| Steering Slop [message #363436] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 13:40  |
MikeB
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2018
Location: South Bama
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Hey y’all. My steering column and steering line are relatively new and very solid. All the slack that’s there down to the suspension Is in the box. Is there a rule of thumb or measurable acceptable tolerance of slack for the box? I’m trying to determine if it’s time to RR the steering box. I don’t have any GMCMH near by to compare.
Thanks for any guidance.
M Beam
75’ Avion
TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
Zuki Sidekick,
Dozier Al
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| [GMCnet] Re: Steering Slop [message #363439 is a reply to message #363436] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 14:04  |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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Start with "0" tolerance. Any input shaft movement, should immediately
result in pitman arm motion. If you stack up 1/8" movement on every point
throughout the steering system from driver to tire, it is going to be a
wanderer. Ball joints, tie rods, crossing link (both ends), pitman joint,
the bolt that holds the steering shaft, all the stuff in the column, etc.
You get the picture. No movement or (slop) is best. Hard to get, too.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021, 11:40 AM wrote:
> Hey y’all. My steering column and steering line are relatively new and
> very solid. All the slack that’s there down to the suspension Is in the
> box. Is there a rule of thumb or measurable acceptable tolerance of slack
> for the box? I’m trying to determine if it’s time to RR the steering
> box. I don’t have any GMCMH near by to compare.
>
> Thanks for any guidance.
> --
> M Beam
> 75’ Avion
> TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
> Zuki Sidekick,
> Dozier Al
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
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| [GMCnet] Re: Steering Slop [message #363440 is a reply to message #363436] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 16:21 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Have a helper wiggle the wheel back and forth through the throw of the slop
and work your way down through the steering system until you find the
culprit(s). If it is the steering box AND it makes you uncomfortable then
have the box rebuilt. Redhead steering in Seattle would be my choice. Avoid
a pre remanufactured box. Have yours rebuilt.
Sully
Bellevue wa
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 2:40 PM wrote:
> Hey y’all. My steering column and steering line are relatively new and
> very solid. All the slack that’s there down to the suspension Is in the
> box. Is there a rule of thumb or measurable acceptable tolerance of slack
> for the box? I’m trying to determine if it’s time to RR the steering
> box. I don’t have any GMCMH near by to compare.
>
> Thanks for any guidance.
> --
> M Beam
> 75’ Avion
> TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
> Zuki Sidekick,
> Dozier Al
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| [GMCnet] Re: Steering Slop [message #363441 is a reply to message #363440] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 16:39 |
Bruce Hart
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Maintenance manual has a good write up on the tolerances. Usually on
higher mileage boxes the area where the spool rides is grooved beyond
usage.
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 3:23 PM Todd Sullivan wrote:
> Have a helper wiggle the wheel back and forth through the throw of the slop
> and work your way down through the steering system until you find the
> culprit(s). If it is the steering box AND it makes you uncomfortable then
> have the box rebuilt. Redhead steering in Seattle would be my choice. Avoid
> a pre remanufactured box. Have yours rebuilt.
>
> Sully
> Bellevue wa
>
> On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 2:40 PM wrote:
>
>> Hey y’all. My steering column and steering line are relatively new and
>> very solid. All the slack that’s there down to the suspension Is in the
>> box. Is there a rule of thumb or measurable acceptable tolerance of slack
>> for the box? I’m trying to determine if it’s time to RR the steering
>> box. I don’t have any GMCMH near by to compare.
>>
>> Thanks for any guidance.
>> --
>> M Beam
>> 75’ Avion
>> TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
>> Zuki Sidekick,
>> Dozier Al
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
1977 28' Kingsley
La Grange, Wyoming
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| Re: Steering Slop [message #363442 is a reply to message #363436] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 17:06 |
Scott Nutter
Messages: 782
Registered: January 2015
Location: Houston/San Diego
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Dave Lenzi does a fantastic job on steering box rebuilds. He is the one I went to.
Scott.
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
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| Re: Steering Slop [message #363443 is a reply to message #363436] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 17:25 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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MikeB wrote on Thu, 15 April 2021 14:40Hey y’all. My steering column and steering line are relatively new and very solid. All the slack that’s there down to the suspension Is in the box. Is there a rule of thumb or measurable acceptable tolerance of slack for the box? I’m trying to determine if it’s time to RR the steering box. I don’t have any GMCMH near by to compare.
