Archived Steering wheel alignment

[45A1]

I dont know if this qualifies as "911" as it's still driveable. I replaced shocks today and put on a NAPA trackbar. Now the steering wheel is about 60 degrees off center. The truck still tracks straight so i think i just need to adjust the wheel back to center?? I hope. I know I read a thread on how to do it but couldnt find it again. Thanks

 

[Joe Mc]

There are two adjustment sleeves the lower one sets the alignment and the other (higher) one centers the steering wheel. I'd try driving straight, stop with steering wheel how ever it ends up and then turn the top sleeve one turn, then see what the steering wheel looks like. Have someone sit behind the wheel to tell you if you are going the right way or not.



Should work, make sure you count the turns so you can put it back how it was if I'm screwed up. I'm sure someone else will ring in if I'm totally wrong.

 

[fest3er]

Also look at the position of the Pittman arm when the wheels are centered. The arm should be darn close to vertical. If not, the tie-rods will need to be adjusted to bring the steering gear back to center.



As to the change, was your track bar that badly worn? Or might NAPA have given you the wrong bar?



If everything is right, the easiest way to re-center the wheel would be to remove the steering shaft from the gear and re-install straight.



Fest3er

 

[45A1]

How would I go about taking the steering shaft out of the gear? Could I just adjust the sleeve on the tie rod? I'm not sure why the wheel is turned now, the NAPA bar seems like the same part as the old one (which had developed excessive play). Thanks for the replies

 

[B.G. Smith]

Steering wheel align

Looking at the 99 manual, Joe Mc is correct, loosen the clamps on the sleeve on the drag link, the rod which goes from the steering gear pitman arm to the tie rod, and turn the sleeve until the steering wheel is centered. The thread on one end of the sleeve is left hand and the other end is right hand thread so turning one direction will shorten the drag link and the turning the other will lenghten the drag link. If the steering wheel is off to the right you would lenghten the drag link, off to the left you would shorten. Book says do not loosen or remove the alignment bar which keeps the clamps on the sleeve lined up just turn the sleeve and let the clamps turn on the sleeve. Adjusting the rod will not affect the alignment but the new track bar is not exactly the same as the old one or this change would not have occured. I doubt that this small difference would be a problem. bg

 

[TKemper]

I would compare the new trackbar to the old one. Take a few measurements from the trackbar ball joint to the bushing end. The bars should be the same lenght. That's the only thing that could throw the steering out of center. If you're going to keep the new trackbar and just center the wheel, do like the others have mentioned..... adjust the sleeve on the steering linkage ..... the rod that goes from the pitman arm to the passenger side tie rod end. Todd

 

[45A1]

Thanks guys, I'm starting to wonder if the NAPA part is significantly different than the OEM one. The guy at NAPA said it showed a part number for a 98 but that he checked and it is the same for a 99. Has anyone else had it throw the steering wheel so far off (almost a quarter turn)? I tried adjusting the sleeve on the steering linkage, and it is definately closer, but had to turn it like two full turns to get it close. Sould i take that arm off the splined shaft that comes off the steering gear and try to move it back over closer to where it was originally centered? Last night on the highway it seemed to want to pull a little bit to the left... I'm starting to wonder if i've really screwed things up??

 

[Andy Redmond]

removing the steering shaft from the gear isn't going to gain you anything, since it has a flat and is "indexed" to only go on one way.



This is the beauty of the flaming river/gorge or Borgsteom (sp) steering shaft coupler.



Likely the alignment shop, will do what the others have suggested and also assure that the toe is still in spec. too.



Good luck,



Andy

 

[Extreme1]

Don't worry about it.

The alignment specs are the same as before. Your axle is in a slightly different place but if you could accurately measure the location of the axle in the frame (assuming the frames are all the same and perfect ) you would see that things vary considerably.



The adjuster sleeve is there for exactly what you are doing. DO NOT try to re-reference the steering wheel from the box (as mentioned above - flaming river shaft) because it will move the center of your steering to one side which places the pitman arm in a slightly rotated position and that DOES have the potential to mess up the alignment.

 

[45A1]

with the truck sitting level-wheels straight, steering wheel is turned to the left. when i adjust the sleeve i believe it is tightening the draglink (?) and pulling the pittman arm over to straighten the steering wheel, correct? my question is this-if the pittman arm is no longer centered when i turn tightly-say in a parking lot-am i now going to be able to turn more sharply to one side than the other?? i tried today to have a shop check it out, but with the 255/85's their lazer couldnt see... so now i'm planning on taking it to someplace that works on commercial vehicles. i'm a little concerened-at first it seemed like it was tracking straight, just with the steering wheel offset, but on the highway it seemed to want to pull to the left a little. got to love dodge front ends. thanks for all the replys

 

[Joe Mc]

Get the front end aligned

I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but - If you are really concerned about everything in hte front end (and I would be too) it's always a good practice to have the alignment checked after replacing front end parts. Any alignment shop should make sure the wheel is centered before turning the auto over to the customer. If you go down the road afterwards and the wheel is off - turn right around and go back - make sure you tell them up front that you are bringing the truck in because the wheel is off center and it seems to pull - I think you said to the left?

 

[45A1]

well I ended up taking it to get an alignment. which ended up being good advice, I was told the toe in was way out of spec anyway. I also ended up needing a lower right ball joint. So now my alignment seems to be good, but it seems to make a new "clunk" sometimes when turning sharply to either side... guess I'll have to find time to get it back to the shop. Any ideas what might be going on? Thanks again to all of you for the input. Still got to love those dodge front ends... .

 

[Andy Redmond]

Sometimes the steering shaft comes in contact with the brake lines near/around the master cylinder, but I don't think it would clunk when contacting the lines if this is indeed you difficulty. Also a worn out steering shaft can make a clunk, when hitting a bump. (you have two pieces of square tubing acting as a sliding surface) or when turning as the "universal" joint may be binding. Also a sloppy steering box shaft, will clunk, a loose or worn pitman arm. .



Good luck