Steering wheel alignment - wheel vs rag joint?
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2021
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Steering wheel alignment - wheel vs rag joint?
Steering wheel's been off kilter since I got the truck so that's one of the next things to tackle. This is the setup where nothing in the linkage is adjustable. I originally was going to pop off the wheel and center it, but it looks like someone replaced the rag joint in the recent past and it's possible they got it out of alignment on the shaft or box. Is the rag joint spline keyed or can you rotate it? Any point to centering the steering wheel using the rag joint vs the wheel? Can you tell which one is centered to factory spec on the shaft?
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
X2 on make sure the box is centered via tbear's directions. And then either pop off the steering wheel (steering wheel puller) and recenter. It should be 100% all splines and that is the easiest way.
Yes the bottom part of the rag joint mount (round plate) is splined on to the steering box input shaft. But it can be a PITA to get it off, as in remove the nut and the thru bolt, then pull the column out a bit, and then get it to come off ect...
Pop the steering wheel (with a puller) which is a borrowable or rentable item from most parts houses.
Yes the bottom part of the rag joint mount (round plate) is splined on to the steering box input shaft. But it can be a PITA to get it off, as in remove the nut and the thru bolt, then pull the column out a bit, and then get it to come off ect...
Pop the steering wheel (with a puller) which is a borrowable or rentable item from most parts houses.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2021
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Thanks. Yeah, I'm familiar with the process but I'm trying to figure out how many places someone could have reassembled it off center. So the splines in the rag joint aren't keyed in any way? Does the steering shaft itself care about its own orientation or can it be any way 'round as long as the steering wheel is put on straight?
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Usually it's because whoever did the alignment and toe adjustments didn't center the steering.
How far off is the steering wheel? I had a couple instances where the "alignment" person left the steering wheel 1/4 turn off.
How far off is the steering wheel? I had a couple instances where the "alignment" person left the steering wheel 1/4 turn off.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
No the steering column center shaft splines (on ether end) are not keyed or have a flat tab area. And no the steering box input shaft is not keyed either. Yes if you replace the rag joint and let things spin around that can get things off center. Same for the rag joint to steering box input shaft.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
For well over 20 years my stock steering wheel was turned about 10 degrees to the right to go straight, but after testing for its center, I knew it was just rooted in the position of the steering wheel on the steering shaft, maybe 3 splines worth, ... but I chose to "leave it be" as it was just so darn comfortable to drive with that left arm on the arm rest ... resting. I corrected it a few years ago when I went the Red Head way.
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Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,808
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
I just forgot this question earlier, "my bad".No, the steering shaft doesn't care, but once it's connected to the input shaft of the steering box at the rag joint it is then and extension of that input shaft, and the steering box has limits that limit its travel.
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