2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Centering steering wheel

[Kalaehina]

I just replaced my steering gear box now my steering wheel is off center a little and it seems to turn more to the right then the left, is there some way I can adjust this? Like maybe disconnect the pitman, turn the wheel in the opposite direction of the needed adjustment then reconnecting, does this sound like it will help? Thanks for any help... .

 

[vssman]

Stupid question... Did you center the box before you put it in? If not, then disconnect the pitman arm & I-shaft. Center the box by turning it from lock to lock & counting the turns. Go back exactly 1/2 of the amount of turns needed to go from lock to lock. Put everything back together. The wheel shoule then be relatively straight. After that if it's off a few degrees, an alignment may correct it.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Originally posted by Kalaehina

I just replaced my steering gear box now my steering wheel is off center a little and it seems to turn more to the right then the left, is there some way I can adjust this? Like maybe disconnect the pitman, turn the wheel in the opposite direction of the needed adjustment then reconnecting, does this sound like it will help? Thanks for any help... .

I believe the pitman arm is indexed so it will only go on in one position. If it is only off a little, you can center it up by adjusting the drag link (the rod that goes from the pitmanm arm to the tie rod). And it will not affect the front wheel alignment. bg

 

[SMorneau]

I believe the flat spot on the input shaft should be straight up and in the center of the range, as pointed out above, and then connect the steering wheel shaft. If its not straight after that you need to do an alignment or move the pitman arm or both.

 

[Kalaehina]

Okay, thanks for the info, going to try it out now. I'll let you guys know if it worked. Thanks!

 

[J.Post]

There is also an adjustment on the drag link, the bar connecting the steering box to the trac bar. Loosen the two bolts and you can rotate it. If you rotate the top of the sleeve towards the front of the truck the steering wheel will rotate counterclockwise. It may take several attempts to get it perfectly straight.

 

[Kalaehina]

So it's the first adjustable sleeve off of the pitman arm?

 

[mediccummin]

YES

 

[Kalaehina]

Thanks, going to try that next.

 

[GMincher]

I just put a new PSC box on last Sunday. I had to adjust the drag link slightly to center the steering wheel. I indexed everything,( the input shaft has a flat spot that has to line up and the output has 4 index marks) but it was still off by about 1/4 turn. After centering the wheel all is VERY well! The truck has never been so tight!! I might make this thing handle right yet!!!

 

[Kalaehina]

Okay I centered the box, and wheel, now is it me or does some of the gear boxes just seem to not steer as much as others? It just seemed like my old box allowed me to turn just a tad more then this new one, almost didn't make a U turn tonight, that I used to be able to make. ???

 

[Kalaehina]

No I'm not just seeing things, the box seems to have lost like a 1/4 turn to the left, If I centered the box does this mean this boxes range is less? Is this a normal thing? I'm going to check under the truck while someone steers it to make sure it's not binding on anything, actually shouldn't because I didn't touch anything else under there.

 

[Kalaehina]

Okay, now I need help, to get the box centered I had to adjust the pitman arm by turning the sleeve, but now the box is centered and good, and the steering wheel is way off. 12 o'clock is at about 5 o'clock now, I tried turning the sleeve to center the wheel, but by doing this won't I bring the box too far over to the left again? Thus bringing me back to the problem of 1 and 1/4 turn to left and 1 and 3/4 to the right. Also I forgot to mention I have a Borgenson steering shaft. Help!

 

[Kalaehina]

Think I have to revive this thread, I had all the ball joints changed, new axle U joints, new steering box, borgenson steering shaft on for four years, and had analignment done today. Steering wheel is straight, BUT it still steers 1 and 1/4 to the left and 1 and 3/4 to the right. If I center the box again, then the wheel will be 1/4 turn to the right at center. I don't understand this, I adjust the drag link, it moves the position of center of the box, pitman can only go on in four different positions because of indexes, steering shaft can only go on one way because of flat spot on input shaft. The set screw from the borgenson if I remember right, goes on the flat spot. So where do you suggest I go next?

 

[Andy Redmond]

1st maybe the steering box is goofy, but before shooting the vendor, try to move the Borgeson one spline, I think the set screw will still work (maybe angled)... Also on some steering gears a tip protrudes off the end of the the splines (points up inside the universal joint that fastens the steering shaft to the s. gear splines). This may need to be ground off/down to allow the Borgeson to slide up onto the steering gear fully. A Borgeson engineer once explained to me an advantage of theirs is ability to re-index so the drag link has to be adjusted only minutely to allow for a centered steering wheel.



You are correct about the pitman arm it will be indexed, to only go on one of four positions, you certainly put the pitman arm back on right. .



If the Borgeson can't be moved sucessfully, the steering box is at fault, it should turn the same amount both ways (unless the drag link etc. , has been moved alot, which might limit travel.



Have an assistant help you to assure that the wheels are moving stop to stop (look at spindles/steering knuckles).



Also tie the steering wheel centered when disc. the intermediate steering shaft to avoid frustration and to avoid clockspring damage.



Good luck

Andy

 

[Kalaehina]

I had the box centered, but this put the steering wheel off a 1/4 turn to the right, then I adjusted the drag link to center the wheel and got the same results-1 1/4 turn to the left 1 3/4 turn to the right. So the only thing I didn't touch yet is the steering shaft, but not sure if there are any other adjustment points on the borgenson.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Has your truck been raised or is it just the tire height that you refer to in your sig. ? If it is raised or the track bar has been replaced then this could be contributing to the problem. Any change to the steering wheel right now won't change the 1-1/4 turn to right, 1-3/4 turn left problem. As suggested above, have someone help you and determine if the steering is going all the way in each direction (lock to lock). There are stops that should be stopping the movement in both directions. If it is not going stop to stop than you need go back to the drag link and try to get it to go both ways the same amount of turns, if this can be accomplished then we can go back to the steering wheel being off and work on that problem. bg

 

[Kalaehina]

I have Skyjacker D25 coils up front.