wraplock

after a wheel alignment two years ago I found the steering wheel was off center. The right side spoke is at about 1 o'clock when I drive straight down the road. I removed the wheel and the hub but there is no way to clock the wheel to correct this. I know there is a way to adjust the tie rod tubes to center the wheel but am not sure of the procedure. can some one enlighten me?

Thanks
Don

Bikespace

Assuming you trust the alignment, and there isn't some other problem (flat spot on top of steering box input shaft is in the correct orientation, for example)...

If you lengthen one tie rod the same amount that you shorten the other, you can move the steering wheel relative to the wheels without changing the toe-in setting.

With the wheels straight, to move the wheel from 0100 to 1200 (counterclockwise), you shorten the passenger side rod, and lengthen the driver's side. I could be exactly wrong about this, though.

Use ramps, if your car can clear them, as it may take some trial and error to get it just right, and you'll need to test drive to check.

GTR1999

A 68 box should be an iron cover with no D-Flat. Now that doesn't mean it wasn't replaced. Typically if a box was swapped with another box or new gears installed in the original box the steering wheel center will be off. If the box and steering wheel were fine before alignment that I would agree there is an alignment issue. Indexing the steering wheel on the column can be done but you shouldn't have to do that if the rest of the setup is correct.

Now some will tell you to center the box by going lock to lock and splitting the difference. That is true but not the correct way to setup the box. Ina Textbook world the true center and high center are the same, in reality they are different. I would say 8 out of 10 steering boxes I get in and check they are off.

What I would do in this case, I would pull the box, get a 0-30 in/lb dial torque wrench, find and mark the high center- if the box is in good shape, mark it, install the box and setup the witness mark at 12 o'clock on center and see where he steering wheel is, if off adjust or better yet find a competent alignment shop and have the whole car aligned.

terrys6t8roadster

As GTR stated your gear box center must be determined. If gear box is centered correctly and tie rods are basically the same length then just reclock the steer wheel at the upper hub. If tie rods are at a noticeably different length the they need to be adjusted accordingly. T

Tonio

ronarndt

" I removed the wheel and the hub but there is no way to clock the wheel to correct this. " I had the same problem on my 68 convert and centered it by pulling the steering wheel with the hub still attached and carefully turned it one tooth at a time on the splined hub and splined steering shaft until it was centered.

Peterbuilt

Does this help?

7T1vette

The alignment shop is responsible for getting the steering wheel to be straight when driving on level pavement....OR....for explaining to you what is mechanically wrong with the car such that the steering wheel cannot be properly aligned. The steering wheel has 6 equally spaced attachment screws; that allows the wheel to be 'clocked' in 60 degree increments. If the wheel is not off by that much, then the tie rod adjusters should be used to set the steering wheel in proper position. Apparently, your shop did "none of the above" to position the steering wheel properly.