Does anyone know if a power steering balance adjustment can be done on a 1981 Cam Gear Steering Rack? Mine pulls to the left a bit and I'd really like to fix it without replacing the whole rack. If it can be done, is it a DIY type of job?
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K

Glad you got it all figured out, having lighter steering to one side would have drove me nuts!

Justin

The power steering balance adjustment on the Cam Gear rack was simple. The lower (front one) oval cover comes of with two bolts. The cover is straight below the steering column on the front portion of the steering "gearbox." Then you bent the locking tab that holds the nut onto the pinion shaft flat and remove the nut. Next take off the lock washer and flatten out the tab that was bent inward and bend the next one counterclockwise over just like the one you straightened out was. (One tab counterclockwise if your steering was harder to the right than the left. One tab clockwise if your steering was harder to the left than the right.)Then move the inner race of the shaft bearing to match where the newly bent tab will be and put it back together. Bend a washer tab outward to lock the nut in place and put the cover back on. Cake. One of the easiest things I've done on this car.

Thanks to the boarders who tipped me off about the adjustment possibilities. My alignment shop said that if I couldn't live with the pull to the left the next step would be a new rack. This repair was free and fun.
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K

Apparently there is, I have the "Power Steering Gear" manual and next to last step of the Cam Gear overhaul refers you to the Manual Steering manual for "Power Balance" adjustment. The last step is to install the lower steering box cover so apparently this adjustment must be inder this little cover somewhere!

Good luck,

Justin B.

I went to our local dealer who shares the Volvo books, and got pictures of the adjustment procedure. It looks easy. I'll try it tomorrow evening and find out. Thanks for the tip.
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K

Hmmm, wonder if he'd share them long enough for you to scan all of them, then...

I'd love to scan all of them, but they won't let me take them home. They will make copies of the pages I need though. Today they made copies of four pages about balancing the power steering system on a cam gear rack. The problem is I have to be careful how often I ask. I don't want to be the reason they change their open-book policy. If you want these four pages about the rack, send me your address and I'll get them to you.
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K

I was just experiencing a "wishful thinking" moment. I can usually get most anything I need from the "Mitchell on Demand" stuff at a bud's shop. I have bought some selected manuals when they come up for bid but a complete set would be kinda nice.