Steering & Suspension Inspection

Steering Gear Box Adjustment DIY – Old RWD Trucks & Vans

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Old rear-wheel-drive trucks and vans like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and Express van use a recirculating ball steering gearbox. Over time, the gearbox develops play at the steering wheel. Before replacing the whole gearbox, you can adjust it yourself in 15 minutes. This guide shows how.

What the driver feels

  1. Excessive play in the steering wheel before the front tires respond
  2. The steering feels vague or loose on the highway
  3. A clunk or knock when turning the wheel back and forth
  4. The truck wanders on the highway requiring corrections
  5. Play that seems worse after the truck warms up
  6. The steering does not center after a turn
  7. A knock from under the driver’s side floor pan
  8. The steering wheel rocks back and forth without the wheels moving

On a 2012 Ford F-150 or 2013 Chevy Silverado, the recirculating ball steering gearbox wears internally over 150,000 miles. The worm gear and ball bearings develop lash, which shows up as play at the steering wheel. The top of the gearbox has an adjustment screw that sets the preload on the worm gear. Turning it clockwise removes the lash.

On older vans like a 2014 Ford E-250 or Chevy Express, the gearbox also develops play from idling heavy loads. The adjustment screw is not a permanent fix – if the gearbox is badly worn, adjusting it too tight causes hard steering and premature bearing failure. The adjustment is meant to take up minor wear, not to rebuild a worn gearbox.

How to inspect it

Safety note: Always set the parking brake and chock the wheels before getting under the vehicle. Use rated jack stands, never rely on a jack alone.

  • Park on level ground with the engine off and the front wheels straight ahead.
  • Have a helper turn the steering wheel left and right about an inch while you watch the pitman arm under the truck.
  • If the steering wheel moves but the pitman arm does not, the gearbox has internal lash that can be adjusted.
  • If the pitman arm moves but the wheels do not, the idler arm or center link is worn, not the gearbox.
  • Locate the adjustment screw on top of the gearbox. It has a lock nut.
  • Loosen the lock nut and turn the screw clockwise 1/8 turn at a time.
  • Test the play between adjustments. Do not adjust more than 1/2 turn total.

Repair and replacement advice

  • After adjusting, take the truck for a test drive. The steering should feel tighter but still turn easily.
  • If the steering feels hard or binds in one direction, you adjusted too much – back it off 1/8 turn.
  • If the play returns within a few thousand miles, the gearbox is worn out and needs replacement.
  • Always check the fluid level in the gearbox (some are sealed, some have a plug).
  • Adjusting the gearbox does not replace worn idler arms or tie rods – inspect those separately.

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