars were a bit "loose"...

I fixed mine by upgrading the power steering to a borg warner... its a 1979 Ford f150 Ford pickup unit.

It's an amazing upgrade, zero play and when you turn the wheel it turns Its like driving a modern car that has super easy steering. I had a leaking pump and a 2 power steering units(one worked but probably needed rebuilt, one didnt) and said F it... upgrade kit for me. 100% happy with my decision, but it was job

I bought the kit and had to replace half the parts... So i can do my own personal installs now.

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57chizler
Posted 2024-09-10 1:43 PM (#636928 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: NorCal
Problem with trying to adjust the worn steering box is, most of the wear occurs in a few degrees either side of straight ahead. If you adjust it to tighten this looseness, it might be too tight when past that wear zone and cause binding.
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-10 5:01 PM (#636937 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		I couldn't find the steering box under the hood. I have a factory shop manual but couldn't find any pics of it in there either. I guess I'll just drive it as is and not worry about it. Thanks again for the comments....
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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-10 8:54 PM (#636939 - in reply to #636937)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-09-10 2:01 PM
I couldn't find the steering box under the hood. I have a factory shop manual but couldn't find any pics of it in there either.


Umm,... you need to look harder.

Find the PS pump (at the rear of the generator) and follow the rubber hoses to the steering box.

(Your steering box might be caked in years and years of PS fluid and dirt, etc). It is attached to the left frame rail.

One of the hoses is the high pressure hose. (it ends in a metal fitting with tubing nut). The other is the low pressure return hose (typically larger and only attached with clamps)

The adjustment is beside the low pressure outlet from the box.







Adjusting procedures start on page 6 of this Coaxial Power Steering info booklet:

https://www.mymopar.com/downloads/mtsc/087.pdf

REFERENCE: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=77231&...



Edited by 56D500boy 2024-09-10 8:55 PM
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-12 12:17 PM (#636963 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		I found the screw buried under 70 years of grease and oil but couldn't turn it with the screwdriver. Does anyone know what size the nut is? I assume that I have to loosen it first. Then I was going to turn the screw half a turn clockwise and see how that works. I have four 3/8" extensions but all of the sockets are too small. I only have one 1/2" extension unfortunately. If someone could tell me what size the nut is I would appreciate it. Thanks....
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Powerflite
Posted 2024-09-12 12:44 PM (#636965 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: So. Cal		Anyone not willing to replace the rubber insulator or an idler arm shouldn't be touching adjustment screws.
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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-12 1:06 PM (#636967 - in reply to #636963)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: Lower Mainland BC		.
I knew that you would find it (the adjustment screw). You can't turn it until you loose that lock nut.

I would guess 15/16" or 1" but I can't confirm until later.

A decent sized crescent wrench will work too.

I will check the size later after I return from a physio appointment (sciatica issue)

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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-12 1:09 PM (#636968 - in reply to #636965)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		How about anyone who doesn't own a torque wrench? The nut is a 7/8". I need another foot long half inch extension and the guy next door with all the tools is out of town until a week from Sunday so I'll have to wait until then to borrow one from him. Stay tuned....
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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-12 7:54 PM (#636973 - in reply to #636968)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: Lower Mainland BC		.
I think I can confirm the 7/8" nut size but on my 56 Dodge D500 with its wide double-rocker ("hemi") heads, there is no way that I
can get an extension on a socket because of the wide heads and the exhaust manifolds. If I could, a 10" or 12" extension would probably work.

I tried a 7/8" socket on the nut by hand/arm and it probably looked like I was humping my left front fender to the neighbours

That said, I do NOT see the need for a torque wrench. Just good and tight.

I would try it but I really can't access the nut or the screw from up top.

Photos of my PS steering box, taken just now.

(The nut and screw need more degreasing before I would actually attempt an adjustment anyway)


Edited by 56D500boy 2024-09-12 9:35 PM




(56DodgeCustomRoyalPSBoxShowingAdjustmentScrewAndLockNut_D500.jpg)



(56DodgeCustomRoyalPSBoxShowingAdjustmentScrewAndLockNut_D500_2.jpg)



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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-13 11:48 AM (#636981 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		Thanks for the additional info. I'll let you know what happens when I get the foot long extension....
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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-13 2:28 PM (#636985 - in reply to #636981)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-09-13 8:48 AM
Thanks for the additional info. I'll let you know what happens when I get the foot long extension....


And a foot long wide flat blade screwdriver.

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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-15 11:47 AM (#637005 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		I went over to O'Reilly's Auto Parts and bought a foot long 1/2"extension, loosened the nut, turned the screw half a turn to the right and tightened the nut. The steering is tighter now so thanks to all who left positive comments. Here's a pic of what I used including a piece of top rail from a chain link fence to put on the ratchet for extra leverage....