Thanks for any guidance.
Mike,
We see this a while lot and the usual reason is that someone didn't read the manual. (RTFM!!) The steering box for a TZE is a strange bird because it is preloaded at the center. If the box is not on DEAD CENTER the steering is loose. This is all in the manual X7525. The picture you have to see is on page 9-39 Figure 64. You should start by popping up the horn button and look for the chisel mark on the top of the steering shaft. If it is not straight ahead when the wheel is straight ahead, there is your problem.
I am going to lay out what has worked for me and hope I don't miss a step.
Get the front tires off the ground and spin the steering wheel lock to lock and count the turns.
Bring it back half the turns and look at the chisel mark. If it is straight ahead, you may be well off, but check things first.
If it is not continue by removing the grill if you can. Look at figure 64 and not that there is a flat on the steering shaft that should alight with the machined surface of the box. You may have to loosen the pinch bolt on that cardin (U) joint to see the flat. The pinch bolt is NOT on the flat!! That alignment should be at straight ahead. If the wheel and chisel mark don't agree, start there and make them. This will also make the lock work better.
If the flat is aligned, have someone move the wheel a little each way and you keep a hold on the pitman arm and that cardin joint. If one moves without the other, your need a steering box. The one in the coach is an all around strange part. It has that high center and it has internal stops. Don't get one at a parts house, get one from a known good GMC supplier.
If the steering box is good, keep doing the shake and find out what is loose. There are lots of opportunities for it to be. Check everything.
If the box is good, things can still be bad all the way from there to the wheel. Check them all. If it is good from the wheel to the pitman arm, it can be tie rod ends or ball joints.
If that stuff is right, then the toe is probably off. This is where the problem usually started. Someone got the front end aligned and shop set the tow-in at just one tie rod. Then they moved the steering wheel so it was straight ahead. Big Bozo NoNo on a TZE.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: Steering Slop [message #363444 is a reply to message #363436] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 17:25 |
MikeB
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2018
Location: South Bama
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Sully, I did that exact test. Steering line was rock solid. Slop is in the box.
Thanks all for the input. I was leaning towards replacement but wanted to make sure I wasnt going to waste money by putting lipstick on a pig.
Thanks!
How do I contact Mr. Lenzi?
M Beam
75’ Avion
TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
Zuki Sidekick,
Dozier Al
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| Re: Steering Slop [message #363449 is a reply to message #363443] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 19:47 |
MikeB
Messages: 133
Registered: December 2018
Location: South Bama
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Thank you Matt for taking the time for that write up. I have the Mueller pdf Steering Gear Highpoint pdf. I was planning on using it before spending any money in case I had other parts needing repair. I wasn’t aware though that the box being out of alignment actually could cause slack. I thought it only caused the box to fight you by trying to center itself. It’ll be nice if centering it removes the box slack.
M Beam
75’ Avion
TBI EBL , 3.70 LSD and other stuff
Zuki Sidekick,
Dozier Al
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| Re: [GMCnet] Re: Steering Slop [message #363451 is a reply to message #363439] |
Thu, 15 April 2021 23:03 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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One thing that no one mentioned is the slip joint on the shaft just below the steering CV joint. It only takes a few thousands play to cause your problem. The shaft in that joint is coated with a blue plastic coating that wears if POs did not keep it greased properly. I have seen many of them worn there. It should have ZERO rotational play in it.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| [GMCnet] Re: Steering Slop [message #363452 is a reply to message #363451] |
Fri, 16 April 2021 00:28 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Also if the gearbox is offcenter, there will be a slop.
If interested to learn how to locate exact center , call me and we will
send over the information .
Majority of the time, it is not the gear box, but that it was mispositioned
at one time.
On Thu, Apr 15, 2021 at 9:03 PM Ken Burton wrote:
> One thing that no one mentioned is the slip joint on the shaft just below
> the steering CV joint. It only takes a few thousands play to cause your
> problem. The shaft in that joint is coated with a blue plastic coating
> that wears if POs did not keep it greased properly. I have seen many of
> them
> worn there. It should have ZERO rotational play in it.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: Steering Slop [message #363453 is a reply to message #363436] |
Fri, 16 April 2021 09:55 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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For the box slop test (after confirming on center) you don’t even need a helper. Idling, grab the lower part of the intermediate shaft and rock a few degrees back and forth. You should see no delay of movement on the Pitman.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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