Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin'

[scoutillac]

Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

Why would my steering wheel turn after/while wheelin'. When I go wheelin my steering wheel becomes misaligned to the right everytime. It's not so bad now that I have the hydro assist.

 

[mudhog]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

i cant tell you why but it happens to most of us lol

 

[scoutillac]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

The damn thing trows my blinkers off too until I get off my lazy butt and adjust the drag link. /forums/images/graemlins/angryfire.gif

 

[mountainexplorer]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

Happens to me alot, too. I would assume on most rigs, its just all the parts shifting just enough to throw the steering off. For example, the front axle U-bolts. I have had these come loose slightly and allow the axle to shift foreward and back. Usually the centering pin in the leaf springs keeps things aligned, but there's still a little give. I have had a few that sheared off, too. Then there's always the steering box bolts. Only real way to correct is like you said, re-adjust the draglink again. Maybe just check to make sure everything is tightened down.

 

[leadfoot067]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

mine did this alot till i did new poly body mounts....now it stays in place most of the time....

 

[tRustyK5]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

Mine doesn't do that anymore. Weld-on frame kit, bolt on brace, new DLE's, new TRE's, good rag-joint, U-bolts are tight and the box bolts are tight.

It's usually due to the box moving around either from cracked frame or loose bolts. Broken center bolt in a leaf pack will also do that to your steering...but that would have been very apparent.

Rene

 

[BlazerGuy]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

Yeah, mine did that. Now that I have the ORD brace and I tightened down the box it doesn't happen anymore... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[az-k5]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

It is just as mentioned above, movement in the axle. The center pin is not a perfect fit on the pad. As the suspension cycles the axle can move just enough to notice. The short draglink can throw the wheel out in less than a 1/16" difference. I got tired of dealing with it and just leave it as it is. If you adjust it, it will happen next time but the opposite direction. It is just another reason to do x-over.

 

[tRustyK5]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

The perch to spring area shouldn't move at all if the U-bolts are correectly torqued and the center pin isn't broken. I have yet to see a center pin to perch interface that was sloppy...most fill with rusty debris and practically weld themselves together.

The box moving is much more likely, and there are at least two reasons the box can move.

Rene

 

[az-k5]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

I think the perch spring issue is a south west issue more (we can't rust things together if we want to). My 44 had the perches wallered out to around 5/8". I checked the torque (140 ft-lbs) on the u-bolts about twice a month too.

 

[tRustyK5]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

Let's be brutally honest...the only way the hole in the perch is gonna get wollered out is for the U-bolts to be loose at some point. If the perch hole is good and the U-bolts are tight it shouldn't move. Once the hole gets wollered out, any good impact will move the diff.

Rene

 

[scoutillac]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

I always run through all my stuff before I go wheelin. This helps eliminate possible trail breaks. Ya know! I just inspected the bolts and frame when I put the new box on. All is well. I do have a short drag link. But why would it always turn the wheel to the right????? Well atleast I'm not the only one with this problem.

 

[az-k5]

Re: Crooked steering wheel AFTER wheelin\'

I suppose I shoud qualify my tightening statement. I do now cause I didn't before and now I have too. So you're right rene. If it is tightened properly that would never happen anyway.