steering rack - to - steering wheel alignment

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Jul 3, 2003 | 02:09 PM

tempest

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 1,238

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From: walled lake MI

steering rack - to - steering wheel alignment

when i go lock-to-lock, the wheel will turn about 1/8 turn further on one side than the other. is this within "acceptable parameters?"

i'm wondering if this is causing uneven steering effort. the first 1/8 turn on one side is noticeably lighter than the other.

what would the easiest way to fix this - remove the steering wheel and reposition it?

to add one more question in there, in the archives, no one's had problems using universal steering wheel pullers, but anyone out there with an experience contrary to this?

Jul 3, 2003 | 02:31 PM

edsalinas

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 3,424

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From: Tucson Az

St. Jude Contributor

Re: steering rack - to - steering wheel alignment (tempest)

I'm not sure I understand, are the wheels on the car and ur counting the revolutions on the steering wheel?

Jul 3, 2003 | 02:33 PM

Frizlefrak

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 17,551

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From: El Paso Texas

Re: steering rack - to - steering wheel alignment (tempest)

Quote:

to add one more question in there, in the archives, no one's had problems using universal steering wheel pullers, but anyone out there with an experience contrary to this?

Universal pullers will work just fine to pull your steering wheel. One word of caution, from my own personal screwup archive....When you position the puller against the telescopic steering shaft, make absolutely sure that the sleeve that fits on the end of the puller (where it contacts the shaft) is in place. You may even want to put a coin or thick washer between the two surfaces. If not, you will bugger the threads in the telescopic shaft beyond belief, and the locking cam won't go back in. This is what happened to me from trying to remove my steering wheel after a few Heinekens. To add insult to injury, I broke a tap off in the shaft trying to retap the threads, and wound up having to replace the telescopic shaft.

Other than that little caveat, an Auto Zone or Pep Girls univeral puller will work fine.

Jul 3, 2003 | 07:00 PM

tempest

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 1,238

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From: walled lake MI

Re: steering rack - to - steering wheel alignment (edsalinas)

Quote:

I'm not sure I understand, are the wheels on the car and ur counting the revolutions on the steering wheel?

sorry for the confusion. when i wrote "wheel" i mean the steering wheel. my problem is basically when i have the rack positioned to what i think is "center" based on where the steering wheel stops at lock-to-lock, the steering wheel is cocked 1/8 turn to one side (left or right, can't remember which at the moment).

thanks.

[Modified by tempest, 7:01 PM 7/3/2003]

Jul 3, 2003 | 07:09 PM

Frizlefrak

Race Director

Joined: Dec 2000

Posts: 17,551

Likes: 26

From: El Paso Texas

Re: steering rack - to - steering wheel alignment (tempest)

Quote:

my problem is basically when i have the rack positioned to what i think is "center" based on where the steering wheel stops at lock-to-lock, the steering wheel is cocked 1/8 turn to one side (left or right, can't remember which at the moment).

thanks.

[Modified by tempest, 7:01 PM 7/3/2003]

You correct this by setting the toe in on your front end. Loosen the lock nut against the outer tie rod end, and turn the tie rod to move the toe in or out. I highly recommend that you let an alignment shop do it, or your alignment may be out of whack. You can take a measurement of the distance between the front tires at both the front and rear of the tire, and move both tie rods until your steering wheel is straight and the distance is the same as when you started. Very time consuming. And for $50 you can get a good 4 wheel alignment and your wheel will be straight. If you're sure that your alignment (toe in) is already correct, you could just remove the steering wheel and reinstall in straight. Your choice.

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