Sloppy Steering

[Ruttco]

In getting this bus ready for my son I have noticed that the steering is pretty sloppy. About a 1/4 to a 1/2 a wheel turn of play in the steering wheel. What does one do to correct this? 

[zozo]

Drag link and center pin are normally the 2 main culprits.  Also make sure your tie rod ends are in good shape.

If you climb under it and have someone turn the steering wheel, you can watch all the various parts moving.  It's fairly easy to see where the movement is either not occurring in sync with the rest of things, or where things are going up and down instead of side to side.  The up and down will most likely be seen at the drag link and/or center pin.   Up and down is bad, side to side is good.

[GostaBerling]

If everything checks out fine then the gearbox may be wearing out. IIRC, there is a screw adjustment that can take some of the slack out of the box. I recommend searching the samba and consulting the Bentley before turning this screw.   

[Ruttco]

Thanks guys. I will take a look tonight. Can't have my son driving with that much play in the wheel. I don't mind it at all.

[vdubyah73]

don't forget the rag joint. Adjust steering box by loosening the jam nut and turning screw in. test drive to see if steering returns to center on it's own. If not you went too tight, back off the screw till steering does a better job of returning to center.

[zozo]

And remember, if you over tighten the aforementioned little screw and drive it like that, it won't be long and you will definitely be buying a new steering box.

[vdubyah73]

That is why you do the return to center test. If it doesn't return to center, you went too tight.