As much as I like getting neck deep in grease, oil, and various automotive fluids, there is a certain satisfaction in tackling a quickie job that helps improve the driving experience of your car. On the way home from Pennsylvania I noticed that there was a decent sized numb spot in the Caprice’s steering. It didn’t wander or hunt around, it just required a decent input left or right to get the wheels heading in that direction. Having had gone through the car with a couple of other guys before we left for home, I knew that the components in the steering system weren’t sloppy or junked up, so it had to be something else.

In a conversation with Dave Nutting, who is a Monte Carlo SS freak owner, he let me know that the quick ratio box on this car has an easy sector shaft tension adjustment process that may take all of that numbness right out of the picture. Well, he was right. After about five minutes of work, the steering was as precise as it was going to be and the numbness was gonzo. It will actually take you longer to scroll down and look at the photos of this simple process than to do it yourself.

As a side note, these boxes were available on lots of stuff in the 1980s. They are 2.5 turns lock to lock and live in cars like Monte Carlo SS, most third gen Camaros (unless it had the FE1 crap ass suspension option), Buick Regals with the sport suspension option from 1984-87, and Pontiac Grand Prix models eqipped with the F41 or FE2 suspension options.

For tools, you’ll need a jack, a couple of jackstands, a 5/8″ box end wrench and a 3/16″ Allen wrench.

NOTE: This is not a cure all for a worn out, sloppy front end. It is a simple process to bring the sector shaft tension back into spec, but if your issues are heavier duty than that, you’ll need to replace the components or go deeper into the steering box to adjust bearing pre-load, etc.

Start by jacking the car up and centering the steering wheel. We got the tires just off the ground and the frame high enough to get a stand under.

Next, find the steering box. If you cannot do that, stop immediately and sell your car. Assuming you found it, you'll see the nut and adjusting Allen screw on the top of the box.

Fit your 5/8" wrench on the nut and crack it loose.

Loosen the nut a few turns to allow the adjusting screw to be tightened.

Now slip your 3/16" Allen into the adjusting screw and tighten it until snug. IMPORTANT: Once snug, back the screw off a quarter of a turn and while holding the adjusting screw with the Allen, tighten the nut down with your wrench. Failing to back the screw off will result in a wheel that does not want to return to center and premature wear and issues with the sector shaft. We cycled the wheel back and forth while the tires were up and then dropped the car to go for a ride. The difference was great and we were very happy with the results of such a quick job. The wheels now turn where we want them to, when we want them to. One of the best five minute tweaks you can do to your Saginaw quick ratio steering box equipped car.