Bought a re-man steering gear box, and had it installed by the $tealer, $81.00, could not pass up that deal! But the steering wheel is ~5 deg. off or so... is that just a drag link adjust, or should the steering shaft be turned on the box a bit?
Yes, it could be just the drag link or the wheel should be adjusted on the box. Take it back.
Jeff Strickland did pass the time by typing:
Unless the alignment has changed the problem is the steering shaft to box connection is out of whack. In a parking lot, drive straight and let the wheel be whereever it needs to be. Now stop, and remove/reinstall the steering shaft. (remember the connection bolt has to come all the way out since it also acts as a pin)
You would still be better off having an alignment done but that should get you close.
When they do a full alignment do they do a lock-to-lock symmetry? (same turning radius left-to right?) I think the drag link controls that, right?
JimG
JimG did pass the time by typing:
They can, but you can do it yourself also. It's not usual for alignment shops to look at the steering wheel to gearbox connection. They concentrate on caster, camber, and toe settings. None of which should have changed unless the installer messed with the drag link adjustment to get the gearbox to fit. That far off can't be adjusted on the link anyway.
Do the wheel first, it's easy. there are a couple of pic in my motormount writeup.
Drag link controls steering wheel center. "Lock to lock symmetry" is control by the steering stops on the knuckles no matter where the steering wheel is centered.
5 degrees? That's patently false. After my post-lift alignment my steering wheel was off almost 90 degrees, because the shop forgot to adjust the drag link. I did it myself in about 10 minutes.
Draglink is easier.
The drag link had to be or needed to be adjusted to put the new box in and they missed it a bit.
The spline on the steering shaft is notched where the bolt goes through and only fits one way.
5 deg is about 1/16 of a turn on the drag link.Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT'sJimG wrote:
You're making this WAY too hard.
Assuming the alignment was correct when they started, it'll still be correct when they finish. The place where the steering is disconnected will change the position of the steering wheel, while leaving everything else just as it was. If the steering wheel is crooked, and the alignment is still straight, then the steering wheel was put on wrong. Actually, the steering box was put on wrong; it could be connected to the steering linkage correctly, but connected to the steering wheel wrong.
Take it back ...
And, no. When the do a full alignment, they will not check the lock-to-lock unless you specifically direct them to. They ALWAYS assume the steering and associated linkage to be correctly connected, and all that is needed is an adjustment.
PS The only alignment adjustment is Toe In, and it wouldn't be affected by swapping the steering box. The other tow front end adjustments -- that aren't even available -- Caster and Camber, are also not affected by swapping the steering box. Well, some TJs have a Caster adjustment, but swapping the steering box isn't going to affect it anyway, so it doesn't matter.
Adjusting the drag link doesn't center the rack or return spring.
Mike Romain did pass the time by typing:
Your probably right but I could swear the ZJ could be put back just about any direction. Don't have a good photo but it does show a flat/milled spot. The attachment bolt will work in any position it looks like.
Only had it off twice and marked both times, never tried another way of putting it on. It does have a flat spot but no real "key", just a place to hammer in the retaining pin.
I think the shaft might fit a few ways, but the bolt only fits through on the flat. That is the way the ones I have had apart seem to work.
Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's"L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:
In my case the steering column shaft was never disconnected, so that's moot. Return spring? There is no return spring in a TJ steering gear, steering wheel return force is provided by the caster of the front axle. Put your front axle on jackstands, steer the front wheels and see if they return on their own.
As several others have pointed out, the column shafts fit one way only, so assuming the reman'd box is in spec, a draglink adjustment is appropriate.
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