Steering wheel factory spline position (1 Viewer)

[SilentForever]

Hello! I was wondering if there is a way to figure out the original factory spline position of the steering wheel on the 80 series.

This is because the genius alignment shop tech has realign the off center steering wheel during alignment by popping off the steering wheel and readjusting it on a different spline instead of adjusting the relay rod.

My vehicle is 94 HZJ80 without airbag but I presume it is the same as the gasoline counterparts. I do not see any factory mark and by searching around the forum I see some members say that it will affect the bias between steering wheel and box if you center the steering wheel by changing the spline position?

I also noticed the steering wheel used to lock itself at the 2-3 o clock position and now its just a tad right of the dead center (12 o clock) position. Thank you.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

The safest bet would be to jack up the front end, run the steering all the way one way, then count
the turns to lock the other way and come back half of that. Set the vehical back on its wheels; pull the steering wheel off its spline and replace it pointing "striaght".
Ensure the lock to lock is correct by visually varifying the physical stops on the knuckles are contacted.
Then test drive and dial-in the steering wheel position with the drag link.

 

[NeverFinis]

To add what Rusty said, there is a procedure in the FSM for this and you have to be very careful of the ribbon cable that sits just underneath the steering wheel. It only supports so many turns in either direction, and needs to be in its center position when everything else is in its center position.

 

[CharlieS]

To add what Rusty said, there is a procedure in the FSM for this and you have to be very careful of the ribbon cable that sits just underneath the steering wheel. It only supports so many turns in either direction, and needs to be in its center position when everything else is in its center position.

No ribbon cable on the '94. I think that's more of a '95+ airbag models thing. But good to pay attention to just in case.

 

[NeverFinis]

No ribbon cable on the '94. I think that's more of a '95+ airbag models thing. But good to pay attention to just in case.

I thought about that after I posted ...who would pull a steering wheel with an airbag just to center it?

There are safety steps when pulling an airbag equipped steering wheel.

 

[Rifleman]

Just a suggestion, an old time mechanic taught me that if you want to replace your steering wheel back on the same spline it was removed from, You should use a pin punch and make alignment marks, One on the end of the spline shaft, and one on the steering wheel BEFORE you remove it,

 

[mudgudgeon]

There's a few things you can look at.

The steering box has an alignment mark punched on the end of the shaft where the pitman arm attaches.

The pitman arm should be parallel to that mark.
The pitman arm should be parallel to the frame with the front wheels on the centred/ straight ahead position.

(if there's no alignment mark on the steering box shaft, then rotate it from stop to stop, and count the rotations, then count rotations to find centre, and check pitman arm is parallel to the frame)

If the wheels are straight ahead, and the pitman arm is not parallel to the frame, you fix this by adjusting the length of the drag link.

Once this is done, then you can centre the steering wheel on the steering column spline

 

[Broski]

Sector shaft & pitman arm both have alignment marks

 

[SilentForever]

There's a few things you can look at.

The steering box has an alignment mark punched on the end of the shaft where the pitman arm attaches.

The pitman arm should be parallel to that mark.
The pitman arm should be parallel to the frame with the front wheels on the centred/ straight ahead position.

(if there's no alignment mark on the steering box shaft, then rotate it from stop to stop, and count the rotations, then count rotations to find centre, and check pitman arm is parallel to the frame)

If the wheels are straight ahead, and the pitman arm is not parallel to the frame, you fix this by adjusting the length of the drag link.

Once this is done, then you can centre the steering wheel on the steering column spline

The photos attached are the pitman arm and steering box mark position when the wheels are dead straight. What are your thoughts? Do they line up? Thanks.

 

[DivByZero]

I'm not sure if this is a regional thing, but does your steering wheel "lock" in place when you turn it with the key out of the ignition, such that you have to "jiggle" the wheel when turning the key to get it to unlock? That's how they are down under. Anyway, the wheel will "lock" at pretty much dead centre I believe. You could deliberately lock the wheel, then adjust to make the wheel straight at that point.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

The photos attached are the pitman arm and steering box mark position when the wheels are dead straight. What are your thoughts? Do they line up? Thanks.

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Close enough. The spline pitch isn't fine enough to get it better alinged than that.

 

[mudgudgeon]

The photos attached are the pitman arm and steering box mark position when the wheels are dead straight. What are your thoughts? Do they line up? Thanks.

View attachment 3816089

View attachment 3816091

View attachment 3816092

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View attachment 3816094

Yeah, looks good

 

[SilentForever]

Yeah, looks good

Thanks, the steering wheel is now straight when dead center. However, I still have quarter more turn left than right

 

[CharlieS]

Are the stops adjusted correctly? Could they be preventing you from getting a full sweep? The procedure is in the FSM and documented here on mud several places.

 

[mudgudgeon]

The photos attached are the pitman arm and steering box mark position when the wheels are dead straight. What are your thoughts? Do they line up? Thanks.

View attachment 3816089

View attachment 3816091

View attachment 3816092

View attachment 3816093

View attachment 3816094

Here's where mine is at ( RHD, so imagine it flipped)

Red line is through centre of steering shaft, centre of ball joint, and parallel to frame. Match mark on shaft is within a bee's dick of being parallel to the frame too.

Yours is maybe a little off, and correctable with adjusting drag link as above.
With the box gear reduction ratio, after you get this parallel, steering wheel might be one spline off, and might just be enough to balance out steering wheel rotation.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Yours

 

[Malleus]

Is that an Australian bee, or an African killer bee?

 

[mudgudgeon]

Is that an Australian bee, or an African killer bee?

What am i missing?




(Apart from the steering damper )

 

[Malleus]

Red line is through centre of steering shaft, centre of ball joint, and parallel to frame. Match mark on shaft is within a bee's dick of being parallel to the frame too.

 

[Rusty Marlin]

Is that an Australian bee, or an African killer bee?

Wouldn't that be "An African or European Bee?"