Steering box adjusting screw lock nut left loose?

[lisavx]

I picked my lovely 1967 van up on Saturday. The steering was wandering. Upon investigation, it appears that the people who prepared the van left the lock nut on the steering box adjustment screw very loose (thread showing). Will driving the van like this have caused any permanent any damage?

 

[ozziedog]

The steering on these oldies is just about always an issue. Luckily you didn't lose anything and still have the lock nut and adjuster. It's highly likely that someone has been adjusting the steering recently and that's how the nut came to be loose or not tightened. I wouldn't think that any damage would have been caused just by a short term lack of adjustment, whereas long term then most definitely an issue. There are lots of other things to check for steering issues and it's looking like someone else has been addressing these recently.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,, Hello and welcome :mrgreen:

 

[lisavx]

Thanks! And Hello!

We drove it about 80 miles home from the garage and the thread where the nut should sit looks clean underneath so we don't imagine it's been left loose for too long. Possibly they were making some adjustments after replacing the track rod ends and haven't tightened it. Whatever the cause, the steering is dreadful and needs attention. There's about 4 inches of play in the wheel and it veers all over the show! We're just waiting for the opportunity to tinker with it some more to see if it's something we can fix ourselves. Fingers crossed we can, cos we're keen to get out and have some fun in it!

 

[slammed72]

sounds like a normal bay lol :lol:

mines a bit sloppy but check the pin is greased up and the steering box has oil in it. Most of the slop is normally caused by the tie bars having worn joints on either end.Min wouldnt reverse in a straight line (no not driver error) and it turned out the idler pin had so much slop in it.

 

[lisavx]

Thanks, we've tinkered with the steering adjustment and it's made a huge improvement. We think there's still some improvement to be made though so will look at your suggestions. Cheers!