Steering Wheel Alignment

[Joe Flanagan]

The splines on my steering tube are mangled and when I have the wheels pointed straight ahead, I can't get the steering wheel on so that the lower spoke is pointing straight down as it should. I can no longer make out the notched key that helps you guide the steering wheel on to the shaft. Does anyone know of a solution for this (besides yanking the steering tube and replacing it)?

[james49ply]

your wheels might be pointed correct, but is the gear box in the correct position? many times the linkage is so far out of whack causing a problem. jack front end up and turn the wheel right till it hits the stop, turn wheel left till it hits the stop, count the revolutions that you turn (since wheel is off use vice grips). divide the total turns by 2 and turn the wheel to that position, now the gear box is correct for center, install steering wheel (should go on), then correct the linkage on the control arms to get the tires in correct alignment. if the steering wheel still won't go on you will have to file the notch or spline to repair the damage done. good luck, hope it works for you.

[Joe Flanagan]

James,

Yes, as far as I know, the sector gear and the cross shaft are aligned properly. I made sure of that when I installed the steering box. However, it has been nine years since I did that and will have to check. If I recall correctly, the sector gear should be centered on the cross shaft. I plan to remove the top from the gear box, align to center, and see where my wheels and steering wheel are, then adjust accordingly. I may have to use a file or a small dremel bit to fix the splines. Thanks for your response.

[Dan Hiebert]

Joe - I had the same issue with my D24 from the time we got it until I rebuilt the steering box over this last winter. My "temporary" (18-year) fix was to make a new keyway in the splines of the steering shaft so the steering wheel would be square with the wheels straight ahead - I would not have done that knowing what I do now. Primarily, my steering box was shot and no manner of tweaking would keep the steering wheel square. Anyway, first thing is to make sure your front end is properly aligned, if the geometry between the front and rear tires is off, your tires can be straight ahead, and the steering wheel still won't be square (your car would "crab" down the road, too). Any alignment shop should be able to do this for you, but you'd need to make sure your steering wheel is aligned on the keyway so the shop can square it for you. With the steering wheel where its "supposed to be", and everything to specs, it should be square. BUT, I understand you can't find that keyway anymore....So....If your steering is aligned, and your steering box sound - turn the wheel from stop to stop (full left to full right and back again), count the number of turns it took, and turn it back from either full left or right 1/2 that number of turns, (this is much easier and more accurate if you have a pair of turntables). This is the center of your steering system and where your steering wheel should be squared (bottom spoke straight down). If there were a keyway left, it would be straight up at this point. If the steering wheel is not square, and your satisfied everything else is copacetic, just pull the steering wheel and put it back on square. That's how the shop manual specifies to center the steering, it's amazingly simple but effective. If you did this with your steering wheel centered on that key way and it didn't end up square, then something would be out of alignment. If your steering shaft and worm gear (worm gear is part of the steering shaft) are in good shape, and the only problem is bunged-up splines on the shaft, I would not necessarily replace the shaft. Hope this helps. Dan

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks, Dan. My steering box is all rebuilt with new parts. The front end has been completely rebuilt, too. It's a matter of matching everything up and the only obstacle is the mangled splines. I read somewhere about another method of centering the steering and that was by positioning the cross shaft and sector gear so that one is centered on the other. I think that's how I did it originally.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Joe Flanagan

[kencombs]

Thanks, Dan. My steering box is all rebuilt with new parts. The front end has been completely rebuilt, too. It's a matter of matching everything up and the only obstacle is the mangled splines. I read somewhere about another method of centering the steering and that was by positioning the cross shaft and sector gear so that one is centered on the other. I think that's how I did it originally.

If the front end and steering box were rebuilt, then part of the front end alignment process is to set the center, while performing the toe in adjustment.

It is highly unlikely that the tie rod ends were installed in the correct position if not done during alignment..

just turn lock to lock, counting turns, and return to center as mentioned by others. Install the wheel and center by adjusting the tie rod ends.

On a side note, lacking turntables for the front wheels, several layers of newspaper under each will greatly ease the task to turning the wheels lock to lock.

[Joe Flanagan]

As it turns out, I was able to get my steering wheel on properly in spite of the mangled splines. They are bad but not so bad that I couldn't see the keyway and install the wheel with the center spoke down and the wheels straight ahead.

Thanks to all who responded.

[Californian]

Snap-On makes two different eight sided thread files, you may be able to dress up the spline with the right one.

Also in the past I have changed shafts to get a good worm gear, I had aquired an NOS chry shaft & worm gear and pressed the worms off both shafts and put the new one on my P15 shaft.

Tom (11)

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks Tom. Looks like I've got everything in order. I wasn't looking forward to messing with all the adjusting, etc.