steering wheel with to much play

[dutch]

hello folks

my gm4106 has alot of play in the steeringwheel  about 7/8 inches before the wheels move.
what can should i do???
also if i need a new steeringbox do i need a gm one or can i use any kind???
dutch

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Dutch,

I would like to know this answer also...

Come on guy's anyone know this one?

Nick-

[Barn Owl]

For those who don't cross over to the BNO board, Dutch seems to be getting a good response there. Below is a cut/paste from my response.

Dutch,

What happened? Did it loosen up during your trip? When I test-drove the bus, one of the things that impressed me was how good and tight the steering was. I believe you have an hydraulic assist steering set up and I don't know much about them. Oh the fun of owning a classic!

Good Luck,

Laryn

[gus]

There is a long string on the BNO board on this question.

[NJT 5573]

Its hard to know what he means. Seven eights of an inch is not much play. Seven or eight inches is like a vast canyon for a steering box thats still working!

[TomC]

Have you determined where the play is at?  On your setup it could be in any number of places.  Just some places to look- did you make sure the steering wheel is tight on the steering column shaft; are the U-joints on the steering column shaft tight; is the miter gear tight (the 90 degree gear box that aims the steering drive shaft towards the steering gear); are the U joints on the shaft going to the steering box tight; are the splines on the shaft tight; check all the ball joints on the steering itself to see if they are tight (have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth while you look at the movement of the steering linkage-can do this without getting under the bus); are the king pins tight (hinge that the front wheels turn left to right on); then can start playing with the steering gear to get it tighter.  Watch that you don't tighten it too much so it doesn't bind on the outer turning at either end of the turn.  Good Luck, TomC

[DavidInWilmNC]

My MC-8 had approx 8" of play.  It was kind of tiresome, especially on my first and only trip (Timmonsville).  The play, or slop as we call it, was not in the linkage, either.  I had a friend crawl into my nicely power washed spare tire bay and yell when the input to the steering box started to move.  It moved whenever I started to turn the wheel any amount.  It took a fair amount of wheel turning to get the output to move.  After finding a big enough socket to loosen the locking bolt on the box, I tightened the center bolt some, fired up the engine, and tried it.  It felt too tight.  I loosened it a very small amount and tried it again.  It seems good now.  I have about 2" of play with the engine off.  With the engine on, it feels much nicer now, but I'll know for sure when I get it out on the road.  I'll also take that wrench so I can adjust it again if need be.  Now, if I can only get the leaks out of the system.  The part where the hoses go into the bottom of the steering box leak oil  (steering fluid).  I had to add 1-½ quarts of oil from the trip to and from Timmonsville.  Good luck with your steering!

David

[gus]

I assumed he meant 7"- 8"! If he meant 7/8" then it is a non issue.

David in NC,

I did the same thing on my 4104 but had the front wheels off the ground. I would recommend trying it that way and with the engine off so the power assist doesn't push too hard and break something. Binding is easier to feel with only manual input and lifting the front wheels makes it easy to turn manually.

It doesn't take much adjusting to get it too tight.Your MC8 may be different than GMs which have power assist rather than real power steering so what I say may not apply.