'89 S-15 Jimmy Steering???
skippygozoom
03-30-2008, 07:31 PM
I just bought an '89 Gmc Jimmy, and it runs and drives pretty well.Only real problem I have noticed is that the steering is very loose. I would say there is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches of play in the steering wheel both ways. It makes driving very hard. I read that you can tighten' the steering box and that that might help. I was hoping that someone might be able to give me a general idea of how this is done. Is it the bolt right on the top front side of the steering box? It is the adjustable type. Well any help would be awsome. Thanks for reading..
Khill
03-30-2008, 07:46 PM
as in you move the wheel 2 inches until you get a response or you only have a wheel rotation of 4 inches from full left to full right? I'm a little slow today....
curtis73
03-30-2008, 08:44 PM
You can tighten the box, but they're pretty complicated inside. It will change the lock-to-lock points and it should be done with a good bit of caution.
There is a nut and lock on top of the box. In this photo its the nut in the center of the aluminum cap on the bottom. You use that to adjust preload on the gear in there. I've never tried it... yet, but I need to learn so I can do the same thing on one of my cars. You can't go too far or it will bind.
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e2/b0/9eab_1.JPG
There is a nut and lock on top of the box. In this photo its the nut in the center of the aluminum cap on the bottom. You use that to adjust preload on the gear in there. I've never tried it... yet, but I need to learn so I can do the same thing on one of my cars. You can't go too far or it will bind.
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/e2/b0/9eab_1.JPG
72chevelleOhio
03-31-2008, 02:53 AM
^Good info on the gear box.
I just bought an '89 Gmc Jimmy, .Only real problem I have noticed is that the steering is very loose. ..
Did you check the front end for worn components yet? That would kinda be important to check and mention in your post...:p
The "pre-owned" ones that I've gotten always have a bad idler arm. I don't know if they forget to grease them or they are a bad part from the beginning.
I just bought an '89 Gmc Jimmy, .Only real problem I have noticed is that the steering is very loose. ..
Did you check the front end for worn components yet? That would kinda be important to check and mention in your post...:p
The "pre-owned" ones that I've gotten always have a bad idler arm. I don't know if they forget to grease them or they are a bad part from the beginning.
J-Ri
03-31-2008, 04:02 PM
I think all the idler arms are bad. I've seen some that are still new looking that are loose.
If the steering box is loose, you can tighten the adjustment Curtis mentioned. There is a stud in the center with a hex/torx cut in the end, and a nut around it. I think you hold one and turn the other, but I don't remember which. I did it on my '86 Silverado 4-5 years ago and it was tighter for a few months, but got just as loose again so I left it alone.
If the steering box is loose, you can tighten the adjustment Curtis mentioned. There is a stud in the center with a hex/torx cut in the end, and a nut around it. I think you hold one and turn the other, but I don't remember which. I did it on my '86 Silverado 4-5 years ago and it was tighter for a few months, but got just as loose again so I left it alone.
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