What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Help with centering steering wheel?

A new problem?

Well, I got the shiny new draglink installed, so now I can easily adjust that. Here's what I've found: if I adjust the draglink to get the steering wheel centered, then I can't turn stop to stop without the gearbox running out first. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

There isn't enough adjustability in the draglink to go all the way around 360 degrees on the steering wheel. I'm not sure how this could be possible. As stated by someone here, the steering shaft is keyed at the steering box, so there's nothing I can do there. The pitman arm is also keyed at the steering box, so I can't have screwed that up. So... WTF, over? /forums/images/graemlins/doah.gif

Does anyone know how it's possible for this to happen, and more importantly, how to fix it? The only thing I can think of is that I never had stop to stop steering anyway since I put the lift on. I never really checked.
 
Re: A new problem?

I find it very coincidental that I did the exact same thing you did yesterday. After putting the new box on I did not have full steering to the right and my wheel was upside down. What I did to fix it was to disconnect the draglink from the pit man arm. Turn the steering wheel all theway right, then count how many turns to full left, I didvided that by 2...which turned out to be 1 3/4 turns. A piece of tape on the wheel helps judge your turns. Once you have the the box turned 1/2 way look at the pitman arm, it should be almost perfectly perpendicular to the box. Adjust your drag link to match where your pitman arm is. It is also a good idea to lock the steering wheel in place when you set it. I f your wheel isn't strait still, see if you can get a puller from auto zone (borrow it) and just put it on straight after your steering is set. I hope this helps it worked out perfect for me, good luck man /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
Re: A new problem?

Thanks for the reply stallion. I'm not sure I understand what it buys you to disconnect the draglink from the pitman arm. If the steering wheel is unlocked and the tires are on the ground, I can turn the draglink sleeve and the steering wheel will move no problem. I haven't identified the exact center of the steering box, but I have shortened the draglink all the way and found that the box is limited on one side, then turned it out until the steering wheel is centered and found it to limit on the other side. That's why I'm so stumped. It seems like it is impossible with the way things are to have the steering wheel centered AND get stop-to-stop steering at the same time.
 
The answer!

Turns out, the steering shaft to gearbox connection is NOT keyed. You can turn it 180 degrees. There is a big and a small bolt hole on the end of the shaft, but the holes in the ragjoint are both the same size, so you just swap the bolts and it works either way. I have no idea why they did it this way. Soooo, I must have gotten it 180 out through random chance when I first put it together.

The big problem is that I think you either need to rotate the box down or pull the steering column to be able to disconnect the shaft at the gearbox. That is, unless you cut off one of the safety prong things:

modified_ragjoint.jpg


With that modification, I can undo the two bolts, lift the shaft up and out, rotate it 180 and back on. This fixed the problem. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Downside is that I'm out this little safety feature of having the prongs as a last chance if both those bolts come loose. What are the odds though? I've never heard of that happening. Just in case tho, I used loctite on the bolts.
 
Re: The answer!

on my friends 77 those things are bolts. didn't know it till i took it off. /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif havent looked on mine to see if they are bolts or not though
 
Re: The answer!

Mastiff-

Great Job! And, Thank You for posting your results. I was beginning to go a little crazy as one of the "Non Believers", as I went out to the garage and rotated that thing three different times! Having looked at it closer though, I'm beginning to think maybe my truck could have been in an accident at one time-my old shaft does telescope about 2" or so. It appears there is a little blue plastic pin deal that was sheered off-I don't know if I did this when I was taking it apart, or if it was like this when I got it, but I see now what you were talking about having trouble getting the thing off for.

So do you have full lock-lock turn capability now?

At any rate, Sorry for not getting my words out right and causing some confusion, but I am very glad to hear you got it figured out, and fixed, that is great!

Thanks Again for posting the results, and Best of Luck,

Mike
 
Re: The answer!

Yeah, I have full stop-to-stop and all that. Everything's working well.

I did read something about a plastic pin shearing off or something. My guess is that it's a safety feature too. They want the steering system to be all tied together in case the bolts come loose, but if there's an accident, the column can telescope to protect the driver a little? Just guessing. I think you can replace it if it matters to you.

I think I read about it in my Haynes manual.
 
Re: The answer!

Glad to hear everything is working great now. Yes, that plastic sheer pin is in case of an accident, it will break, then the shaft will collapse, supposedly protecting the driver. Mine is broke, so the shaft will collapse about 2". I got to thinking though, when I put my new Borgeson shaft together and painted it, I had it all taped up where I didn't want the paint to get too, thinking the tape (electrical tape) would help keep the paint off/out of the joint area, so it would still slide. Well, somehow the paint wicked up in there under the tape and froze the shaft pieces together, so I used the old shaft as a brace to help knock the new shaft back where I needed it and loosen up that paint, so I could sand it back off in that one location around the joint so it will move freely if need be. Used a sledge to do the massaging with, I think that is when I broke the plastic pin in the old shaft-it has been so long ago that I did that, I didn't remember right away.

Anyway, glad to hear you're up and running again and everything worked out. Again, sorry for all the confusion I may have caused in the process.

Best of Luck,

Mike
 
Re: The answer!

My rag joint come apart about a month ago,as I stated on an earlier post--scared the sh---t out of me--lucky I was turning a slow corner when it broke /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif.This was on my 74 plow truck.Now my steering wheel is upside down too--I had to put the end at the steering colum from my old shaft onto the "new" boneyard one because mine had splines,the "new" one had just a squared off round shaft(different years I guess?? /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif--also the splines at the steering box can be had in 2 different sizes(ask me how I know!)--I'm hoping that adjusting the draglink will fix it.I had to install the "new" shaft on the side of the road in a snowstorm,so I wasnt too concerned about the steering wheels position--I was just happy to see the wheels turn when I turn the steering wheel!.I dont like the fact your life is riding on a hunk of a tire.Reading your post isnt making me too eager to fool with it again! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom