Steering box issues.

I rebuilt my Ghia about a year ago, but have only recently brought it out of storage and started doing some miles in it. Everything up front has been replaced, beam, springs, bushes, shocks, steering damper etc. I also put a new steering box in it that I bought from a reputable supplier. The wheels have been balanced and I have had the tracking done twice in the last 12 months.

I am now noticing that there is an unacceptable amount of play in the steering. I can turn the steering wheel 3 or 4 inches before the wheels respond. It is pretty hairy on the highway if a truck passes or if I hit a pot hole.

I got the manual out and have adjusted it as instructed (even though it shouldn't have any wear yet) so that everything is nipped up, but it hasn't improved matters.
Do I have a dodgy unit or is there something I'm missing that could make this one perform? It's too late to return it now, but how do I know that if I get replacement it won't be the same?

check under the steering box and pit man arm, idler arm, rods , steering connection on top of the box, uni joint, etc that no nut or bolt has came loose.

take to a workshop and get it looked at . you dont want to end up on the wrong side of the road.🥲

The looseness is definitely coming from the box. When I had my local shop tune the carbs and do some other stuff a couple of weeks back I told them to check it out and all the other steering components incase I was missing something. They tried to adjust it and but said that they might have to take it apart to see if there was anything wrong with how it was assembled. That sounds like more cost in labour than it might be to buy another unit. I've had so much trouble with new off the shelf new components being faulty on this build - and I certainly haven't tried to do anything on the cheap.

axlepressbutton wrote:The looseness is definitely coming from the box. When I had my local shop tune the carbs and do some other stuff a couple of weeks back I told them to check it out and all the other steering components incase I was missing something. They tried to adjust it and but said that they might have to take it apart to see if there was anything wrong with how it was assembled. That sounds like more cost in labour than it might be to buy another unit. I've had so much trouble with new off the shelf new components being faulty on this build - and I certainly haven't tried to do anything on the cheap.

I know exactly what you mean, there's a lot of crap available these days. Was the new box TRW or no name white box? Is the pitman arm loose, I know you had a shop look but you do it too, easy, with load (front tyres sitting on bricks) get a friend (preferablly young female scantily clad) to move the steering wheel back and forth in the soft spot (play) and look at the pitman arm connection. I've seen the apprentice miss this before, especially on a hoist without the load on the tyres.

fill with grease i did makes one hell of a differance i just found an grease gun took the nippel grabber of and stuck the end in the box and fillhed up but put a tray or something under to catch the old oil

Some years back I bought a no name steering box and had to replace it within 6 months. It was rubbish. Seller blamed the premature wear on my wide tyres (not very wide). Needless to say I don't buy parts from him anymore. Bought a TRW one from a different supplier, changed the oil to Penrite and it has been ok ever since. Another thing to check is your ball joints (if your Ghia has them).