Buick LeSabre 1965 Service Manual page 468

8 - 4 MANUAL STEERING
STEERING GEAR, STEERING COLUMNS AND LINKAGE
WORM BEARING ADJUSTER-
WORM SHAFT
HOUSING
PITMAN SHAFT
Figure 8-3—Manual Steering
Gear Adjusters
and check the torque required to
turn the wheel steadily in the
range where lash exists between
ball nut and pitman shaft sector.
See Figure 8-4. The torque re-
quired to keep wheel t u r n i n g
should be between 5 and 9 inch
pounds. Adjust worm b e a r i n g
preload if necessary.
7. Adjust worm Bearing Preload.
Loosen worm bearing adjuster
lock nut using a drift. See Figure
8-3. Turn bearing adjuster as
required to bring pull between
5 and 9 inch pounds. Tighten lock
nut, then recheck preload.
8. Torque side cover bolts to 30
ft. lbs.
9- Check Pitman Shaft O v e r -
c e n t e r Preload. Turn steering
wheel from one extreme to the
Figure 8-4—Checking Adjustments
in Car
other w h i l e counting the total
turns, then turn wheel back 1/2
the number of turns. This posi-
tions steering gear on "high
point" where a preload should
exist between ball nut and pitman
shaft teeth. '••'
10. Check the torque required to
turn w h e e l through the "high
point" range. Torque should be
between 5 and 11 inch pounds
higher than worm bearing pre-
load. Total "overcenter" pull
should not exceed 18 inch pounds.
11. Adjust Pitman Shaft Over-
center Preload. Loosen locknut
and turn pitman shaft lash ad-
juster screw as required to bring
torque between 5 and 11 inch
pounds higher than worm bearing
preload. After tightening locknut,
rotate steering wheel back and
forth through the "high point"
and through the entire range to
check for tight spots.
NOTE: If lash cannot be re-
moved at "high point", or if gear
load v a r i e s greatly and feels
rough, gear assembly should be
removed for inspection of internal
parts.
12. When installing pitman arm
on pitman shaft, torque nut to
135 ft. lbs.
b. Adjustment of Steering
Gear on Bench
1. Attach Torque Wrench J-5853
to worm shaft and turn shaft to
extreme right or left position.
See Figure 8-5.
2. Turn worm bearing adjuster
to obtain a reading of 5 to 9 inch
pounds with worm shaft turning
slowly. Worm bearing preload
measurement must be made with-
in 1/2 turn of worm shaft from
extreme position.
3. Tighten worm bearing adjuster
locknut and recheck reading.
4. Turn worm shaft from one ex-
treme to the other while counting
turns, then turn back 1/2 the total
number of turns. This places the
steering gear on the "overcenter"
or "high point" position.
5. Loosen pitman shaft lash ad-
juster locknut and turn lash ad-
juster until a reading of 5 to 11
inch pounds higher than worm
bearing preload is obtained while
rotating worm shaft through the
"overcenter" range. Tighten lock
nut and recheck reading. Total
"overcenter" pull should not ex-
ceed 18 inch pounds.
c. Road Test After Adjustment
Road test car for ease of steer-
ing. If steering gear was adjusted
to specified load limits and hard
steering exists, the front suspen-
sion members should be checked
for lubrication and alignment and
tire inflation pressures should be
checked. When car is moving
straight ahead, the steering wheel
should be in the straight-ahead
position, or not over 5/8" to
either side of the straight-ahead
position. If steering wheel is too
far to either side, check wheel
for proper position on steering
shaft (par. 8- 5) and check tie rods
for equal adjustment and toe-in
(Group 7). It is important to have
the steering gear in the no-lash
"overcenter" range when car is
moving straight forward.
Figure 8-5—Checking Adjustments
on Bench