Steering Wheel Centered?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 16
From: Alexandria Kentucky
Steering Wheel Centered?
I had a reputable local shop fix the sloppy tilt steering wheel problem on my '90. (The infamous pivot pin problem). That issue is now a thing of the past which is great.
Problem is, it seems as if the steering wheel is now rotated a few degrees clockwise when going straight ahead.
But according to the FSM, the steering wheel will "only fit in one position" which makes me wonder if it was never exactly centered and I just didn't notice until now.
Before I take the car back to the shop and look like an idiot to the wrenches there, I wanted to ask you guys: Is it possible for the steering wheel to be a spline or two off or does it only go on one way?
Thanks!
Problem is, it seems as if the steering wheel is now rotated a few degrees clockwise when going straight ahead.
But according to the FSM, the steering wheel will "only fit in one position" which makes me wonder if it was never exactly centered and I just didn't notice until now.
Before I take the car back to the shop and look like an idiot to the wrenches there, I wanted to ask you guys: Is it possible for the steering wheel to be a spline or two off or does it only go on one way?
Thanks!
Pro
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 579
Likes: 2
From: High Bridge New Jersey
From
I had a reputable local shop fix the sloppy tilt steering wheel problem on my '90. (The infamous pivot pin problem). That issue is now a thing of the past which is great.
Problem is, it seems as if the steering wheel is now rotated a few degrees clockwise when going straight ahead.
But according to the FSM, the steering wheel will "only fit in one position" which makes me wonder if it was never exactly centered and I just didn't notice until now.
Before I take the car back to the shop and look like an idiot to the wrenches there, I wanted to ask you guys: Is it possible for the steering wheel to be a spline or two off or does it only go on one way?
Thanks!
Problem is, it seems as if the steering wheel is now rotated a few degrees clockwise when going straight ahead.
But according to the FSM, the steering wheel will "only fit in one position" which makes me wonder if it was never exactly centered and I just didn't notice until now.
Before I take the car back to the shop and look like an idiot to the wrenches there, I wanted to ask you guys: Is it possible for the steering wheel to be a spline or two off or does it only go on one way?
Thanks!
Just out of curiousity how did they fix the pivot pin problem?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 16
From: Alexandria Kentucky
The pivot pin hole on the left was wallowed out quite a bit so he fashioned a shim and stabilized it and then used JB Weld to give it more strength and prevent the pivot pin from backing out.
It's a new repair so we'll see if it holds up but I watched him do the repair and it looked like the best he could do in the absence of having a new aluminum housing.
Thanks for answering my question. Since I did the post, I've looked at some photos of the end of the steering column and I see that the splines are not uniformly spaced on the shaft so it would seem your memory is correct.
It's a new repair so we'll see if it holds up but I watched him do the repair and it looked like the best he could do in the absence of having a new aluminum housing.
Thanks for answering my question. Since I did the post, I've looked at some photos of the end of the steering column and I see that the splines are not uniformly spaced on the shaft so it would seem your memory is correct.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
I replaced the steering column on my 96. When I put the steering wheel back on I probably missed by one spline, and believe me, there are plenty of splines. The result, the steering wheel was off center ever so slightly, but just enough to be annoying. A trip to the alignment shop fixed everything.
Good luck, save the wave, and enjoy your corvette.
Good luck, save the wave, and enjoy your corvette.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 118
Likes: 16
From: Alexandria Kentucky
Did you leave the wheel as it was after the replacement and have the alignment shop correct the tracking?
I'm asking because as I was telling Josephf31, in some photos I found, the splines do not seem to be uniformly spaced which would seem to indicate that the wheel can only go on one way.
I'm asking because as I was telling Josephf31, in some photos I found, the splines do not seem to be uniformly spaced which would seem to indicate that the wheel can only go on one way.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,697
Likes: 1,666
From: moraga ca
Point the steering wheel straight in your garage. The front wheels will be aiming either right or left depending on what direction your steering wheel was off. Figure out how the threads work on your tie rods and turn each side the same amount to straighten the front wheels. If you are careful and make the same change on both sides, you will not change the alignment but the car will go straight relative to the steering wheel. It's really not difficult and will save you some $$$.
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