'66 Bus steering woes

[Jadewombat]

My bus' front end feels a little worn. I just replaced the swing lever with one of those kits and it did very little.

The problem is the steering 'sets' in the middle, as in it wants to stay in the middle. This is with the front end jacked up. It's very stiff to turn left or right for the first half turn, then it gets easier. After replacing the swing lever, my feeling is the problem is in the steering box. I also had about an inch and a half of play, tried doing an adjustment on the box and brought it down to about an inch of play. I don't want to go more than this as it makes the steering stiffer. My question is, when I was doing the steering box adjustment, I noticed a plug at the top, does fluid go in here? The box has oil caked all over the bottom side of it. Nothing in the manual about oil in the box, just wondering if oil or something would loosen the box up.

When I drive it, feedback through the steering wheel is pretty vague, not very sharp at all. I'm going to replace the drivers' tie rod ends too as that side is a little worn when I do the 3 and 9 grab, pass. side is fine.

[Leatherneck]

Jade, I think the problem is your steering box is worn and the adjustment is just pushing down on the gears vice taking up the slack. You can try putting oil in it but doubt that will help you any.

[perrib]

I agree with Leatherneck iots time for a box. Bus Boys sells rebuilts, I have also bought Brazilian one from CIP1. I prefer the rebuilt German box.

[Jadewombat]

Jade, I think the problem is your steering box is worn and the adjustment is just pushing down on the gears vice taking up the slack. You can try putting oil in it but doubt that will help you any.

I was afraid of that, what kind of oil though? Hypoid since it's leaking anyway?

[Leatherneck]

Jade, you can use hypoind but you can also shoot grease in there.