TM 9-2320-266-34
(a) Loosen the adjuster locknut two turns.
7-13. Adjustments.
(b) Back out the adjuster plug one turn to
Two adjustments are provided in the steering gear: the
completely relieve worm bearing preload.
worm bearing preload adjustment, and the ball nut gear
mesh lash adjustment. Before the correct adjustment can
(c) Turn the adjuster plug clockwise until the
be made at the ball nut rack and the sector gear, it must be
torque reading is within specification (4-6 in-lbs).
determined that the worm thrust bearing adjuster plug is
(d) While keeping the adjuster plug from turning,
set for the proper worm bearing preload. The adjuster
tighten the locknut securely. Then retest torque.
threads into the housing at the lower end of the wormshaft.
(8) When worm bearing preload is 4-6 in-lbs, adjust
a. Worm Bearing Preload. Preload is determined by the
the ball nut rack and sector mesh (b, below).
pressure exerted against the wormshaft by the adjuster plug.
b. Ball Nut Rack and Sector Mesh. The lash adjuster
See figure 7-13.
screw (figure 7-14), located in the housing cover, raises or
lowers the sector shaft to provide proper mesh between
the tapered sector gear teeth and the tapered ball nut teeth.
Adjust this mesh only after establishing the proper worm
bearing preload (a, above).
Figure 7-13. Steering Gear.
(1) Turn the front wheels to the straight-ahead
position.
Figure 7-14. Steering Gear (Including Lash Adjuster Screw).
(2) Disconnect and remove the steering gear arm
from the sector shaft.
(1) Turn the steering wheel from one stop to the
other, keeping careful track of the number of turns. Turn
(3) Remove the horn pad to expose the steering
the steering wheel back exactly halfway to the center
shaft nut.
position.
(4) Turn the steering wheel all the way to the right,
(2) Turn the steering wheel about one-quarter turn
then back it off slightly to relieve any binding.
away from the center ("high spot") position. Place an inch-
(5) Place an inch-pound torque wrench on the
pound torque wrench on the steering shaft nut.
steering shaft nut.
(3) Use the wrench to rotate the steering wheel
(6) Use the wrench to rotate the steering shaft
through the center ("high spot") position, while reading
toward the left, while reading the torque. The torque
the torque. This reading is the total of the worm shaft
required to keep the steering shaft nut moving should be
bearing preload and the "high spot" sector gear mesh load.
from 4 to 6 in-lbs.
The torque required to rotate through the center position
should be 14 in-lbs.
NOTE
There is a "high spot" in the center of the
sector gear mesh as follows:
sector gear to increase turning torque when
(a) Loosen the lash adjuster screw locknut and
the wheels point straight ahead. Always
turn out the adjuster screw enough to take out all lash
test preload torque with the steering wheel
between the ball nut rack and the sector gear teeth.
turned well away from center.
(b) Adjust the lash adjuster screw to obtain a 14
in-lbs torque wrench reading through the center ("high
lbs, adjust bearing preload as follows:
7-7
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