Steering wheel
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 43
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Steering wheel
I noticed my steering wheel is way of center.how much of a job is it to center it.can I just pull the wheel off and make ir rite. Or will it be a pain in the are..it drives me nuts why the poeple had it off in the first place..
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Don't quote me on this because it's been a few years since I've had mine apart. I "believe" the column shaft is cammed to where the steering wheel adapter can only go on one way (and as well the steering wheel bolting to the adapter one way). Maybe the steering shaft/wheel wasn't centered the last time there was an alignment done on your machine. Jim Shea could answer this one for sure. Sorry, not much help. Working off of a 50 year old mind/memory. 
Terry
Terry
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Take it in for an alignment and have the technician center the wheel as he sets the front alignment. It's a matter of turning the tie rod sleeves to the correct position.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 65
From: Wauconda IL
I'm going through this now-
The steering wheel has a scribe mark on the hub, under the big nut that holds the wheel to the shaft.
You need to remove that nut to confirm the steering hub scribe mark lines up with the scribe mark on the shaft that the nut threads on to.
For the life of me, I cannot understand how difficult it is to line those back up if you ever take the wheel off but it happens ALL the time!
I think some Bubbas do that in lieu of getting a proper wheel alignment just to get the wheel to point straight.
Anyway, if the wheel and the shaft marks line up and you're still off (car doesn't drive straight when the wheel is straight), you probably need to get an alignment to get that corrected (tie rod adjustment).
On mine, the scribe marks were about 20 degrees off and my rag joint was also off a notch but I was replacing the box at the time and probably introduced that issue myself.
Elm
The steering wheel has a scribe mark on the hub, under the big nut that holds the wheel to the shaft.
You need to remove that nut to confirm the steering hub scribe mark lines up with the scribe mark on the shaft that the nut threads on to.
For the life of me, I cannot understand how difficult it is to line those back up if you ever take the wheel off but it happens ALL the time!
I think some Bubbas do that in lieu of getting a proper wheel alignment just to get the wheel to point straight.
Anyway, if the wheel and the shaft marks line up and you're still off (car doesn't drive straight when the wheel is straight), you probably need to get an alignment to get that corrected (tie rod adjustment).
On mine, the scribe marks were about 20 degrees off and my rag joint was also off a notch but I was replacing the box at the time and probably introduced that issue myself.
Elm
Last edited by ezobens; Mar 26, 2012 at 04:14 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 348
Likes: 2
From: Lowell MA
If the alignment is all right, probably should have it checked, the steering wheel can be pulled and slightly rotated to the left or right so it is centered. You will need a steering wheel puller to pull the wheel. The steering wheel locking plate which is under the steering wheel has a spline so it can only go on one way. The steering wheel and post both have a scribe mark on them which can be used as a reference for proper positioning. Some individuals will pound on the post with a hammer while pulling up on the wheel which is something I wouldn't do but when pulling the wheel, always leave the steering wheel nut on a few turns from the top to prevent damage to the post threads.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
Thanks,ill take it in to someone who knows about these things. Hell back in the day we use to yank the wheels off and put those tiny chainlink ones on with no problem cool on a 75 ford,not on a 77 VETTE
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
