Pulling steering wheel
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 226
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From: PA
Pulling steering wheel
I just changed steering gears and now the wheel is turned toward 9:00 when the wheels are straight. It was just aligned 2 weeks ago, so I really don't want to pay to monkey with the tie rods right now.
Can I simply pull the steering wheel and re-set it? Any tips or special tools?
Thanks,
Dave
Can I simply pull the steering wheel and re-set it? Any tips or special tools?
Thanks,
Dave
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 143
Likes: 2
From: CT
You could do that; however you need a special tool that holds down the snap-ring type device [I forgot the exact term lock plate maybe?....] and if you have a tilt wheel you need anoher special tool. each tool cost an average of 20 at a store. However, if you truck is pulling to one side or the other....I would just get it realigned. Its up to you of course. And good luck with it.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: PA
The truck isn't pulling. I just replace the steering gear yesterday, and even though I did my best to keep things lined up right the steering wheel is rotated 90deg to the left.
I did some forum searching and it appears that I need to 1) disconnect battery and wait 3min to allow airbag stuff to discharge 2) remove torx screws holding in airbag 3) remove airbag and ground wires and connector 4) use steering wheel puller to get it free from the column. Then I simply turn it and put it back on, turned straight this time.
However, my center link has a torn boot at the pitman joint, so maybe I should bite down and replace that before it develops play. Of course that would necessitate an alignment and fix the wheel as well.
I did some forum searching and it appears that I need to 1) disconnect battery and wait 3min to allow airbag stuff to discharge 2) remove torx screws holding in airbag 3) remove airbag and ground wires and connector 4) use steering wheel puller to get it free from the column. Then I simply turn it and put it back on, turned straight this time.
However, my center link has a torn boot at the pitman joint, so maybe I should bite down and replace that before it develops play. Of course that would necessitate an alignment and fix the wheel as well.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 226
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From: PA
To follow up, you can't recenter the steering wheel by pulling it and resetting it. On my 95, the airbag connector sits in a recess on the steering wheel frame, and if you try to change the clocking of the wheel it won't fit in the recess anymore. In case you want to try this yourself, the bolts holding the airbag on are 10mm, and the center bolt over the wheel frame is 15mm.
Not to mention that the tapped threads in the wheel frame are $h1t - just a couple of turns in the aluminum frame. Although I threaded the bolts in well, one stripped right out. It took my 2-jaw bearing puller to get thing apart.
Guess I'm getting it aligned instead, although I may try disconnecting the pitman and steering column from the steering gear first to see if the steering gear wasn't at dead center when installed.
Dave
Not to mention that the tapped threads in the wheel frame are $h1t - just a couple of turns in the aluminum frame. Although I threaded the bolts in well, one stripped right out. It took my 2-jaw bearing puller to get thing apart.
Guess I'm getting it aligned instead, although I may try disconnecting the pitman and steering column from the steering gear first to see if the steering gear wasn't at dead center when installed.
Dave
