The only thing I don’t have is a steering brace. I have heard they only really made a difference with aluminum boxes so I didn’t install one.
Steel boxes still wear out. The shaft diameter isn’t up to the forces of larger tires and lifts without a brace.
I’m aware that any box can wear out. But that’s usually internally in the splines and such. I thought the brace was mainly designed for the flex that the aluminum box inherently had in the outer case and mounting to the frame, nothing to do with the shaft. A worn out steering box typically has play internal between the splines, a brace mounted externally isn’t going to change that.
It’s literally a sector shaft brace. It is to prevent lateral movement of the downward facing shaft.
I’m aware that any box can wear out. But that’s usually internally in the splines and such. I thought the brace was mainly designed for the flex that the aluminum box inherently had in the outer case and mounting to the frame, nothing to do with the shaft. A worn out steering box typically has play internal between the splines, a brace mounted externally isn’t going to change that.
And unless there's wear down there in that lower bushing/bearing area, a brace does nothing.
No, that's not where the wear is. There aren't splines inside to wear out. It's the rack, the sector gear, bearings and so on inside that wear. There's also a lot of force on that lower pitman shaft bushing, which can wear it and lead to side-to-side play in the pitman shaft.
Frame flex, not steering box flex. I'd bet on it. You are NOT bending that pitman shaft or flexing the housing. Ain't happening.
There is a worm but the sector gear does not ride on it.
The pitman shaft appear to have teeth that ride on the worm gear. Those don’t wear and allow slop? When turn my steering wheel and feel the play, the pitman arm doesn’t move Indicating the play is in the box. Where is the worn part causing the play if the sector shaft doesn’t move?There is a worm but the sector gear does not ride on it.
The steering column is connected to a shaft that has a set of balls around it and as you turn the wheel, those balls run the rack up and down.
The sector or gear, is moved/turned by the rack going up and down.
It's called recirculating ball power steering.
The adjustment people keep talking about - you are turning a wedge that pushes the sector gear against the rack, or let's it move away from the rack. In other words, you are tipping the sector shaft top toward the rack, giving it more pressure or less pressure. I suspect what people are really feeling isn't play that's removed, it's more akin to a heavy steering dampener - it prevents the steering wheel from moving so easily due to the pressure on the gears, so it FEELS LIKE the steering is more solid.
Too much and you wear out the worm, balls, rack and sector - and can cause it to not want to return to center as easily (so people may then up the caster to compensate or force it)
Too little and yes, you can introduce play, but it's so small, the amount so little.
This shows the worm shaft - no gear touches that, a series of balls run in that worm/track ->
Here, number 33 is the rack that runs on the balls that run in the worm shaft-
44 is the pitman shaft with the sector gear that runs in the rack that runs on the balls that runs on the worm................the adjustment moves the rack closer to the rack for a bit of preload.
What's really interesting is that the images reflect the current steering gear, meaning nothing has changed for decades. MOPAR continued to use the same text and images that AMC used in their TSMs for their own TSM
And yes - this was part of my college and training, so yes, I've had them apart, rebuilt them and so on. It's not a lot of fun.
The box can have play between the gears inside, hence the adjustment you can make to the preload. A brace will stop the shaft from moving side to side externally, but it will not tighten up worn gears inside. So whether or not a brace helps depends on where the play is. If it’s between the gears, then a new box is in order, or you may get away with and adjustment to the preload temporarily. If it’s play in the shaft side to side, then yes a brace will help support and alleviate that
You're correct. If the preload from the shaft isn't right against the worm gear, welding the box to the frame still won't help with the play in the steering wheel. The brace is only helping with flexing of the box and the 4 mounting bolts.
Did i say it was the box causing it NO. My point is I have a steel box and using a sector shaft/track bar brace made a difference. Dont base your decision on which box you have as to if it will help. Not asking for approval
