Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
#1583779
02/24/14 09:19 PM
02/24/14 09:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 730
Nampa, ID
MadMatt
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 730
Nampa, ID
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My son recently bought a 69 Dart as his first car. It has manual steering. The steering wheel is out of alignment by about 120 degrees. With the wheels pointed straight ahead it requires 3 turns to the right to reach full lock, but only 2 turns to the left to reach full lock. I'm thinking the pitman arm is "clocked" incorrectly. Does that sound right? Any other thoughts or suggestions?
Some see the glass as half empty, some see the glass as half full. I just drink straight out of the bottle.
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: OldMoparMan]
#1583782
02/24/14 09:50 PM
02/24/14 09:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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Not sure about that 4 keyway thing, none of my A bodies had that, to my recollection that is. But I never had a 69 so who knows, heck it could be an aftermarket one with that setup.
Look at the tie rod assemblies. Left and right should be close to the same length with the pitman arm pointed aft, if not that is your problem (tierods misadjusted).
If the pitman arm is not pointed aft and the tierod assemblies are close to the same length, you have a pitman arm clocking issue.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question.
They say there is always the exception that proves the rule.
Don't be the exception.
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: MadMatt]
#1583784
02/24/14 11:06 PM
02/24/14 11:06 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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I'd turn the st wheel till the box is halfway between its travel lock to lock then at that point if the st wheel is centered then the box/master spline/st wheel is correct & the problem is either the pitman clocking (not sure if it can be off that far) or the tie rod lengths are off. When your "halfway" if the st wheel ain't centered I think I'd pull the col & see if the spline is at 12 o'clock. If it ain't then the spline on the box nub may have been cut (clocked) wrong but k.i.s.s. I would think it is OK. The big Q is how did it (the whole problem) get this way/what is fubared? #1 you need the box halfway thru its travel no matter where the st wheel is at (ideally you want it centered) & at that point in time you want the tires/wheels straight ahead of course. If the master spline on the box is off (rare) then it could have been aligned with the wheels straight ahead/box halfway & the alignment guy did not catch that the st wheel was not centered or if he did then he (correctly) realized that there is no problem other than the aesthetics of the st wheel being off center if everything else is good but the Q is what is wrong if that is the case & I'd guess the box master spline. Holler what you find.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1583789
02/25/14 01:54 PM
02/25/14 01:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 434
sweden
cuda-sweden
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 434
sweden
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Quote:
Quote:
If the steering coupler (pot coupler) is disassembled and re-assembled 180 degrees out of phase, it will cause centering problems. It is the only part of the system that is not "clocked" with a master spine.
I suspicioned I was missing something 
 to check if the steering shaft is 180 degrees out or correct installed in the coupler, you can center the steering box worm shaft,then if correct, the little gaugehole in the steeringshaft, just above the coupler seal, should be pointing up. 
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1583791
02/26/14 08:15 AM
02/26/14 08:15 AM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 730
Nampa, ID
MadMatt
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 730
Nampa, ID
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Okay, if I'm understanding everything correctly the problem is in the coupler. With the box at the center of travel the wheels are straight ahead, but the steering wheel is off.
Some see the glass as half empty, some see the glass as half full. I just drink straight out of the bottle.
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: MadMatt]
#1583792
02/26/14 08:16 AM
02/26/14 08:16 AM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 730
Nampa, ID
MadMatt
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 730
Nampa, ID
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And the steering coupler appears to me to be in the wrong position.
Some see the glass as half empty, some see the glass as half full. I just drink straight out of the bottle.
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: MadMatt]
#1583793
02/26/14 12:01 PM
02/26/14 12:01 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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Alright, we're almost there. I would pull the column & confirm that the box nub master spline is at 12 0'clock then see if anything looks wonky on the coupler. I would think that rotating it 180 would move the st wheel 180 & the wheel is off less than that but didn't the one guy say that flippping it solved his issue. Holler when you get there
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Help me solve my steering problem... Please!
[Re: MadMatt]
#1583794
02/26/14 12:58 PM
02/26/14 12:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,213
Minn
SportF
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,213
Minn
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I just gotta comment here guys. The coupler may goof up the steering wheel position, but it has nothing to do with this wrong lock to lock position. That is the first thing that is wrong. Wouldn't that be the problem with the pitman arm only? Get that lock to lock thing right, then fix the steering wheel position. And by the way, if wheel alignment is good, I would fix that by removing the key in the steering wheel with a file, then putting it on when going straight ahead.
OH, here is another one, how about the wrong pitman arm?
Last edited by SportF; 02/26/14 01:00 PM.
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. always a good feeling when eyeballing something answers your question without having to dig into it
