play in a 1967 steering box

i WAS CHECKING MY STEERING BOX I FOUND it to have  SOME PLAY IS THIS NORMAL AND WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR . This is a 1967 mustang coupe .  

By some play, how much is it? Play can be caused by several issues including the steering box and when there are several areas adding to play each area needs to be found and corrected. Idler arms, A-frame bushings, centerlinks, tie rod ends, strut rod bushings and steering boxes can all lend to play in steering. You and a helper can determine where the lost movement is occuring with one moving the steering wheel lightly back and forth and the other under the car to see how much the wheel is moving before the pitman arm starts its movement. Check by watching the idler arm to see if it's moving up or down instead of side to side. The steering box does have a set screw adjuster on top that can be used to remove a limited amount of box play but do not apply much force. Damage will occur. A box in good shape, just worn a little can be renewed with this adjustment but a box in need of service can be finished off with the same over adjustment.

cushman  

I agree with Cushman also. FYI- If you have a Factory shop manual look in section 3-3 for box preload adjustments.  

Thanks for the tips , i may not have explain the noise correctly .i seperate the pitman arm from the center link when i shook it i hear a clunking noise in the steering box along with some movement.  

sunshine9:
i WAS CHECKING MY STEERING BOX I FOUND it to have  SOME PLAY IS THIS NORMAL AND WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR . This is a 1967 mustang coupe .

Didn't understand you had isolated the box already. Definitly sounds like service is needed with play and noise at that end of the box.  

Thought that might be the problem just want to check with the experts  Thank you very much.  

Before you adjust the box, you must fill the steering gear box with grease.

#1 Remove the filler plug located on the top of the gear box near the front of the box by the shock tower 1/2" cap

#2 remove the top inside gear box bolt ( the one that has the ID tag on it )1/2" bolt.

#3 Fill gear box into the filler plug location, as you pump the grease in by way of using a standard pump grease gun, when the gear box is full, it will over flow out of the gear box bolt hole that you removed,
use a ( Valvoline Ford-Lincoln-Mercury Grease P/N W633 )
you can find it at any auto parts store, it comes in a tube that slides into your grase gun, it will take most of the tube of grease.

#4 you will need to loosen the gear box adjusting nut loose ( 11/16" socket )
Then use a LONG straight blade screw drive to adjust the box pre-load and use a 11/16" wrench to hold the lock nut in place while you are adjusting the box.

#5 Next you will need someone to rock the steering wheel back and forth, as you are adjusting watch the pitman arm movement until it moves in equal time, and also have one foot in front of the tire and behind the tire, so you can also feel the adjustment as you are adjusting the box.

Hope this helps
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