Steering gear & steering column bearings

[mekaneck]

Two somewhat related questions:

My steering wheel is off by about 30 degrees, and it's not due to alignment. If I steer lock-to-lock it's about 3.75 turns, and going back 1/2 of that gets me to where my steering wheel is off by 30 deg still. Where can I adjust this? I pulled the steering wheel, but there is no adjustment there. I'm thinking I have to pull the steering column out of the steering gearbox. Is that a splined connection there? Do I have to remove the steering gearbox to adjust it? Or remove the steering column?

Next question is the bearings in the steering column. Are these replaceable? I can hear and feel a kind of rough noise when turning my wheel, sounds like the upper bearing is shot. Not sure even where to start with this one.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

1)
The steering wheel adjustment is on the tie rods. Your alignment guy is being lazy. You could do it yourself by loosening the clamps, counting the turns on one side, then matching the other side for turns. Climb up and look at your wheel, if it's close, go for a test drive. Crawl back under and adjust. Repeat as needed....that's why some alignment guys are lazy, lots of up and down. Also the clamps can be a bitch to loosen. There is a special tool but should be easy to fab or buy from HF or PA. This knowledge is not from first-hand but by watching my alignment guy.
2)
Don't know.

Richard

 

[mekaneck]

I could certainly adjust my tie rods so that the wheels point straight when the steering wheel is straight. However, then my steering wheel would go two full turns to lock when I steer right, and only 1.75 turns when I steer left. I don't think that is correct. That's why I'm looking for another adjustment method.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I could certainly adjust my tie rods so that the wheels point straight when the steering wheel is straight. However, then my steering wheel would go two full turns to lock when I steer right, and only 1.75 turns when I steer left. I don't think that is correct. That's why I'm looking for another adjustment method.

^^^I don't think that's the way it works. You will still have the full 3.75 lock to lock and an equal split between right and left, but you have adjusted so the steering wheel is centered. I can't explain it better. But now you have me second guessing myself. Hopefully someone with more experience chimes in.

Richard

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm thinking it this way. If you disconnected the tie-rods with the wheels facing straight forward and the steering wheel centered, then you would adjust the tie-rods to fit as needed.

Richard

 

[mekaneck]

I am thinking the person who I bought the truck from replaced the steering gear. When that is done, you are supposed to count the turns for lock-to-lock, go back halfway. This insures the pitman arm is centered. Then you then install it into the truck while the steering wheel is centered. I'm guessing they didn't do that.

So in a normal truck, when the steering wheel is pointed straight, the pitman arm on the steering gear is centered, and the tie rods are adjusted so the wheels are straight. In my truck, the pitman arm on the steering gear is centered when the steering wheel is 30 degrees off. My wheels point straight when the pitman arm is centered, so I shouldn't be messing with the tie rods.

I'm pretty sure I'm thinking about this correctly, but I've been wrong before.