Belgian1979vette

What's the best way with the least amount of dismantling to put the steering gear on center ?

69Vett

Steering box input shaft has a flat. Steering column has a flat ground on it. All Flats face up, to center steering box and column.

Haggisbash

Don't forget the two marks on the steering wheel end of the steering column to index the direction indicators. The two punch marks should be together at 12 o'clock when the flats 69vett mentioned are facing up.

mikem350

Important to start like this to assure that the turn signal return function works. If you are WAY off, might want to move the wheel lock to lock to put the flat on true center.

Now if needed the tie rods can be set for straight ahead and toe-in!

Belgian1979vette

The area where the box is , combined with my engine combo makes it difficult to see if the flat is really at 12 o'clock. I set it like that, and the steering wheel straight up, but when letting go of the steering the wheel is slightly offset to the right.

Would like a method a little more exact than that.

Haggisbash

Is the pitman arm pointing straight ahead when the steering wheel is straight up?

Belgian1979vette

Judged by eye : yes

Haggisbash

Okay, so if you wind one tie rod adjustment in and the other out exactly the same amount you should be able to get the wheels pointing straight ahead also.
Have you read this?
Revised: 28JL2009
STEERING WHEEL & STEERING SYSTEM CENTERING PROCEDURE
(CORVETTE 1963-82, CAMARO/FIREBIRD 1967-69, AND NOVA, SKYLARK,
VENTURA, APOLLO 1968-74, & OTHER GM REAR STEER VEHICLES)

Denpo

For the lazy ones :
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...v28jl20091.pdf

Jim Shea

Thank you Denpo.

Also here is a picture of the gear input shaft with the flexible coupling installed. You can pretty easily see the flat on the gear at 12 o'clock. BTW, the flat was machined on the input shaft with everything on center.



Jim