RAT

Probably a stupid question but I have to ask anyway.

I just finished replacing all of the parts from the front suspension rebuild kit. Tie Rods left/right, upper and lower along with Tie Rod Sleeve. Ball Joints left/right, upper and lower. Idler Arm, Wheel Bearings inner and outer both sides. Also along with the rest of the parts from Eckler's Suspension Rebuild Kit.

All looks good less my steering wheel alignment. It's now just a tad to left and it's pissing me off. When I take it to get it aligned will this be corrected at their shop or did I miss something with the installation process?

Thanks...

CaseyJones

They should fix it, but I would mention that you want the steering wheel centered just to be sure.

RAT

Sounds easy enough.

Thanks...

76stingracer

You need to verify that the steering gear box is centered first. Then center the steering wheel and then get the toe adjusted with the steering wheel centered. Just adjusting the toe to center a steering wheel may set the steering gear box off center.

7T1vette

Steering column shaft should have an index mark or a flat at 12 o'clock position (straight up) [end of shaft that fits into ragjoint]. That position should be maintained when engaging it with the ragjoint. And the other side of the ragjoint needs to be engaged with the steering box input shaft when the steering box has been properly centered.

To center the steering box, the unit should be actuated from full-lock left to full-lock right while counting rotations (to nearest 1/8th turn). Then the box is returned from full-lock right exactly one-half that number of rotations. When centered, there should be a mark or flat on the steering box input shaft and it should be at 12 o'clock position, also. If there is no orientation mark on the input shaft, just leave it at the center position you just found. Then it should be engaged with the ragjoint.

With the steering column, ragjoint, and steering box all aligned, you should check position of the steering wheel. If it is off-center more than 30 degrees, you can remove the horn button and the 6 retaining screws for the wheel, and reposition the steering wheel for the closest position to center that is available with the 6 screw hole locations.

Any remaining error will be removed when the front-end alignment is done. This is accomplished with the Toe-IN/OUT adjustments on the tie rods. The alignment place should have the wheel properly centered when traveling straight on a FLAT stretch of road (no crown on it).

hugie82

The pulling happened to me when I finished my front end rebuild it was mostly the tires had worn offset a little, so I rotated the rear tires up front and it was almost perfect!
I've been cuisin for over a year without an alignment but I will definitely get one with new tires. The BFGs are starting to dry rot anyway ....