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Centering steering wheel

If you put a few heavy duty plastic bags under the front wheels it makes the adjustments very easy, as the tyres just turn on the plastic like ice. Makes adjusting the toe in super easy.
 
Several years back when I always had steel laying around, using 4 pieces of 1/8"x 12" x 12" squares with grease between 2 on each side worked very well too.
 
Didn't see it mentioned...might not be needed.
But, if your tie rods are too out of adjustment, might be how they were put on. Left and right threads, when you put tie rods in place, both ends need to be started at the same time. Adjust 'til both wheels are straight, center the steering wheel, and go from there...
 
Bring it to an alignment shop you......








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Actually, I'm pretty sure yo turn both adjusting sleeves the same way to center the wheel and keep the toe the same.

They can usually be turned with channel locks but there is a tool with a hook that goes in the slot on the sleeve.

Turn both sleeves the same amount- that's very important to keep the toe set.
if you mess that up you likely will be going to a shop.

I like to mark the rod end on each side of the car with paint or nail polish, right where the slot is (or a mark that spans the rod and the sleeve), so I have a reference point (and can put it back if I screw it up).

It's not terribly hard. I've done it several times. I'd start with about 1/8 turn and see what happens.
 
Actually, I'm pretty sure yo turn both adjusting sleeves the same way to center the wheel and keep the toe the same.

They can usually be turned with channel locks but there is a tool with a hook that goes in the slot on the sleeve.

Turn both sleeves the same amount- that's very important to keep the toe set.
if you mess that up you likely will be going to a shop.

I like to mark the rod end on each side of the car with paint or nail polish, right where the slot is (or a mark that spans the rod and the sleeve), so I have a reference point (and can put it back if I screw it up).

It's not terribly hard. I've done it several times. I'd start with about 1/8 turn and see what happens.

In my earlier post I should have said you lenthen one side and shorten the other. I mark them also to keep track.
 
When I had a local shop install my replacement steering box a couple of years ago, they didn't think about clocking the steering wheel! I have been driving my car w/the steering wheel off by about 1/3rd of properly centered.
That will finally be resolved when I get my new QA1 front suspension installed.
 
Working in different garages without front end machines, we would take our costumers cars to local tire shops that did have one. I'd take the car there, come back later to pick them up. As soon as I hit the first straight away I'd notice the crooked steering wheel. I'd turn it around right there and take it back. Man that would piss me off. Such a simple thing to do when doing an alignment and they wouldn't do it. Shows me they didn't even take the car for a test drive. Then you have to wonder just how good of a job they did with the rest of the adjustments.
 
Is it possible i have to move the pitman arm on the steering box?

Also guys, wouldn't a good starting point be to turn the steering wheel fully to one direction to a hard stop, then pick a spot on the wheel and count exact turns to the other side's lock. Divide that in half and turn the wheel that amount. That is your steering box's exact center.
 
Steering wheel and the column shaft are both "keyed" with only one position. Hopefully nobody is off a complete wheel turn from equal "travel" center when they set up the tie rod ends. I can't see it myself, as I barely have enough threads showing on mine to pull some more toe out to get to 1/8" toe in. I only have a couple threads left on all tie rods to go from a current 1/2" or so to the 1/8th I need.
 
Acually there's a high spot in the gearing inside the steering box. Center needs to be where the "keyed" shaft is straight up. Thats where you do the adjustment in the steering box for gear play and where the alignment should take place.

I'm not 100% sure but I'm thinking that the high spot in the steering box gear was designed into it to help with steering walking while driving. Just a guess but its there if you have ever adjusted a steering box.
 
I can't see it myself, as I barely have enough threads showing on mine to pull some more toe out to get to 1/8" toe in.

Are you doing this with the suspension hanging? That will change when it's back on all fours. If not, I'm wondering if they're the wrong sleeves.
 
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