Hi all,

A few days ago I installed my rebuilt Control valve for my power steering on my 77. I know that when you install the new C.V. you are supposed to count the twists that it took to take the old one off etc... Well to make a long story short, with my rebuilt C.V. the steering wheel is mis-aligned. Will it affect any thing if I remove and re-install my steering wheel so when I am going straight down the road, my steering wheel will be centered?

Thought? Inputs? Experiances? :confused: :smash: :crazy:

Rich

 

On another vehicle I have done what you have said to center the wheel but I havnt done it on a vette. I think the vette wheel is set up different If I remember correctly. I think it is held to the hub with screws and not splined like you may think. I could be wrong since its been a while since I had my vette wheel off.

Another way to center the wheel would be to adjust the tie rod ends on both sides equal amounts. Loosen the clamp bolts and turn the adjusting sleeve a half turn or so. Do the same amount on the other side. This way you will maintain the toe setting. Make sure you adjust each side so the tire moves in the same direction as the other. For instance if adjust the left side 1/2 turn to the left, make sure you also do the right side to the left as well. As long as you adjust both sides the same amount in the same direction youll be ok. so for instance if yur going down the road and hold the wheel centered, and the car goes off to the right, then adjust each side equally to the left. Vise versa if its the other way.

 

I will try the steering wheel first than if it looks like it going to be a pain, then I will re-adjust the C.V. .. Thanks for the info. Im sure I will use it some day. :seeya :cheers:

Rich

 

i just checked under my vette to see what it looked like. Yes, you have inner and outer tierod ends on each side. Total of 4 tierod ends. On each side they are connected to each other by threading into the center tube which is about 1 foot long. On each end of the tube is a clamp with bolt. Loosen the bolts and clamps and turn the center tubes with a good size pipe wrench. Im not sure but the threads may be reversed on either side. Just make sure your adjustment will move each side in the same direction. Im not sure with out looking closley at the threads which way to turn the tubes. if you get under there with a wire brush and clean the threads where they enter the tube you should be able to determine which way you need to turn the tube on each side to get both wheels moved in the same direction. You could mark the tube with chalk to insure each side gets turned the same amount.

 

I haven't had a Corvette steering wheel off, but I've done it on Camaros, and a Chevy pick up. The steering wheel on those vehicles must go on one way for the directional signal lever to work properly and self cancel.
I think you need to straighten your steering wheel out by adjusting it at the tie rods as mentioned in the previous post.

 

Here is a complete procedure for centering your steering wheel. It is very important to start with your steering gear exactly on center. This is because the gear has a high spot on center and this provides for the minimum amount of free play (or lash) when you are driving straight down the road.

Park your Vette in a place where you can work on it yet be able to drive it straight ahead a short distance to check how it tracks.

First rotate your steering wheel from full lock in one direction to full lock in the other and count the total number of revolutions of the steering wheel. Divide that number in half. Now go to full lock turn in either direction and come back exactly one half your number of steering wheel turns. Now your steering gear is exactly on center. Open the hood and take a crayon or piece of chalk and make a mark right on the top of the flexible steering shaft coupling. Now you have a mark that you can reference when your gear is right on center.

Now drive your Vette straight ahead a short distance in order to establish the position of the steering gear and the steering wheel with the road wheels pointing straight ahead. With the wheels in the straight ahead position, check the mark on the flexible coupling. (The mark should be right on top.) If the gear has moved off its center position you will need to adjust the tie rods (or your control valve) so that the mark is again right on top.

If your steering wheel needs to be rotated clockwise in order to bring the steering gear on center, you will need to shorten the left tie rod assembly and lengthen the right tie rod. If the steering wheel needs to be rotated counterclockwise, the left needs to be lengthened and the right one shortened.

Loosen the tie rod adjuster clamps on both the left and right tie rods, then turn both tubes an equal number of turns in the same direction to bring the gear back on center. DO NOT turn the sleeves an unequal number of turns or you will change your front wheel toe settings.

If you are making this correction by adjusting the control valve, these are the instructions. If your steering wheel needs to be rotated clockwise to bring the gear on center, you will need to rotate the control valve counterclockwise so that you are screwing it off the relay rod (i.e. making the overall length of the relay rod and control valve longer.)

If the steering wheel needs to be rotated counterclockwise to bring the gear on center, screw the control valve clockwise onto the relay rod (i.e making the rod and control valve length shorter.)

With the wheels straight ahead and your steering gear on center, now check your steering wheel alignment. The 6 o'clock spoke measured right at the steering wheel rim should be within 1 inch of being exactly at the bottom. If the wheel is not in alignment, remove it and reindex the hub on the steering column to center the wheel.

 

I replaced my control valve, and couldn't get it to go all the way back on, now my wheel is off to the right a little. I see that if I could get it to go all the way back on, it would probably correct this problem. The real problem I have is now when I turn the wheel, it feels a little jerky/bouncey. Can someone tell me what may be causing this?
Thanks for any input!

 

Jim and all others,

Thanks for the valuable input. I re-adjusted the Control Valve. Then pulled my steering wheel horn button and tele adjust. The steering wheel was not aligned to the 2 dedent marks that were on the steering wheel and the column post. I guess my steering wheel was always off center and I didn't notice it untill I had done the Control valve. All is well now. The Car is tracking nicely and the steering wheel is centered. (I had to pull it and center it and re-install it.) control valve works well and does not leak.

Rich :smash: :cheers: :smash: :yesnod:


[Modified by myyellowc3, 5:16 PM 11/5/2002]