Steering question

[BlissBignall]

I've got a 74 Thing with a new (rebuilt, I'm sure) steering gear box in it. The box has been tightened up as far as it can go (my mechanic says), and I still have a couple inches of play either way at center (a bit more to the right). Needless to say, if I get above 50mph, things get a bit interesting...

Any thought on how I can get extra slack out of the steering gear box? The front end is all pretty new, so I shouldn't have any ball joints or tie rods to worry about.

Thanks
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1963 Beetle...My mom's car that got sold in 2012
1969 Beetle...That was fun!
1972 Beetle...Never ran right
1974 Thing....Daily driver on sunny days

[NY thing]

http://www.vw-resource.com/steering_box_adjustment.html

Look here under other adjustments.

You might need to get/ make/ figure out how - the right tool for the adjustment.

[BlissBignall]

Thanks!
_________________
1963 Beetle...My mom's car that got sold in 2012
1969 Beetle...That was fun!
1972 Beetle...Never ran right
1974 Thing....Daily driver on sunny days

[ALANSD]

thanks for that link. I have only driven my THING so I have nothing to compare to other than my other aircooled ride..my 911. LOL Which is in no way loose to say the least

So the loose steering bothered me at first but I have gotten acclimated. It would be great to tighten it up some

[BlissBignall]

I can actually see (looking in the wheel well) where the looseness is. When I turn the wheel, the column will turn an inch or two before it ever starts to turn the spindle on the gear box. I'm thinking something (maybe the bushing between the two?) is worn or loose. I'm going to get under it tonight and see what there is to see.
_________________
1963 Beetle...My mom's car that got sold in 2012
1969 Beetle...That was fun!
1972 Beetle...Never ran right
1974 Thing....Daily driver on sunny days

[Ron Domeck]

Steering couple joint?

[mondshine]

Sometimes, due to age, corrosion, etc., there is play between the steel parts of the flexible joint and the steering column shaft or the input shaft of the steering gearbox (25 & 26). Check those pinch bolts too.

If it was my car, I would replace the coupling disc (27) if it was more than a couple of years old. Use a stock disc (not urethane).

Good luck, Mondshine

[BlissBignall]

I do appear to have slightly worn inner tie rod ends (driver's side looks the worst), so I'll need to get those replaced. The rag joint (round disk) looks ok.

I think one of my next steps is going to be to check the secondary adjustment on the steering box (that big nut on the bottom).
_________________
1963 Beetle...My mom's car that got sold in 2012
1969 Beetle...That was fun!
1972 Beetle...Never ran right
1974 Thing....Daily driver on sunny days

[mondshine]

Since I don't own the special tool for the worm adjustment bolt (#16),

I have used a big metric nut, which sticks out far enough to get a wrench on it.
Good luck, Mondshine

[BlissBignall]

I found the problem! There is a bushing with a nut and bolt on the gear box side of the rag joint. The nut was loose, so young son and I tightened it up.

My steering is now smooth and tight. Probably tomorrow afternoon, after driving it a bit, I'll revisit the gear box one more time, and actually loosen it up a turn or two (I think it's still too tight). I'd like to re-introduce the factory inch of play in the wheel.
_________________
1963 Beetle...My mom's car that got sold in 2012
1969 Beetle...That was fun!
1972 Beetle...Never ran right
1974 Thing....Daily driver on sunny days