Steering play.

you can adjust the steering by the allenbolt at the top, you have to undo the locking nut first.

Hello Ausherwo,

Re: Steering Play

Tyre pressures can affect the handling of vehicles. Correct these and review the handling of your vehicle. You should get into the habbit of regularly checking tyre pressures. Check weekly, if you have faith in them then check fortnightly, extending the period between checks to no more than once a month, for journeys done only locally. If doing long distance travelling, then, do your checking on more than a weekly basis.
That lecture over with, now, your steering wheel play.

Older G-Wagens can seem to have a fair bit of play, to check this, Lightly shake the s/wheel side to side with your finger and thumb, whilst doing this with your left hand (presuming yours is a RHD), look at your front tyre, this should just about to move, feather the s/wheel movement so that the tyre just about is to move. With that level of force and movement, maintain the feel and now, train your eye to how much the s/wheel travels. This play, should be no more than about 2 inches. I have forgotten the exact formula as set by MOT regulations which sitpulates a maximum play, per inch of s/wheel diameter. I know what is the right amount if I check this myself, but it is dfficult to translate that into words, so you understand. You can ask your local MOT testing station as to what this should be.

If you need to adjust your s/box, slacken the lock nut with an allen-head screw in the centre of it. These, you will find on the top of s/box. Just crack loose, the lock nut, no need to to start unwinding it, this is not necessary. Whilst holding the loosened nut with your spanner, turn the adjuster screw (the allen-head) anti-clockwise to take up s/box play. Turn only small amounts at a time, 1/4 to no more than 1/2 a turn at a time.

Keep a mental note of the turns, so should things go wrong, you can at least go back to where you where. Lightly, nip up the lock nut and recheck the s/wheel play, you may have to do this a few times to get a reduced amount of play from the original movement. You must make sure, not to over adjust, to check this, preferably with the front axle jacked up.

As long as the weight of the vehicle is off the tyres, no need to jack too high or get involved in using axle stands as you are not expected to get under the vehicle. Start up the engine (hand brake applied and in Park with an auto. g/box) turn the steering, again with a light force. Check and see the s/wheel does not lock up or stiffen in its turns, if this happens you have adjusted too far in.

Once the optimum adjustment is achieved, remember to properly tighten the lock nut. I think you should be aware that if what I have said above does not work for you, you may have to adjust turning clockwise to tighten up your play, I think there are two type of s/boxes, in one of them the adjuster works 'arse-about-face', this is why I suggest you turn anticlockwise initially.

A word of warning, almost half the number of s/boxes I have adjusted in the past have developed an immediate leak at the drop arm seal, those boxes that have leaked, I have had to undo my adjustment to cure the leak. Check that your box does not leak after your adjustment, (vehicle runing). I do not know if pushing in the drop arm seal solves the leak or not or indeed replacing it. I think the seal bottoms out any way, in which case leak can not be solved other than replacing with another. Or else you also will have to undo your adjustment.
It may be an idea to check wheel bearing play at all wheels as this too could afffect your handling, but the play would have to be quite sevier.

Regards,

Hello Rakesh,

The workshop manual for the 463, advises to detach the drag link prior to adjusting the pitman shaft. Is this stricly necessary or would it be enough, as per your previous post to lift the front wheels.

The direction of adjustment is definitely "counterclockwise" and 1/8th of a turn each time, in the 463 manual.