03 AWD best way to get to steering box to adjust?

[Hank]

Done a lot of work on the van lately, suspension, shocks, swaybars, and alignment.

I have just a hair of slop in the steering box, nothing major, just enough to bug me.

What's the best way to get at the steering box adjustment screw?

I looked underneath and could not see it, was thinking the best way may be to remove the radiator shroud and come down from the top.

Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Hank]

Looks like it is best to go from the top on the late model AWD's

Found this here: http://www.astrosafarivans.com/bb2/view ... 4d35a49657


For my 2001 AWD Safari, I had to access its steering box by coming down from the top. For my AWD, I found it was best to:
- Remove its air filter plastic box.
- Remove its air breather hose.
- Remove its upper plastic schroud.
- Remove its lower plastic schroud.
Note: It was a pain to remove the plastic schroud without hurting its rad but if one takes their time, it can be done.
- After the above tasks, the streering box screw can easily be accessed (from top down).




Will post back tomorrow on how it goes.

[Corsemoto]

Sounds like my van, interested to read how it turns out.

[Hank]

Was a easy adjustment.

I had close to 2 turns of adjustment available so I took the conservative route and only 1 full turn of the adjustment screw.

Real big improvement, took that annoying extra slop out of the wheel. I now have about 3/8 total wheel free play.

I'm still over correcting a bit but am getting used to the change.

[Hank]

May need to back off the adjustment a little bit, maybe a quarter or half turn.

The van does not come completely out of a turn, if that makes sense. I need to help it back the last little bit to get the wheel straight. When going down the road, I'm always pushing/pulling the wheel a little bit more than before.

No binding or hard spots though.

[kramerhd]

Does anyone know if the 1999 GMC Safari has the ability to be adjusted? I know some but not all can be adjusted.

[Hank]

Backed off the adjustment by 1/4 a turn. Big improvement, much easier to drive. No more constant correction left, then right, then left, then right.

Also comes out of a turn and wants to go straight on its own now.