New trw steering box...can't adjust out free play

[Douglam]

Just rebuild the front end of my rail, used the original steering box but it had to much free play after adjustment and I ran out of adjustment, so I bought a new trw box, installed it and it's the same. I have all new tie rods, new shaft coupler and all, am I doing something wrong?

[Vanapplebomb]

I would have to say you are doing something wrong. Chances are that your old one is actually still good. Very rarely do they wear to the point where you can no longer adjust them.

1st, back off the jam nut on the pit arm shaft.
2nd, back off the adjusting screw a couple turns.
3rd, loosen the large jam nut on the worm gear adjustor.
4th, turn in the big honkin' worm adjuster until the input shaft is nice and snug. Don't crank it down, just snug it up until all the axial play is removed from the input shaft. A little preload won't hurt, just don't over do it.
5th, tighten the big jam nut on the worm adjustor.
6th, Snug up the pit arm shaft by turning in the screw until you feel the roller contact the worm in the steering box.
7th, tighten the jam nut on the pit arm shaft adjuster screw.
8th, drive the piss out of it.
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1800 Type 4 Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[Douglam]

That is all exactly what I just got done doing.

[Douglam]

I think I'm just going to take it over to the shop I bought the box from and see if they can help because it makes no sense to me

[Vanapplebomb]

If you did all that, then the box should be A-OK. Are you sure your box is the issue? Sounds like the problem is somewhere else if you followed the above procedure that I gave you.

Check your steering shaft clamp and rod ends for play.
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1800 Type 4 Berrien 295

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=487021

[Douglam]

I took the box off the rail, adjusted it and put it back on and it seems to be ok. I think the grooves in my pitman arm may be a little worn and there may have been a bit of play at that junction. I tightened down that bolt real good and the play is significantly better, if not completely gone. I still think the old box was bad because I adjusted it off the rail as well and there is either play or I I tighten it any more it gets real stiff.

[Axitech]

This may or may not help. I used to rebuild a bunch of steering boxes for Range Rovers. I'd wait until I had five or six and do them all at once. What most people do NOT know is, you have to adjust the box while it is centered. Think about that for a moment. The box must be adjusted at it's center of travel because that is it's tightest point. If you adjust it anywhere else, it will lock up or bind as it goes past center!

So, how do you find center? Knock the steering linkage off the arm on the box. depending on you steering setup (stock with turn signal switch and clockspring for steering wheel mounted switches, or bare bones rail setup) you may need to knock off the steering column input shaft too. What you have to do is very carefully turn all the way in one direction, then count the turns to the other direction's stopping point. Divide this by two, and turn back that many turns. So, if you have three and half full turns from lock to lock, you would find center at the one and three quarter turns mark. THIS is where you set the drag on the box. "DRAG' is the same as "play".

Hope that helps.
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[Q-Dog]

There is also a notch on the input shaft to indicate center on the VW steering box.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[VWCOOL]

The flat on the input shaft (and therefore the input yoke bolt) is straight up and down when the steering is centred.. yes this is where the box is at its 'tightest'.. and it is also where wear will be most evident as over its life, the box spends more time at straight ahead

[dirtkeeper]

[VWCOOL]

[nukeworker]

I bought a brand new TRW and it had like 7" of play at the steering wheel.Took it back and the new one had 3" at the steering wheel. My dealer sent it back to his supplier who claimed it was "in their tolerances." What ever. I don't think you should have to adjust a brand new box.

[Q-Dog]