Is Steering Wheel Keyed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Is Steering Wheel Keyed
The steering wheel is out of alignment on my 73, but the wheel alignment seems perfect. Is the steering wheel keyed to only go on one way, or can I take it off and turn it?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
You can turn it - there is a spline and every small movement moves the wheel quite a bit. At least true on 70-72. You do need a wheel puller that can be had pretty cheap at your local NAPA or whatever.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
I have moved mine one tooth to better align it and the signals work fine. Actually I was replacing some aftermarket deal and had to try a couple of times to get it right. Maybe because it was such a small amount the signals worked fine either way.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If the wheel has the same number of turns from running straight to lock-left or lock-right and your steering alignment is correct, someone has installed your steering wheel incorrectly. You can index the wheel around in 60 deg increments, as there are 6 evenly spaced screws holding it on. When your steering is set straight, remove those 6 screws, index the wheel correctly, and see if the wheel is straight when you are driving. Fine tune with the splined collar.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
You didn't mention if you had a standard (non-adjustable) steering column or a tilt & telescoping column. So here is the scoop on both of them.
Both steering columns have 30 splines on the steering shaft. The end of the steering shaft should have a chisel mark. It is best to rotate your steering column shaft until the mark is at 12 o'clock. Now your steering column is set for straight ahead driving.
The steering wheel hub should also have a corresponding chisel mark. Set the hub on the steering shaft so that the two marks are aligned. Make sure that the plastic horn tower fits into the clearance hole in the steering wheel hub. Now your steering wheel and your steering column should be set for straight ahead driving.
With the standard (non-adjustable) steering column the limiting factor in assembling the steering wheel hub to the steering column shaft is the plastic horn tower location. It sticks up through a slot in the metal locking plate. There is a minor amount of clearance built into the slot so that you can rotate horn tower on the cancelling cam by a small amount. This may allow you to refit the steering column hub by one spline. This may allow you to tweek the steering wheel to center it with your road wheels. So the standard steering column and production steering wheel and hub pretty much assure that you must put the parts together correctly.
This is not the case with the T&T steering column. The end of the upper telescoping shaft also has a small chisel mark on its end. The steering wheel hub has a corresponding chisel mark. You are to align the two marks when assembling the hub to the upper shaft. This should align your steering shaft, turn signal cancelling cam, and your steering wheel. However, it is possible for you to disregard the chisel marks and actually fit the steering wheel hub on any of the 30 steering shaft splines. But be aware, this deviating from the chisel mark alignment will affect your turn signal cancelling.
Problems that cause large deviations from aligning the chisel marks can also signal that your steering gear, flexible coupling, steering linkage, or the steering column itself may be misassembled or something is not correct.
You might find this paper on steering system alignment to be a further help.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...Rev18MY061.doc
Jim
Both steering columns have 30 splines on the steering shaft. The end of the steering shaft should have a chisel mark. It is best to rotate your steering column shaft until the mark is at 12 o'clock. Now your steering column is set for straight ahead driving.
The steering wheel hub should also have a corresponding chisel mark. Set the hub on the steering shaft so that the two marks are aligned. Make sure that the plastic horn tower fits into the clearance hole in the steering wheel hub. Now your steering wheel and your steering column should be set for straight ahead driving.
With the standard (non-adjustable) steering column the limiting factor in assembling the steering wheel hub to the steering column shaft is the plastic horn tower location. It sticks up through a slot in the metal locking plate. There is a minor amount of clearance built into the slot so that you can rotate horn tower on the cancelling cam by a small amount. This may allow you to refit the steering column hub by one spline. This may allow you to tweek the steering wheel to center it with your road wheels. So the standard steering column and production steering wheel and hub pretty much assure that you must put the parts together correctly.
This is not the case with the T&T steering column. The end of the upper telescoping shaft also has a small chisel mark on its end. The steering wheel hub has a corresponding chisel mark. You are to align the two marks when assembling the hub to the upper shaft. This should align your steering shaft, turn signal cancelling cam, and your steering wheel. However, it is possible for you to disregard the chisel marks and actually fit the steering wheel hub on any of the 30 steering shaft splines. But be aware, this deviating from the chisel mark alignment will affect your turn signal cancelling.
Problems that cause large deviations from aligning the chisel marks can also signal that your steering gear, flexible coupling, steering linkage, or the steering column itself may be misassembled or something is not correct.
You might find this paper on steering system alignment to be a further help.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...Rev18MY061.doc
Jim
