85 Eldo steering radius inconsistency

[Fupt Duck]

Just replace steering gear box on 85 Eldo Biarritz.  I can make one and a half revolutions to the right with the steering wheel before it stops however I can make two and a half revolutions to the left when I turn steering wheel.  I do not recall the instructions on the gear box discussing any adjustments and the service manual doesn't reference any adjustments.  Anyone have any ideas on how to adjust the gear box to get consistent revolutions?

Thank you,

Jason S

[TJ Hopland]

That does not sound correct.   Did you change any other parts at the same time?  From what I remember in that era things on the gearbox were keyed so you could not put things on wrong.  My guess is the box was not assembled properly.   

[Fupt Duck]

I changed the power steering pump and the high and low pressure lines.  I also changed a lot of the front suspension components like ball joints and control arm bushings but I don't see that anything of these things would affect steering radius issues.

Jason S

[76eldo]

Sounds like the Pitman arm is not installed correctly.

Are you saying that from center the travel one way is that much different from the other way?

Brian

[Roger Zimmermann]

I had the same probem with an older steering box. The rack was not positionned correctly after the overhaul.
Usually, the Pitman arm can only be put in one specific position.

[TJ Hopland]

That is what I was thinking, there was a wide spline on the shaft that only let you install the arm in one position.  Same with the shaft to the steering wheel. 

[Bobby B]

Jason,
   Hi. The box shaft needs to be centered if the pitman arm or the rack splines are not "keyed" to one position only.  When you pointed the wheels close to center as possible by eye, and went to assemble everything after centering the box did it all line up? If both ends of the Pitman arm are splined and "keyed" and can only fit one way between the sector shaft end and the rack end, it sounds like whoever re-built the rack is off by a tooth between the worm and sector shaft gear. I can't think of any other explanation. Something doesn't sound right. Is it the original box/pitman arm?
                                                                                            Bobby

[bcroe]

That equipment needs to be assembled straight ahead, including the steering wheel straight
up.  Then the front end gets aligned so the car goes straight ahead.  Something wasn't done
right. 

The steering box is designed to be the "tightest" straight ahead, so the car won't wander
going down the road.  Looser in a turn doesn't matter, with the wheels pulling back and
removing any slack.  If you adjust the box tightness in a non centered position, it will
hang up going over the "too tight" center position.  Bruce Roe

[Bobby B]

That equipment needs to be assembled straight ahead, including the steering wheel straight
up.  Then the front end gets aligned so the car goes straight ahead.  Something wasn't done
right. 

The steering box is designed to be the "tightest" straight ahead, so the car won't wander
going down the road.  Looser in a turn doesn't matter, with the wheels pulling back and
removing any slack.  If you adjust the box tightness in a non centered position, it will
hang up going over the "too tight" center position.  Bruce Roe

Bruce,
   Exactly…. Great Point. I always set my boxes up with a slight resistance when rolling over dead center which really improves "wandering". I think his problem involves a lock-to-lock issue, and not being centered correctly from the get go, unless the sector shaft adjustment was set so tight that that box doesn't move past a certain point. If the tie rods lengths were altered, that could also affect this issue. Maybe need to start from scratch and keep the word "center" in mind until you find out what's causing this.  Is there a possibility that the steering wheel was removed off the splines, and not re-centered?  It's only 180 degrees out of adjustment. The solution has to be something really simple, maybe just overlooked.
                                                                                          Bobby
                                                  T

[Fupt Duck]

Gentlemen,

The pitman arm is keyed so there isn't any way to have installed it incorrectly.

I am pretty sure that since this was a remanufactured item, like a lot of that junk, it was probably assembled incorrectly.   I went back to the parts store and they are getting me another one.  Hopefully that will do the trick.

I will post a follow up when I make the switch.

Jason S

[Fupt Duck]

I exchanged the remanufactured steering box for a new reman from a different supplier (Lares) and problem solved.  Lares products are top quality I highly recommend.

Jason S

[Bobby B]

Jason,
Hi. Good Deal….I've used them for years. Without a doubt, Lares is a top notch operation in the states. Other box was probably rebuilt in a third world country. Your frustration is over! 
                                                                                                                                      Bobby