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Steering wheel alinement #1691675 10/28/14 02:54 PM 10/28/14 02:54 PM
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi. R rtjerry OP member
rtjerry OP member R Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi.	1967 Coronet R/T Hi, I changed all front suspension and firm feel stage 3 gear box had a front end alignment and everything works perfect, Except my steering wheel is about an 1/8 turn off center and it was before I changed everything. I took off the wheel to align it and found tooth missing in the spline that prevents me from changing the wheel position the flat spot is at about 1:00. My wheel is pretty broke up and am wondering if it could have shifted somehow? the turn indicator cancel is aligned and works fine. Is it possible that my steering wheel is messed up? Thanks Jerry

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: rtjerry] #1691676 10/28/14 03:00 PM 10/28/14 03:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,634 Nashville, TN M MOPARMIKE69 master
MOPARMIKE69 master M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,634 Nashville, TN	Quote: 1967 Coronet R/T Hi, I changed all front suspension and firm feel stage 3 gear box had a front end alignment and everything works perfect, Except my steering wheel is about an 1/8 turn off center and it was before I changed everything. I took off the wheel to align it and found tooth missing in the spline that prevents me from changing the wheel position the flat spot is at about 1:00. My wheel is pretty broke up and am wondering if it could have shifted somehow? the turn indicator cancel is aligned and works fine. Is it possible that my steering wheel is messed up? Thanks Jerry It's possible, but it is more possible that whoever did your alignment needs to do it again and get it right this time. 69 Road Runner vert 69 GTX hard top 70 Road Runner 4 speed 70 Hemi Cuda vert

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: MOPARMIKE69] #1691677 10/28/14 04:05 PM 10/28/14 04:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,930 Grand Prairie,Texas stumpy I Win
stumpy I Win Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 32,930 Grand Prairie,Texas	Steering wheel is centered by adjusting the tie rods and should have been done when it was aligned.

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: stumpy] #1691678 10/28/14 04:35 PM 10/28/14 04:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,072 Niles , Ohio T therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah. T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,072 Niles , Ohio	I agrre the tie rods adjust toe and center the wheel.Some I did I had to do a few times to get a real straight wheel.Rocky Chrysler Firepower

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: therocks] #1691679 10/28/14 07:20 PM 10/28/14 07:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi. R rtjerry OP member
rtjerry OP member R Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi.	The car drives straight no shake at 80 mph I can let go of the wheel It's perfect.

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: rtjerry] #1691680 10/28/14 07:39 PM 10/28/14 07:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,255 Columbus, GA Michael Ecks pro stock
Michael Ecks pro stock Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,255 Columbus, GA	Quote: The car drives straight no shake at 80 mph I can let go of the wheel It's perfect. The alignment job is NOT perfect if the wheel is 1/8 of a turn off. As you observed the steering wheel has a master spline that allows it to go onto the steering columns shaft in only one position. The splined portion of the steering wheel is either welded or press fit in, the condition of the grip and spokes is irrelevant. The toe, caster, etc may be in spec allowing it to ride correctly, but the shop should have centered the steering wheel first and then made the adjustments to the tie rods to center the wheels and set toe. "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts" ~ Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: Michael Ecks] #1691681 10/28/14 10:39 PM 10/28/14 10:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,072 Niles , Ohio T therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
therocks oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah. T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 21,072 Niles , Ohio	Ecks you said it good.Ive seen some that were off more than that.Spec was set OK but the wheel was way off.Older cars some play is usual but it should be closer than 1/8 off.Like I said I had to do some cars more than once.Its a pain rehanging the heads but you do it to do the job right.Rocky Chrysler Firepower

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: rtjerry] #1691682 10/29/14 02:11 PM 10/29/14 02:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,212 Minn S SportF pro stock
SportF pro stock S Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,212 Minn	The easiest thing to do is simply file that key out of the wheel, and put the wheel on straight.

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: SportF] #1691683 10/29/14 03:14 PM 10/29/14 03:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,634 Nashville, TN M MOPARMIKE69 master
MOPARMIKE69 master M Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,634 Nashville, TN	Quote: The easiest thing to do is simply file that key out of the wheel, and put the wheel on straight. Sure just rig it instead of doing it right. Yeah file that baby out and after several hours you will have ruined the wheel and let an incompetent or just plain lazy tech get by with substandard work. Yeah that's the easiest thing to do......NOT! You paid to have your car aligned. The FIRST thing you do is make sure the steering wheel lines up correctly. No way I would do anything but take it back and make them do it right. 69 Road Runner vert 69 GTX hard top 70 Road Runner 4 speed 70 Hemi Cuda vert

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: MOPARMIKE69] #1691684 10/29/14 07:03 PM 10/29/14 07:03 PM
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi. R rtjerry OP member
rtjerry OP member R Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi.	I will take it back to get realigned, but what seems weird is the steering wheel was that way when I bought the car and I changed all suspension, gearbox, tires and rims now that everything is done the wheel is the exact same way. WTF

