Steering component issue

I'd get someone to work the steering wheel, while you watch things underneath. The play has to show up somewhere. The problem can only be simple. As previously mentioned, both pitman- and idler arms should only move longitudinally. An inch movement is totally unacceptable. There shouldn't be any movement at all. A toasted bearing at the pitman side of the steering gear could play tricks on you, being that the assist piston would still get the signal to move, creating the illusion that one side is doing its job. If you're not an absolute purist, I'd consider replacing that steering gear and prone to leak piston servo with a modern variable-ratio combined unit

 

What the heck is an annealed brass shim?

 

It is brass shim stock. You can buy it in rolls of various thicknesses. As Joe Padavano alluded to, it sounds like either the taper in the center link is worn/too large or the taper on the idler is incorrect or too small. Do you have the old parts to compare with what is on there?

 

If the taper's incorrect, there should still be no play, when tested without a load, as long as the nut's tightened. If the taper's incorrect, you'll feel it right away, as soon as you connect the parts and try wiggling them

 

I have over $800 invested in parts and repairs to the steering so far...had I known it was gonna go this way, I woulda converted the whole thing to rack and pinion...now I gone too far to turn around.
I'm gonna get as new drag link to see it it corrects the problem.

 

For eight hundred bucks, one would think everything got changed and a spare set of everything has gotten covered.
There's an easy way to check a drag link, since it hasn't any moving parts. If it's okay, all that's left to suspect is the steering gear

 

his drag link isn't that simple it has a control valve or something built into the end of it. have you tried any of the major 59-64 chevy aftermarket suppliers. mine didn't come with power steering so i never had to deal with it but it is the same front end used in the corvette's so maybe that will help you find the parts. if you do decide to go aftermarket i can give you lots of advice as i have had 605, rack and pinion, and now a 500 box i believe. can you post a video?

 

That end is probably identicle to a Tri-Five end. Since it's spring loaded, that could be the cause of that play



One from a '64 full-sized might fit. But, then, of course, you'd need corresponding Pitman- and idler arms:

 

If this is the one you have, it's the same one I mentioned earlier. You can remove the cotter pin and tighten up any slack due to wear. Then reinstall the pin.

 

That's the $800 answer

 

I think I have the one that can be adjusted. I'll look at it in the morning and see what happens.

 

One shop says its the valve, pitman arm and dampner...I just took it to the shop and left it! More money!!! But I need it fixed.

 

Sorry for the delayed response, I just returned yesterday from two weeks in Africa. Great vacation. Anyway, it turned out to be a defective valve. I only got Sarge back the day before we left so I haven't had a chance to really road-test it, but it seemed fine. I'll pull it out this weekend and give it a proper once-over.

 

So, a brand new valve costed you hundreds more?

 

No, I took it back to the shop that installed it. No charge for parts and labor. My cost, a new idler arm. But I'm OK with that.