Crooked steering column
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Clemens MI
Crooked steering column
I guess I just noticed absolutely after looking closer, always felt like it though when sitting in car. If my left hand is at 9:00 and my right hand is 3:00 o-clock, my right hand is way closer to the dash. If you were on top of my t-tops looking down at my steering column, the steering wheel is tilted or crooked.
Is this normal for a C3? I am new at ownership and haven't met anyone that owns one near my house that I can compare with. If it's not normal is it a simple adjustment of the column to the dash or rag joint?
Thanks in advance friends!
Is this normal for a C3? I am new at ownership and haven't met anyone that owns one near my house that I can compare with. If it's not normal is it a simple adjustment of the column to the dash or rag joint?
Thanks in advance friends!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
Re: Crooked steering column (WarBound)
I think it must be normal, though to what degree I am not sure. My '80 has a slight tilt to it. Holding my hands in the same position, my left hand would be slightly closer to my chest than my right but not a huge amount.
[Modified by CVT4ME, 10:22 AM 4/28/2004]
[Modified by CVT4ME, 10:22 AM 4/28/2004]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Crooked steering column (Older Than Dirt)
It is just the steering geometry of the C2/C3 body and chassis. The steering wheel has to be central to the driver. The steering gear has to be to the left (as seen from the driver seat) so as to clear the exhaust manifolds. The gear is enough rearward so that the steering column connects directly to it (not enough room for an intermediate steering shaft.)
Therefore, the lower end of the steering column has to be located somewhat outboard to attach directly to the gear. This causes the column not to be in line with the centerline of the car. Therefore, even though the steering wheel is central, it will not be square to the driver.
The C4 Corvette went to rack and pinion steering with a separate intermediate steering shaft. I would think that this would have allowed them to square the column up better in that vehicle.
[Modified by Jim Shea, 11:39 AM 4/28/2004]
Therefore, the lower end of the steering column has to be located somewhat outboard to attach directly to the gear. This causes the column not to be in line with the centerline of the car. Therefore, even though the steering wheel is central, it will not be square to the driver.
The C4 Corvette went to rack and pinion steering with a separate intermediate steering shaft. I would think that this would have allowed them to square the column up better in that vehicle.
[Modified by Jim Shea, 11:39 AM 4/28/2004]
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Clemens MI
Re: Crooked steering column (Jim Shea)
Thanks everybody! I won't worry about that one now...let me see here, I' ll cross that one off the list which does help....only 273 things left to fix instead of 274 lol:)
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Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
Re: Crooked steering column (WarBound)
I'm Glad I read this also. My 69 BB coupe was in pieces when I bought it and I thought that I had installed something wrong because I could not get mine to line up perfectly either. I just wish this topic came up about a year ago because I have removed the column and reinstalled it about a dozen times trying to resolve that! :rolleyes:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Re: Crooked steering column (427basketcase)
There is a minor amount of side to side adjustment that can be made on the steering column attachment under the dash. The column support bracket is held in place by four nuts (AIM UPC 9C sheet 1). If you loosen those nuts the support has a limited amount of side to side adjustment. However, that adjustment is to make the steering column lower bowl centeral to the lower pad and the lower column cover (ref AIM UPC 9A sheet 2).
There is no adjustment on the steering gear to frame attachment. So you are pretty well limited in doing anything to the steering column.
There is no adjustment on the steering gear to frame attachment. So you are pretty well limited in doing anything to the steering column.
