F 350 4WD Pickup V8-351 5.8L VIN H EFI (1997)
Steering Gear: Adjustments
During the vehicle breaking-in period, some factory adjustments may change. These changes in adjustment will not necessarily affect operation of the
steering gear assembly. If excessive steering lash is encountered, then meshload should be checked and adjustment may be required.
Adjust total on center load to eliminate excessive lash between the sector and rack teeth as follows.
1. With the engine off, turn the steering wheel from full right stop to full left stop at least once.
2. Remove steering wheel pad horn switch.
3. Disconnect the steering gear sector shaft arm from the steering gear sector shaft using Pitman Arm Puller T64P-3590-F.
4. Attach a newton meter (pound-inch) torque wrench to the steering wheel hub nut and determine the torque required to rotate the power steering
gear input shaft and control back and forth across the center position (+90 degrees).
5. Reset the meshload only if the measured torque for total on-center load is less than 1.5 Nm (13 inch lbs.). If reset is required, loosen the adjuster
lock nut and turn the sector shaft adjuster screw until the measured total on-center load torque is 2.0 Nm (18 inch lbs.). Hold the sector shaft
screw in place and tighten the lock nut to 48-61 Nm (35-45 ft. lbs.).
6. Recheck torque readings and replace the steering gear sector shaft arm. Tighten the pitman arm-to-sector shaft nut 230-310 Nm (170-228 ft. lbs.).
7. Verify no binding condition in steering throughout full stop-to-stop travel. Verify customer concern is resolved.
8. Replace steering wheel pad horn switch.