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: MOPARMIKE69] #1691685 10/29/14 07:27 PM 10/29/14 07:27 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,945 WI Dcuda69 master
Dcuda69 master Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,945 WI	Quote: Quote: The easiest thing to do is simply file that key out of the wheel, and put the wheel on straight. Sure just rig it instead of doing it right. Yeah file that baby out and after several hours you will have ruined the wheel and let an incompetent or just plain lazy tech get by with substandard work. Yeah that's the easiest thing to do......NOT! You paid to have your car aligned. The FIRST thing you do is make sure the steering wheel lines up correctly. No way I would do anything but take it back and make them do it right. I've done alignments for 30 years and would NEVER give a car back to a customer with an unlevel steering wheel! #1 customer complaint with alignments. Take it back!! Most modern equipment(such as Hunter) have a built in program to set toe AND center the wheel, all it takes is a tech willing to follow the on-screen prompts

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: rtjerry] #1691686 10/29/14 07:27 PM 10/29/14 07:27 PM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,453 Morristown Tn. 7 71birdJ68 master
71birdJ68 master 7 Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,453 Morristown Tn.	Do you have the steering shaft coupler properly aligned with the input shaft on the steering box? The coupler has a mark that aligns with a master spline on the input shaft. The factory put several of those in the system, so that the line people could do all of this quick and easy, and it be where it should be. And also the alignment guy could have done it wrong.

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: 71birdJ68] #1691687 10/29/14 07:35 PM 10/29/14 07:35 PM
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi. R rtjerry OP member
rtjerry OP member R Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 17 lapeer, mi.	The steering shaft coupler is in back of my mind, maybe someone before me had it off and I just followed it the second time if that's possible.

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: rtjerry] #1691688 10/29/14 07:41 PM 10/29/14 07:41 PM
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,453 Morristown Tn. 7 71birdJ68 master
71birdJ68 master 7 Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,453 Morristown Tn.	You need a factory service manual, it points all of this stuff out with pictures, it's easy to get it wrong without the book. So somebody could have done it wrong a long time ago. The pitman arm also has a master spline.

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: Dcuda69] #1691689 10/29/14 08:36 PM 10/29/14 08:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,323 Virginia's Eastern Shore D dmoore pro stock
dmoore pro stock D Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,323 Virginia's Eastern Shore	Quote: Quote: Quote: The easiest thing to do is simply file that key out of the wheel, and put the wheel on straight. Sure just rig it instead of doing it right. Yeah file that baby out and after several hours you will have ruined the wheel and let an incompetent or just plain lazy tech get by with substandard work. Yeah that's the easiest thing to do......NOT! You paid to have your car aligned. The FIRST thing you do is make sure the steering wheel lines up correctly. No way I would do anything but take it back and make them do it right. I've done alignments for 30 years and would NEVER give a car back to a customer with an unlevel steering wheel! #1 customer complaint with alignments. Take it back!! Most modern equipment(such as Hunter) have a built in program to set toe AND center the wheel, all it takes is a tech willing to follow the on-screen prompts Yep, that Hunter program was the brain child of Matthew "Wintoe" Winslow... https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showcase/1964-sport-fury-convertible-426-s.5390/

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: dmoore] #1691690 10/29/14 09:52 PM 10/29/14 09:52 PM
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,945 WI Dcuda69 master
Dcuda69 master Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,945 WI	Quote: Quote: Quote: Quote: The easiest thing to do is simply file that key out of the wheel, and put the wheel on straight. Sure just rig it instead of doing it right. Yeah file that baby out and after several hours you will have ruined the wheel and let an incompetent or just plain lazy tech get by with substandard work. Yeah that's the easiest thing to do......NOT! You paid to have your car aligned. The FIRST thing you do is make sure the steering wheel lines up correctly. No way I would do anything but take it back and make them do it right. I've done alignments for 30 years and would NEVER give a car back to a customer with an unlevel steering wheel! #1 customer complaint with alignments. Take it back!! Most modern equipment(such as Hunter) have a built in program to set toe AND center the wheel, all it takes is a tech willing to follow the on-screen prompts Yep, that Hunter program was the brain child of Matthew "Wintoe" Winslow... Well I'd like to buy him a Works very well IF ya follow the prompts. Straight steering wheel every time!

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: Dcuda69] #1691691 10/29/14 10:41 PM 10/29/14 10:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,323 Virginia's Eastern Shore D dmoore pro stock
dmoore pro stock D Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,323 Virginia's Eastern Shore	He was at my shop in 99 during a whirlwind tour of my region....very intelligent guy https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showcase/1964-sport-fury-convertible-426-s.5390/

Re: Steering wheel alinement [Re: rtjerry] #1691692 10/30/14 01:50 AM 10/30/14 01:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,272 Northern Calyfornua S Sxrxrnr pro stock
Sxrxrnr pro stock S Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,272 Northern Calyfornua	I've become a somewhat armchair rookie tech on steering box shimming recently. Perhaps an issue is that your K member box mounting location is tweaked(perhaps accident or some such misfortune) a bit causing box to mount off center,,,,you had noted problem before all new components installed and replacing did not improve situation. You can only go so far on tie rod adjustment before running out of threads, or having one side much longer than opposing side to center your wheel. I don't know how you car is set up, but on E body you have basically unlimited ability to rotate steering shaft in relation to box input spline to center wheel,,,,however possibly leaving steering box off top center when wheels are dead ahead. You might consider shimming your box a bit. See my saga under the suspension and braking forum section for more details. My issue however was not the K member, but was with the box itself. Last edited by Sxrxrnr; 10/30/14 03:04 PM.

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