why is my steering wheel not straight?
#1410808
03/29/13 02:55 PM
03/29/13 02:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,179 California
mickm
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i put a new steering box in. i turned it lock to lock, counted the turns, and then set it exactly in the middle. i then pointed the steering wheel straight ahead, and slid the coupler in place on the steering shaft. it only goes on one way, so i know that part is right.
i thought my wheels were pointed straight ahead, so connected the steering link.
the car drives perfectly straight down the road, but the steering wheel is 90 degrees to the right.
i though i just must not have had the wheels straight, so i got it pointed straight ahead, locked the steering column, raised the car up, disconnected the steering arm, turned the wheel to the straight ahead position, and connected it back up.
no change!
what's up?
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Re: why is my steering wheel not straight?
[Re: mickm]
#1410809
03/29/13 03:47 PM
03/29/13 03:47 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041
Lincoln Nebraska
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(1) I'd turn the pitman arm till it's halfway thru its' travel then (2) adj toe with the 2 sleeves till I have even toe then ~1/16" in on each side then (3) install steering coupler with st wheel straight ahead & cut a new spline if needed. EDIT You've already got your toe corrected when it was aligned so on #2 just get the wheels straight ahead like you mentioned & install the pitman at that point (halfway thru the pitmans' travel) then #3, getting the steering wheel straight via the coupler
Last edited by RapidRobert; 03/29/13 04:03 PM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: why is my steering wheel not straight?
[Re: Mad Accountant]
#1410811
03/29/13 05:02 PM
03/29/13 05:02 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,179 California
mickm
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Quote:
An easier fix may be to get the wheels pointed straight ahead, and then pull the steering wheel and reset it on the column so it's straight. Beats pulling the linkages apart, cutting new splines, hooking it all back up and finding out its still not quite right.
at first that sounded good, but if the steering box is not in the exact center position, then i'm driving down the road straight ahead with the steering box not centered.
seems to me that i need to make sure the box is in the exact (or close) middle position, lock to lock, and that is the point where i want the wheels perfectly straight ahead?
it sounds like i have the wheels straight ahead with the steering box not at it's center point, and so need to correct that.
am i off here?
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Re: why is my steering wheel not straight?
[Re: Mad Accountant]
#1410815
03/29/13 07:23 PM
03/29/13 07:23 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,179 California
mickm
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Posts: 4,179
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Quote:
[at first that sounded good, but if the steering box is not in the exact center position, then i'm driving down the road straight ahead with the steering box not centered.
Sounds to me like you have the box centered already. Manual or power box?
manual box. i don't think it is centered now. not with the wheels straight ahead. i'll have to do some playing around tonight...
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Re: why is my steering wheel not straight?
[Re: dmoore]
#1410819
03/29/13 08:34 PM
03/29/13 08:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 953 Badham Co.
Y3 70 BEE
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 953
Badham Co.
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Do you have the pitman arm on the box in the right position? Most mopar boxes I have seen have 4 wide grooves on the spline coming out of the box and you can clock the pitman arm 4 different ways.
Last edited by Y3 70 BEE; 03/29/13 08:37 PM.
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Re: why is my steering wheel not straight?
[Re: Y3 70 BEE]
#1410820
03/29/13 11:48 PM
03/29/13 11:48 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,179 California
mickm
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ok, so here's the scoop.
i marked the pitman arm and the shaft on the steering box with the wheels straight ahead, which means the steering wheel was 90 degrees to the right. i then pulled the pitman arm, and brought the steering wheel to center. the two marks hardly moved. then i realized that with the 96 turns lock to lock that the standard steering box has, 1/2 a turn is not going to move things much, which is why when i did this the first time, all i did was put it back in the position it was originally in. so i reconnected the pitman arm, in the same position.
looking in the FSM, it mentioned adjusting the tie rods to align the steering wheel, and then it struck me, that was it.
so looked at the tie rod sleeves, and on the left side there were only a few threads exposed on the tie rod ends, while on the right side there were many. i remember when we put this together a long time ago remarking on that, but it drove, steered and aligned just fine.
anyway, the direction i needed to go brought the tie rod sleeves more in balance with how many threads were exposed on each side. took almost 4 turns to bring it in line, and now the steering wheel is straight and it still cruises down the road nice and straight.
i think the thing is the old box has enough slop that it needed things set this way to keep it going straight.
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Re: why is my steering wheel not straight?
[Re: 62maxwgn]
#1410822
03/30/13 01:12 AM
03/30/13 01:12 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
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Lincoln Nebraska
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with the wheels kept immobile & moving 1 sleeve in & the other out the same amount which would move the pitman/box & would center the steering wheel but I think that'd move the box away from exactly centered but evidently that ain't causing an issue (so far) & it sounds like it's all good if the tire wear stays acceptable (toe in). I also would suggest checking the toe in
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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