I had my steering gear box restored. Once I got it back and installed it my steering wheel is misaligned. Any thing I can do to correct this?


Thanks

 

The problem isn't the steering wheel, it's the column clocking. The hub only goes on the column one way. You need to figure out where the column is misaligned. Start by jacking up the front wheels. Count the turns from lock-to-lock, then come back half way. If the front wheels are not straight ahead, the alignment was done incorrectly. You have to shorten and lengthen the two tie rods by an equal amount to center the wheels. Also, with the box centered, the scribe mark on the end of the steering shaft under the horn button should be at the 10 o'clock position. If not, the steering shaft has been installed incorrectly and needs to be corrected. The OEM steering parts only go together one way, using different sized fasteners on the rag joint and keying on the shaft parts. Aftermarket stuff doesn't always have these features.

Note the scribe mark on the end of the shaft.

 

Thanks Joe.

I kind of thought that I just might have to make some adjustments to the tie rods but I was just not sure. The only thing that changed was the rebuilding of the steering box because prior to it being rebuilt the steering wheel was centered correctly

 

The pitman arm can go on the shaft in one of four orientations. Sounds like you have it 90 degrees off. It would have helped to know this up front, by the way. Your original post implied that all you did was have the wheel redone.

 

Thanks

I will pull the pitman arm and try to align it from there. I sent the steering box rebuilder the pitman arm attached so I gues he just did not align it corrretly. I appreciate your response

 

Once again, before you unbolt anything, center the steering box by turning the wheel halfway from one lock. See where you are then and adjust or correct what is wrong. I'm just speculating, since I can't look at the car in person.

 

I was of the belief that the scribe mark was supposed to be pointed at 12 o'clock. Which is correct?

 

Sorry, typo on my part. 12 o'clock is the correct location.

 

No problem. Thanks for the clarification!