How much steering wheel play?

[gzig5]

In a system that is in good condition, how much backlash/slop will there be in the steering wheel?  Right now I go about 10-15 degrees of center in each direction before I feel any resistance with the car off, sitting still.  This is a power steering system.  I haven't investigated the coupling or the dead-play in the box yet.  The coupler seems to react right away so I think it is in reasonable condition.  Looking for what is reasonably expected from these old systems before I start hacking on it.  I need to get a helper for a closer examination

Front suspension is all rebuilt and tight, but haven't done formal alignment yet.  Goes down the road straight but there is an on-center vagueness and it seems to have some lost motion between steering input and reaction.  I'm not going to go nutz on it until its aligned professionally but I want to understand where work is needed.

[Plumcrazzy]

Just a thought---Had the same issue when I first put my '70 on the road after a total restoration. Found a bolt missing on the steering box allowing the box to rotate slightly. Not sure how the bolt ended up missing but when it was replaced, all was well.

[Cuda Cody]

When I have Firm Feel rebuild my boxes I have them build them firmer so there's no slop and the box feels more like a modern car.

http://www.firmfeel.com/e_body_mopar_power_steering_box_rebuild.html

[jimynick]

When I have Firm Feel rebuild my boxes I have them build them firmer so there's no slop and the box feels more like a modern car.

http://www.firmfeel.com/e_body_mopar_power_steering_box_rebuild.html

  Yep, what the man said. I had Firm Feel rebuild my steering box to their Stage 3 level and have never regretted it. 

[Chryco Psycho]

there is an adjustment screw on the top of the box on top a set screw with a 5/8" lock nut , loosen the lock nut & tighten the set screw Only when the box is centered , often you can remove the play with just adjusting the box

[73_Cuda_4_Me]

  I had similar play in my steering wheel, and ended up adjusting the top screw in (CW) 3/4 of a turn, and made an immense difference in handling! No slop at all now!

[gzig5]

I'll eventually send it to FF for rebuild.  The coupler seems OK.  I'll take a look at the adjustment as soon as I figure out what broke in the transmission. 

[RUNCHARGER]

You don't want to tighten that screw too far. At center you tighten it down until you feel it bottom out then back it out a bit say 1/3 of a turn and try it. As I recall there is about an inch of freeplay felt at the steering wheel from left to right.

[Burdar]

Right now I go about 10-15 degrees of center in each direction before I feel any resistance with the car off, sitting still.

This is the key statement from your post.  You can NOT judge the slop in the power steering box this way.  With the car OFF, the box is going to have a lot of play.  A brand new steering box will do the same thing with the engine off.  You need to check it with the engine running.  The pressure created when the engine is running will take up a lot of that slop.

I'm not saying you don't have an issue, I'm just saying that the engine needs to be running in order to accurately judge the amount of slop you have.

[1 Wild R/T]

Tweaking the adjustment may/likely will help but be careful, it's easy to get it to tight & then you'll feel like your herding the car,  little to the right, oops to far back to the left now right.... Hey look we're In the Army right left right....

[gzig5]

Tweaking the adjustment may/likely will help but be careful, it's easy to get it to tight & then you'll feel like your herding the car,  little to the right, oops to far back to the left now right.... Hey look we're In the Army right left right....

Yeah, a little bit of dead band in the center isn't always a bad thing but this band is a bit wide.  Feels a lot like my 98 Dakota 4x4 did at 120k miles.  You could saw the wheel back and forth pretty good going down the highway and it would never move.  You had to really plan your lane changes.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Level 3........... 0 play.................. jus' sayin'