Basic question about steering

[workingdog]

I got my rig back from having a SOA done and 4x4 labs high steer installed and the steering wheel isn't centered (and it's driving me nuts because it feels like it's pulling to the side and I think it's just me). And I want to make sure I understand the system before I try and fix it. I also had an 80 series steering box installed (which really helped).

So, I assume I need to
1. park the car, front wheels perfectly straight.
2. detach the steering somewhere near the steering box
3. rotate it until the steering wheel is centered
4. reattach to steering box.

However, I'm wondering if I need to worry about the steering box being centered in any way. Doesn't the 80 box have progressive steering? Do I need to check that somehow? Is it possible the wheels are straight and the box is not in the center position?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Peter

 

[OSS]

I don't know about the 80 steering gearbox, but the concept for centering the wheel is the same as on a stock 60.

The pitman arm from the steering gearbox should be aligned straight ahead when the two wheels are aligned straight ahead (assuming the pitman arm is installed correctly, being lined up with center of the gearbox).

The starting point is to have the pitman arm centered straight. Then make any adjustments to the straightness of the driving wheels by adjusting the upper tie rod bar. If you rotate the bar one way, it will move the wheels one direction, the other, the other direction.

Once the pitman arm & driving wheels are facing straight, you can then unclamp the intermediate steering shaft in the engine bay and rotate the steering wheel to wherever you want, then slide it back into the splined shaft. I prefer to loosen the clamp near the firewall.

There are a finite number of splines, so you might have the steering wheel a little too far one way or the other, but the difference I've found is small enough that having the steering wheel off just a few degrees doesn't bother me at all. And anyway, if there is a crown on the road, the car will want to pull to the low side anyway, so it is rare to be able to drive with a perfectly straight steering wheel even when the steering gear is perfectly aligned.

 

[workingdog]

Thanks. Is there anyway to tell if the pitman arm was put on the steering box correctly?

 

[OSS]

There's an alignment mark on the gearbox or maybe shaft that the pitman arm should line up with. I don't remember if you can see it once the arm is installed, but it's clearly visible when the arm is off. [Edit] I think the big nut hides it.

 

[doug720]

If the pitman arm is in the correct position, then the easy way to center the steering wheel is remove the wheel and re-position it on the steering shaft. Both parts are splined and this should get it really close.

But...Was an alignment done after this work was completed? Was an allowance made for castor correction? I would have both checked and adjusted prior to centering the wheel as that may change if alignment and other related parts need adjustment.

 

[60Works]

Whoa! Full stop on removing your steering wheel or pitman arm to center the wheel!

Try adjusting with the relay rod first.

When the high steer was added it changed the angle of the relay rod. This change of angle (sin) then changes the required length of the relay rod (hypotenuse). To adjust it, loosen the bolt on each end clamp and rotate the rod from the middle until your steering wheel is straight. You might need a pipe wrench.

Don't move the tie rod. Let an alignment shop do that.

 

[workingdog]

Thanks Juggernaught. I assumed he meant the relay rod. I'll take a look.

 

[cheeese]

bumping this to clarify— if the pitman arm is straight ahead when the wheels are straight, is the steering shaft the preferred way to center the wheel? I've had the wheel off to replace the horn contacts but put it back on in the same orientation. Installing new factory height springs threw off my wheel neutral position but the pitman now is centered, leading me to believe the PO adjusted the wheel rather than the relay rod or pitman.