i finally figured out my steering problem, PO installed castor shims backwards!

oh man, I seriously can't believe I went through this much of a headache wondering why my steering was so terrible. I just figured since it was a 68 with a real short wheel base, manual steering, 33x12.50 muds, and long shackles it was going to be real bad... but the thing was damn near undriveable!

i finally looked at the shims to see if it even had any.... but guess what... backwards!

anyway I just switched them, took it for a ride at 2:35am (the jeep isn't exactly quiet so i'm sure my neighbors love me even more now). It's like a night and day difference.

I still have about a 1/4" of free play in the steering wheel to take care of. Are there any adjustments on the box for this like on the later saginaw boxes to take out the slop?

 

Check your bellcrank and drag link first. Mine was shot and allowed 1/2 turn of play in the steering wheel. Now, no play. There is an adjustment. It's somewhere in the manual.

 

Bellcrank has no adjustments, have someone turn the wheel as you watch it. It should not have any play/movement up and down. Likely needs new bearings, most do. There is an adjusting nut/stud combo on the Ross box, It'll help take up slack on the worm shaft but won't help if your bushings on the sector shaft are worn. Again, turn the wheel and look for the shaft moving up and down intead of swingly smoothly through its rotation. Drag link is adjustable on both ends, a cotter pin holds in a castellated/slotted head adjusting plug. Usually needs a good dose of PB Blaster to get them loose! There is a spring behind one of the plugs, mine was mashed flat allowing for alot of free travel and looseness. The more wear you have anywhere in the system will wear out other parts faster,esp with larger tires. HTH