Wedge TR8 Steering Wheel Alignment

[GBRandy]

I have the rack back in the car and the steering shaft is connected.

Despite my best efforts, the steering wheel is mis-aligned by a bout a 1/4 turn. It screws up where the steering wheel locks when the key is off.

Is there a way to adjust the orientation of the steering wheel without having to disconnect the shaft from the rack (dear God I hope so).

Anyone?

 

[WedgeWorks]

The steering lock is never set in any one specific spot. Its the turn signal off click mechanisms that matter most. If your directions click off after making the turn when straightening out then your good.

 

[GBRandy]

Hummm I'll just hook this up, prime the pump and drive it before I get too concerned.....

 

[GBRandy]

Actually it does lock in one spot. To have it lock in something close to centered, I need to rotate the steering column 1/4 turn to the left.

I can not just unbolt the steering wheel a reset it as that would leave the blinkers & the steering lock off center

I can unbolt the steering wheel hub and recenter and that fixes the blinkers, but not the lock.

It looks like I need to rotate the whole steering column shaft 1/4 turn to the left.

For that I will need to unbolt the steering column from the U-joint near the firewall in the engine compartment.

Does that make sense? Does the steering column split under the dash somewhere?

I must have done this once before when I replaced the steering column bushing. Seeing as I do not recall it, I hope it was an easy task *gulp*

 

[WedgeWorks]

You will need to undo the u-joint to get the steering lock set on center. The clamps and block on the steering column between the steering wheel and firewall wont help you any.

 

[GBRandy]

If I center the wheels, undo the u-joint at the firewall and pull the column out, center it and re-insert, all should be good correct?

Pulling the u-joint off at the rack would be a long trip.

 

[tr8todd]

You may or may not have to unbolt the clamp on the column under the dash in order to get the whole splined shaft to slide out of the u joint. The purpose of that clamp is to keep everything inside the column from moving up and down, and walking out. If you do unbolt the clamp and pull the shaft up, put some more grease where the steel shaft rotates inside the plastic sleeve. 30 year old grease tends to get gooey and sticky causing heavy steering.