Wheel nut question

[obnauticus]

Possibly dumb question but was tightening my steering wheel but down (replacing the wheel) on my 200 series Land Cruiser. I was torquing it down to 50ft lb, and didn’t hold the wheel from moving because it’s the first time I’ve replaced a steering wheel.

while torquing the nut down, the wheel cogged over and locked, again (making a slight snapping noise). The alignment of the steering wheel is probably 6-10 degree off now (one by one spline I think). I don’t think I broke any teeth off the rack (40-50ft lb is quite low for that). The steering doesn’t feel sloppy, just misaligned.

Any ideas what could have happened?

I’m going to try today to re-seat it assuming that the wheel just wasn’t fully seated on the spline and cogged over. Otherwise, any idea what could have happened here?

 

[bloc]

Steering lock engaged?

 

[obnauticus]

Steering lock engaged?

Yes it was when I was torquing the bolt down. It currently drives and steers just like normal, just a few degrees off.

 

[bloc]

The VGRS box can do odd things when steering dry with the vehicle off. I’d personally drive it for a few days and see if it fixes itself, if not you’ll need to remove the wheel and adjust by a spline

 

[Fisher23]

or you (or alignment shop) can adjust it below

 

[obnauticus]

Genuinely curious - is it backwards in this case to adjust the alignment to match the steering wheel? Shouldn't it be done the other way around to reduce the adjustment limits of say your tie rods etc?

 

[bloc]

Shouldn't it be done the other way around to reduce the adjustment limits of say your tie rods etc?

Yes

 

[obnauticus]

Yes

Is there any way to reverse the problem rather than remediate it?

 

[bloc]

Is there any way to reverse the problem rather than remediate it?

Yes.. put the wheel back in the true center position.

 

[obnauticus]

Been driving it for a few weeks now, still hasn’t re centered itself. I tried to seat the wheel back to true center, but the next spline seems to go too far in the other direction.

Fired up tech stream to see if I could get VGRS to recalibrate, but I can’t find that within the menus for tech stream. Any other ideas here or should I just have an alignment shop adjust the tie rods?

 

[bloc]

Been driving it for a few weeks now, still hasn’t re centered itself. I tried to seat the wheel back to true center, but the next spline seems to go too far in the other direction.

Fired up tech stream to see if I could get VGRS to recalibrate, but I can’t find that within the menus for tech stream. Any other ideas here or should I just have an alignment shop adjust the tie rods?

I'd want to verify you have the wheel indexed to the true center of the rack first. I know it's only a spline different but in theory you'd be able to steer more in one direction than the other if it's off. Plus the VSC system will see steering angle when there isn't any.

Since you have techstream, I seem to remember a readout for steering angle in the live data, so you should be able to zero that then stick the wheel on there centered. Then do the alignment.

Only problem being having the airbag unplugged while the ignition is on will trigger an SRS code, but that should be easy enough to clear afterward.

 

[GrouchyTech]

You need to go to the data list and check your steering angle output. With the steering angle reading +-1° from 0° is your steering wheel centered or (very near)? Based on this you can correctly place the steering wheel.

After you’ve verified your steering wheel is clocked correctly on the splines, recalibrate the VGRS system: Zero point calibration of Yaw Rate and G sensor - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/zero-point-calibration-of-yaw-rate-and-g-sensor.280577/post-16084945

 

[obnauticus]

You need to go to the data list and check your steering angle output. With the steering angle reading +-1° from 0° is your steering wheel centered or (very near)? Based on this you can correctly place the steering wheel.

After you’ve verified your steering wheel is clocked correctly on the splines, recalibrate the VGRS system: Zero point calibration of Yaw Rate and G sensor - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/zero-point-calibration-of-yaw-rate-and-g-sensor.280577/post-16084945

I will try this again, but the last time I could not get any VGRS submenu to appear even after driving 25mph and going lock-to-lock multiple times and turning.

 

[GrouchyTech]

I will try this again, but the last time I could not get any VGRS submenu to appear even after driving 25mph and going lock-to-lock multiple times and turning.

Using GTS+/Techstream?

 

[obnauticus]

Using GTS+/Techstream?

Correct. I’m using the latest tech stream virtual machine in the commonly cited thread (How-To: TechStream In 5 Minutes - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-techstream-in-5-minutes.1034923/) using the recommended VCI cable. If you have a better tech stream guide that I should follow then I’m all ears - ideally I’d like a virt with internet access which I could use my opal/Bosch/GM MDI interface with.

In case it matters, I have a 200 series. The only posts I could find related to VGRS calibration were mostly applicable to the 100 series and it almost seemed like 200 series have an auto calibration routine (as evidenced by the posts which say to drive >25mph for 20sec and then move the wheel lock to lock).