Slack in Steering

I am just starting to get into my 2006 Beck with 2165 engine.
I have driven it very little, but have noticed about 1 1/2 in. slack in steering wheel. I removed left front wheel and checked all hold down bolts and bolts as well as steering shaft. All is tight. I noticed a set screw and lock nut on top of TRW steeing box. It looks like the box in my first car a 1949 chev. In that car, when the steeing got loose, you just tightened down on the set screw. It helped for a while, eventually you had to get a new box.

Is the TRW box the same? It looks new.

Thanks for the help.

Mie Richardsn

Mike.......There has been a lot of this problem caused by the fit of the splines on the steering box and pitman arm, where the arm slides onto the box's output shaft...... Find the appropriate wrench, and get some added leverage........If your clamp nut is loose by even a quarter turn, you will feel it in the steering wheel........

It is assumed that the splines (both male and female) become loose as the system wears in.....pointing to poor quality control somewhere.....If your car has under 60,000mi. on it, I would suspect the pitman arm fit as your problem.....

I'm one of six people who have had this problem in the last 3 years......Good Luck...

Leon states that a quarter turn makes a big difference. He's being conservative. Even a single flat on the big bolt on the pitman arm makes a huge difference in how the steering feels. One questions: Does it seem to stick to one side or the other, depending on your last turn? If it does, and then seems to let go when you turn in the opposite direction, that bolt is your problem. Makes it kinda hard to really center the steering wheel, doesn't it?

Thanks Leon and Lane.
It looks like I have to take off the underside panel to get to the Pitman arm. Is this true?
Mike

Leon will have to help you there. I have a Beck Speedster, so the setup is quite different.

Mike ......You are correct....The pannel must be removed......I usually put the front tires up on blocks, as this makes it easier to work.....While you are in there, you might want to install a fuel filter as close to the fuel tank as possible......

Leon,
Thanks. Why the fuel filter close to the tank?
Will get to it next week.
Mike

There seems to be trash/sediment finding it's way into these gas tanks.....The filter at the tank keeps the fuel pump, and lines clear......Use a metal cased filter.....If possible find one used on a fuel injected engine....( finer filtration)......and by the way...."WELCOME TO THE MADNESS..."

You should also check the steering coupler. It's either a black rubber or red urethane piece that connects the upper shaft with the lower one. Mine was pretty degraded.

FYI, I just cut a hole in the fiberglass in front of the steering box, a big one, and then remounted an aluminum piece in its place using riv-nuts so it's really easy to access the space when servicing it.

Caution! Scuttlebutt says that those red urethane couplers are a great way to let your spouse cash in on your life insurance. Go for black rubber.

Same thing with motor mounts, go for rubber.

Have finally got around to fixing slack in steering. Tightened steering box clamps. Very loose lightened at least 5 flats. tightened clamp on pitman arm. Used 100lb torque and moved 1 1/2 flats. just drove in very gustiny windy day. What a diff.
Thanks all for help
Mike