Steering Wheel positioning

[thom hole]

I just put on the new Steering Wheel I got from Jim Bounds (a Beautiful
thing), and I though I was going to be able to straighten out the position.
The old and new wheel are positioned at about 2 o'clock when going
straight down the road. The position couldn't be changed because of the
way the horn wire is mounted in the steering column. I thought about
changing the position by 'unscrewing' the right tie rod, and screwing in
the left tie rod. But the problem here is that I don't want to mess up the
toein alignment (which is good). Can the steering shaft be loosened and
changed at the steering box?? Anyone done this?? The parts diagram gives
me optimism that it could be done.

 

[travis martin]

You don't want to do this; in fact, the shafts have a flat spot in the
spline to keep you from doing it.

The reason for this is that the steering gearbox is deliberately designed to
only be tight--that is, not have slack--at the straight-ahead position. It
gets looser to reduce steering effort either side of center. If you change
the orientation of the steering wheel to the tight spot on the gearbox, you
will have the wheel straight but it will be sloppy. If you then tighten the
adjustment on the gearbox to get rid of this slop, you'll have a very tight
spot where the box is supposed to be centered. You can check for correct
relationship of the steering wheel to the gearbox by the "tick" mark stamped
into the end of the shaft...you can see this if you remove the horn button.
It should be at 12 o'clock to the steering wheel.

You gotta adjust the tie rods to get the wheel straight; there is no other
way. But it's easy to do...just takes minutes. If you move both sides the
same direction the exact same amount, you can center the steering wheel
without affecting toe-in. In fact, the correct procedure is actually easier
than pulling the steering wheel or fooling with the shaft even if it would
work.

Best regards,

Travis, lurker...still no TZE, just a GMC-based SOB, but looking.
I've had a bunch of Toro's and Eldo's though...

- -----Original Message-----
From: Phil Stewart
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Friday, March 05, 1999 7:29 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Steering Wheel positioning

>>

>>
>> > changed at the steering box?? Anyone done this?? The parts diagram gives
>> me optimism that it could be done. >>
>
>Emery and Thom,
>
>Why couldn't you just disconnect the steering column shaft from the
>lower steering shaft at the cinch clamp, turn the steering column shaft
>until the steering wheel is in the correct position, and then reclamp
>the lower steering shaft and steering column shaft back together. The
>front wheels would have to headed straight ahead, of course, and if you
>have much play in the wheel(i.e.steering box gear worn) you might have
>to do this more than once to get it right, but it seems to me this might
>work. What do you think?
>
>Phil Stewart
>'76 Transmode, TN
>

 

[philip l. stewart]

>

>
> changed at the steering box?? Anyone done this?? The parts diagram gives
> me optimism that it could be done. >>

Emery and Thom,

Why couldn't you just disconnect the steering column shaft from the
lower steering shaft at the cinch clamp, turn the steering column shaft
until the steering wheel is in the correct position, and then reclamp
the lower steering shaft and steering column shaft back together. The
front wheels would have to headed straight ahead, of course, and if you
have much play in the wheel(i.e.steering box gear worn) you might have
to do this more than once to get it right, but it seems to me this might
work. What do you think?

Phil Stewart
'76 Transmode, TN

 

[mr.c]

When I was at the rally in prescot last year, someone was selling a bracket
that allowed the steering wheel to be dropped about two inches down. I didn't
buy one then, but I might be interested in one now. I think my friend Gene
fisher bought one, and when he returns, I will ask him where. Then I can post
to the mailing list.
Al Chernoff

> I just put on the new Steering Wheel I got from Jim Bounds (a Beautiful
> thing), and I though I was going to be able to straighten out the position.
> The old and new wheel are positioned at about 2 o'clock when going
> straight down the road. The position couldn't be changed because of the
> way the horn wire is mounted in the steering column. I thought about
> changing the position by 'unscrewing' the right tie rod, and screwing in
> the left tie rod. But the problem here is that I don't want to mess up the
> toein alignment (which is good). Can the steering shaft be loosened and
> changed at the steering box?? Anyone done this?? The parts diagram gives
> me optimism that it could be done.

 

[philip l. stewart]

>
> You don't want to do this; in fact, the shafts have a flat spot in the
> spline to keep you from doing it.

Travis,
Boy, thanks for the warning. And please keep lurking or whatever you're
doing--- just jump in any time you see me about to make a big mistake.
Thanks again.

Phil Stewart
'76 Transmode, TN