Steering Box Adjustment

[John in Simi Valley]

A friend with a '79 e12 was complaining his steering had excessive free play. I thought I'd experiment with mine and learn how to adjust the steering box. I opened one of my repair manuals, read up on it and dove-in.
Well, after loosening the jam nut and adjusting the set screw .060 from the bottom as specified, then re-torqued the jam, I found I made my free play much worse. --- Doh!

Okay, so how do you adjust out the free play in our steering boxes?

[Mike W.]

E12s aren't particularly wear prone in my experience, much less than E28s. Regardless, it's a trial and error process. Loosen the nut with it jacked up. Tighten a little bit. Maybe a quarter of a turn if it's loose now. Then work the wheel back and forth. Repeat. You will reach a point where it binds crossing center, back off it then. Take a test drive you may need to back off more. If you have wear and play, don't expect to be able to eliminate it, but you might be able to minimize it.

Don't adjust it too tight, it's dangerous and not good for the box either.

[Jeff Dennis]

I have a rebuilt box not really for sale but let me know if you have no other solution.