Any ideas on how to fix an "off-center" steering wheel? My car drives straight (it doesn't pull and doesn't need an alignment), but th sterring wheel is off-center. It's a 3 spoke steering wheel and the top 2 spokes "point" down. By the way, I don't have power steering, it's manual.

Thanks.


[Modified by Motor City Vette, 4:41 PM 5/5/2004]

 

If the steering wheel was ever pulled off then it may not have been pressed on correctly. I have the same problem, doesn't need aligned and drives straight but the wheel is cocked (due to when I pulled the column and installed the wheel incorrectly). You may just need to get a puller and remove the steering wheel and re-align.

Good Luck.

 

Another option might be to adjust the tie-rods: loosen one side and tighten the other by the same amount. I think you have to turn them in the same direction but can't remember for sure... just keep track of what you've done if you do it this way.

 

From your description, it sounds as if your steering wheel is 90 degrees off (either clockwise or CCW). That is a bunch.

There is a limited amount of adjustment at the steering wheel hub to steering column shaft. You will find that your turn signals will cancel too soon or not soon enough depending on which way you move the steering wheel hub the 90 degrees that you describe.

What I would suggest it first do this simple test. Turn your steering wheel full lock to full lock and carefully count the number of turns and partial turns (X).
Now divide that number in half (X/2). Start at full lock in one direction and turn the steering wheel X/2 revolutions. Your steering gear is now right on center. Go out under the hood and look down at the flexible coupling attached between the steering gear and the steering column. The stop pins on the flexible coupling should be at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions. The bolt head that attaches the coupling to the gear shaft should be pointing up at you (the bolt being vertical and passing through the 9 o'clock position.) Take a piece of chalk and mark the steering shaft on the gear right at 12 o'clock. Now you know when the gear is on center. The next big question is whether or not your car tracks straight ahead with the gear on center. If it doesn't, you will need to adjust both the right and left tie rods to get the car tracking straight.

This is a link for that procedure: http://www.corvettefaq.com/redir.asp?site=899

If the stop pins are not at 6 and 12 o'clock, remove the coupling and see if you can reassemble it to the gear with the pins and attaching bolt as described above. Early steering gears and flexible couplings (1969 and earlier) had full round serrations. That is, the coupling could be assembled on any of the gear serrations. Later gears and couplings had a flat which only allowed the coupling to attach to the gear in one location.

If the stop pins are already at 6 and 12 with the gear on center, then the problem is in the steering wheel, hub, attachments.

Do the above tests and we can provide more thoughts if you still have a problem.

Good luck,



[Modified by Jim Shea, 5:39 PM 5/5/2004]