Edited by Dodge55CustomRoyal 2024-09-15 8:05 PM
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-15 11:48 AM (#637006 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		Why is it so difficult to add a pic to my comment? When was the last time this website was updated-1999?
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1960fury
Posted 2024-09-15 12:21 PM (#637007 - in reply to #637006)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-09-15 11:48 AM

Why is it so difficult to add a pic to my comment? When was the last time this website was updated-1999?


Since it's free, I don't complain, but, yes.....it is a pita
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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-15 2:03 PM (#637010 - in reply to #637006)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-09-15 8:48 AM
Why is it so difficult to add a pic to my comment? When was the last time this website was updated-1999?


It isn't that difficult. The site owner just doesn't want to pay for mega-servers to house 7 Mb photos that people are either
too lazy (or not informed) to resize their photos down to <250 Kb (the maximum allowed here. 1024 x 768 is a good size)

That said, I do not know why but the website does NOT automatically post photos from Apple products, i.e. .jpeg files.

*IF* you have an iPhone, resize the photo down to < 250 kB and try posting. It won't show up automatically but it will
show up at the bottom of the post as something we (forum members) can click on, download and view.

Not ideal but it is better than not seeing what you are hoping to show us.

*IF* you want to have your photo automatically be seen after you upload it, it needs to be converted from .jpeg to .jpg.

If you are interested, I have posted detailed hints how to add photos to your FL posts here:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=64340&...

Hope to see your photo(s) soon.

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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-15 3:31 PM (#637012 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		I have an iPhone 11. I don't know how to resize photos so I text them to my wife and she emails them back to me. Sometimes there's a link on the bottom that says "add photo" (or something similar) and sometimes there isn't. Why is that? If it's not there then how do I add a pic? Thanks for trying to help me....
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-15 8:01 PM (#637019 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		It says "attach a file after posting." Why don't they all say that?





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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-16 12:05 AM (#637021 - in reply to #637019)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-09-15 5:01 PM
It says "attach a file after posting." Why don't they all say that?


They do. It's at the bottom of very post that you (everyone) is trying to make.

You type what you want to say and then click that "Attach a file after posting" box and then click on SUBMIT.

Then you get a new screen that gives you a chance to Browse to the location of the image you want to upload.

It is all explained and demonstrated in my Posting Photo Primer (which I linked a few posts above)

Bottomline: Congrats. You have posted a photo to this forum.

Personally, I was hoping for a photo that shows the 7/8" nut and the adjustment screw from above. I want to see how much
better a non-hemi (like mine) is for making that adjustment.


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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-09-16 10:40 AM (#637023 - in reply to #637021)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		Is this too blurred?





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56D500boy
Posted 2024-09-16 1:55 PM (#637024 - in reply to #637023)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Dodge55CustomRoyal - 2024-09-16 7:40 AM
Is this too blurred?


Yes but I can still see that you had a better shot at getting to the nut than I did (270 hemi low deck vs 315 hemi raised deck (wider engine)??)

Hope that your adjustment works for you.



Edited by 56D500boy 2024-09-16 3:20 PM




(55dodgePowerSteeringBoxAdjustmentNutAndScrew.jpg)



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Mope R. Geezer
Posted 2024-10-12 8:51 PM (#637364 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds

I'm having the same "wandering" issue with my '60 DeSoto.  Question - if the nut and screw on the steering box are completely removed, will anything else come out, i.e., fluid, spring, seal, etc?

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Mope R. Geezer
Posted 2024-10-30 8:20 PM (#637592 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: RE: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?



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Location: Idaho - where men are men and spuds are spuds

One problem that's bugged me since I bought my DeSoto was the loose/wandering steering.  Being a bonehead mechanic, I never had the confidence in myself to try to "adjust"it, i.e., difficult place to reach and special wrench needed.  Anyway, several weeks ago, I re-read the shop manual, and borrowed a neighbor's 2' ratchet extension, backed the nut off, tightened the screw and then backed it off ½ turn and then retightened the nut and WAL-LAH! it now drives like a dream!    

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mikes2nd
Posted 2024-10-31 12:16 PM (#637598 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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I solve this by swapping zero loose steering
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2025-05-29 8:16 PM (#640247 - in reply to #636907)
Subject: Re: Loose steering - Is there an easy adjustment to tighten it?


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Location: Louisville Ky		"I re-read the shop manual, and borrowed a neighbor's 2' ratchet extension, backed the nut off, tightened the screw and then backed it off ½ turn and then retightened the nut and WAL-LAH! it now drives like a dream! "

Thanks for the clear explanation. I tried doing it this way today and there is less free play now even though I could only turn the screw about 1/4 of a turn.
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