Steering Box Adjustment

Adjust the manual steering box to eliminate excessive play in the steering wheel while maintaining smooth operation without binding.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Steering box sector shaft adjustment screw locknut × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground with front wheels pointed straight ahead
2. Engage parking brake firmly
3. Chock rear wheels to prevent rolling
4. Allow engine to cool if recently operated
5. Clean the steering box adjustment area to prevent contamination

Procedure

1. 1

   Locate the steering box
   The steering box is mounted on the driver's side frame rail, below and behind the left front wheel area. Identify the sector shaft adjustment screw on the top cover of the steering gearbox, secured by a locknut. This is the main adjustment point for steering lash (over-center preload).
2. 2

   Check initial steering play
   Sit in the driver's seat and gently rock the steering wheel back and forth. Measure the amount of free play at the rim of the steering wheel before the front wheels begin to move. Acceptable play is 1 to 2 inches measured at the rim. More than 2 inches indicates adjustment is needed.
3. 3

   Access the adjustment screw
   From under the vehicle or through the wheel well, locate the sector shaft adjustment screw on top of the steering box. It is a flathead screw with a locknut securing it. Clean any dirt or debris from around the adjustment area to prevent contamination of the steering box.
4. 4

   Loosen the locknut
   Using a 9/16" or 5/8" wrench or socket (depending on steering box model), loosen the locknut on the sector shaft adjustment screw. Do not remove the locknut completely, just loosen it enough to allow the adjustment screw to turn freely. The locknut typically requires 2 to 3 full turns to loosen sufficiently. Verified detail (A 1972 Ford F-100 is an SAE (imperial) fastener vehicle, not metric. The sector shaft adjuster locknut on this era Ford steering box is an SAE size (commonly around 3/4 inch), not 12mm. Specifying 12mm is anachronistic and likely wrong for the platform.): Using an appropriately sized SAE wrench (typically around 3/4 inch — verify against your specific gearbox), loosen the locknut on the sector shaft adjustment screw. Do not remove the locknut completely, just loosen it enough to allow the adjustment screw to turn freely.
5. 5

   Make initial adjustment
   Using a large flathead screwdriver, turn the sector shaft adjustment screw clockwise (tightening) 1/4 turn. This increases the mesh between the sector shaft gear and the ball nut, reducing steering play. Do not force the screw or turn it more than 1/4 turn at this stage.
6. 6

   Test steering feel
   Return to the driver's seat and test the steering wheel for play and smoothness. Rock the wheel gently back and forth to check for reduced play. Turn the wheel slowly through its full range of motion from lock to lock, checking for any binding or tight spots. The steering should feel smooth throughout the entire range with reduced free play.
7. 7

   Fine-tune adjustment if needed
   If excessive play remains, repeat steps 5 and 6, making additional 1/8 turn clockwise adjustments until play is reduced to 1 to 2 inches at the steering wheel rim. If the steering binds or feels tight at any point in its travel, turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise 1/8 turn to loosen. The goal is minimal play with no binding.
8. 8

   Center the steering
   With the front wheels still pointed straight ahead, ensure the steering wheel is centered. The adjustment should be made with the steering in the centered position for best results. If the wheels are not straight, the sector shaft is not in its optimal mesh position during adjustment.
9. 9

   Secure the locknut
   Once the desired adjustment is achieved, hold the adjustment screw firmly in position with the flathead screwdriver to prevent it from turning. While holding the screw, tighten the locknut securely using the correct SAE wrench (typically around 3/4 inch — verify against your gearbox). Ensure the adjustment screw does not turn while tightening the locknut. Verified detail (Same metric/SAE issue as step 4. 1972 Ford F-100 uses Imperial fasteners, not metric.): While holding the screw, tighten the locknut securely using the 9/16" or 5/8" wrench.
10. 10

    Final verification test
    Perform a final test of the steering wheel play and smoothness. Rock the wheel gently to verify play is within acceptable limits (1 to 2 inches at rim). Turn the steering wheel slowly through its complete range from full left to full right lock, confirming smooth operation with no binding or tight spots throughout the entire travel.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly was required for this adjustment procedure
2. Ensure all tools are removed from the steering box area

Verification

• Start the engine and drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area to verify steering response and feel
• Steering wheel play should be 1 to 2 inches measured at the rim with no binding
• Steering should return to center smoothly after turns
• No unusual noises should be present from the steering box during operation
• If binding occurs or steering feels notchy, the adjustment is too tight and must be loosened slightly

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