Steering box adjustment - backwards?

[renjaminfrankln]

When I first got the truck, I had a shop put in new outer TRE's (I asked him to check for any slop and replace whatever was worn out) and do an alignment. It was still a bit sloppy so I figured the box needed to be adjusted.

I noted the position of the adjuster and I went in (clockwise) 1/8th of a turn. Seemed to help, but still sloppy. On further inspection the drag link joint was worn at the connection to the pittman arm, so I replaced those, and the pivot bushings, and I took it back for an alignment.

Fast forward about 2 weeks and I'm getting binding around the center point of the steering. I adjusted the box back to where it was originally (1/8th of a turn back out). Still binding. Incrementally went out (CCW) to a half turn OUT from where I found the box originally. The box is still tight feeling and the binding is just as bad, if not worse than it was originally.

Before I mess with it any more I would like to know if I am going the wrong way on the adjuster. I always thought that clockwise "righty tighty" would tighten the box up, is ford backwards?

 

[Thewespaul]

You adjusted it the correct way, unfortunately if a box has been left at one point of adjustment for a long time just an eighth of a turn will make a huge difference in gear interfacing and you can either totally fix your problems or run into binding like you have. It’s time for a new box unfortunately. I’ve had a lot of luck adjusting boxes but a lot of people dont. I think it’s important to either keep adjusting it periodically over time or to leave it alone. Ford spent the money to engineer the adjustment in for us, so i prefer to use it

 

[renjaminfrankln]

Yeah that's kinda what I figured. New box on the way

 

[renjaminfrankln]

Holy crap what a difference, the old one was worn slap out.