Steering Wheel Out Of Alignment

T

tom winslow

New member
Jun 28, 1998
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While we were in Buford GA at Zeb Frady's Southland Motor Home Center, Zeb
had to replace the steering universal and rubber boot.

On the way back I noticed that the steering wheel was now out of alignment.
When I am driving in a straight line, the wheel is out about 30 degrees.
This drives me nutz.

How can I realign the steering wheel? Can I remove and relocate the steering
wheel? Do I need to disconnect it at the universal?

Would appreciate a suggestion.

tw

- --
Thomas P. Winslow
1974 GMC Eleganza SE (Special Edition) TZE064V101146
189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
Web Page: http://www.iredell.com
 
I THINK there is a SPLINE in the system which, if rotated, would put the
wheel off center.
Dick 75 PB in Atlanta

>In a message dated 8/26/99 11:28:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

>
> How can I realign the steering wheel? Can I remove and relocate the
> steering wheel? Do I need to disconnect it at the universal?
>
> Would appreciate a suggestion.
>
> tw
>
>
>
> --
> Thomas P. Winslow >>
>
>Gene -- if all that was done to Tom's steering was the replacement of the
>universal and rubber boot it should not have changed the position of the
>steering or the wheel unless there was a whole lot of slop in the joint.
>Could it be that the coupler was turned about 30 degrees when it was bolted
>back together. I changed my boot once but do not remember if the parts are
>keyed to only go back together in one position of whether they can be rotated
>30 degrees at that point.
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe NM
>
 
After working on the steering system I found my wheel about 30 degrees off.
There is a connection on the universal joint (where the steering column connects
to the top of the steering box shaft) that has (about) six bolts in it. I took
that apart, rotated the wheel to the next set of holes and bolted it up again.
Perfect now. But if your tie rod ends have been adjusted causing the wheel to be
out of kilter, you will have to turn the tie rod ends (equal amount each side) to
center the wheel. In this instance repositioning the universal joint connection
will cause the centering indent and turn signal cancil will be messed up.
Gary
North Bend, Oregon Coast

> In a message dated 8/26/99 11:28:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

>
> How can I realign the steering wheel? Can I remove and relocate the
> steering wheel? Do I need to disconnect it at the universal?
>
> Would appreciate a suggestion.
>
> tw
>
>
>
> --
> Thomas P. Winslow >>
>
> Gene -- if all that was done to Tom's steering was the replacement of the
> universal and rubber boot it should not have changed the position of the
> steering or the wheel unless there was a whole lot of slop in the joint.
> Could it be that the coupler was turned about 30 degrees when it was bolted
> back together. I changed my boot once but do not remember if the parts are
> keyed to only go back together in one position of whether they can be rotated
> 30 degrees at that point.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe NM
 
When I replace the steering gearbox, I also noticed about 30 degrees
offset in the steering wheel. I will probably wait until the next
alignment, however I believe one could adjust the tie rods to realign
the wheel by taking up on one side and letting out the same amount on
the other side. New gearbox is probably tighter and doesn't align
exactly the same. There are 6 bolts in the coupling, so thats 60
degrees between bolts and the splines are keyed.

Bill
'74 Glacier

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>When I replace the steering gearbox, I also noticed about 30 degrees
>offset in the steering wheel....

>There are 6 bolts in the coupling, so thats 60 degrees between bolts and
>the splines are keyed.

Hi Bill!

You seem to be ok with that? Help some of the rest of us who might be
more geometrically challenged, understand this phenomenon. As I see it,
the gearbox must be different or not an exact replacement) to produce a
30 degree offset with 60 degree intervals?

- --
Regards,
John 74 Glacier
 
Hi, John,

All that is happening is that normal manufacturing tolerances are showing up
at the steering wheel. When you replace your steering gear box with another
one nominally the same, there is still going to be a slight difference in
where the pittman arm comes out on the sector shaft. This will be magnified
at the steering wheel by the reduction ratio in the gearbox...in this case,
it's working against you. A slight change at the pittman arm translates into
a relatively large change...in this case 30 degrees...at the steering wheel.
The reduction ratio of the steering gear is something like 15 to 1, so 30
degrees at the wheel means the pittman arm is indexed to the sector shaft 2
degrees different from the previous gear...hardly a problem. Nothing to
worry about; that's why the tie rod ends have considerable adjustment
available.

And the tie rod ends are the only place you should attempt to correct this
problem, assuming you replaced the gearbox correctly. The steering gear is
designed to be a little sloppy everywhere except straight ahead to reduce
friction. When you are in a turn, you aren't aware of a little slack in the
steering. But this means that if you install the gearbox with the steering
wheel's straight ahead position off-index from the high spot in the steering
gear, you will have this slack when going straight down the road...not good.
Notice that the shaft on the steering column has a tick mark to indicate 12
o'clock. And the splines from the column through the joint to the steering
gear should be keyed so that they'll only go one way. But if you take the
bolts out of the joint and rotate it 60 or whatever degrees, you've lost the
high spot and you don't have symmetrical endpoints either. Bad kimshi.

If everything is assembled correctly, the steering wheel is at 12 o'clock with
the gear in the center of its travel and at its high or tight spot. You then
adjust the tie rods to make the coach go straight down the road. If the toe
in is set to suit you, all you have to do is move both tie rods the same
amount until you like how it lines up. Just remember to turn the adjusting
sleeves on the tie rods the same direction on each side....that is, if you
turn the driver's side front down, turn the passenger's side front down the
exact same amount and you will move the relationship of the steering wheel
to the wheels but not affect the toe in. If you have any doubts about the
toe in, this would be an excellent time to get the front end aligned and the
wheel will be right. And if you attempt this, go easy until you get a feel
for how much is enough. A quarter turn on the adjusting sleeves will move
the steering wheel quite a bit. All you'll need is a 1/2" socket and a
backup 1/2" wrench to loosen the clamps and a pair of channel locks to turn
the sleeve. Be sure to tighten all 4 clamps when you're done!

Please think it all the way through before considering changing the
relationship between the steering wheel and the input shaft of the steering
gear. You just shouldn't do it.

Best regards,

Travis
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Reactions: Christo
Thanks Travis...

> A slight change at the pittman arm translates into a relatively large
> change...in this case 30 degrees...at the steering wheel.

I really think I understand this subject much better now... whew!
- --
Regards,
John 74 Glacier
 
John, Travis did an excellent post expaining why the steering changes.
Thanks Travis. Also might look at it as if you had taken all the play
out of gears, bearings, adjustments without removing the existing
gearbox. It would have to go somewhere and steering wheel alignment
seems like a likely place.

Bill ... on the digest ...

original message:
- ------------
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 1999 18:55:18 -0700
From: John Dolan
Subject: Re: GMC: Steering Wheel Out Of Alignment

>When I replace the steering gearbox, I also noticed about 30 degrees
offset in the steering wheel....

>There are 6 bolts in the coupling, so thats 60 degrees between bolts
and the splines are keyed.

Hi Bill!

You seem to be ok with that? Help some of the rest of
.... >
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