Off Center Steering Wheel and clicking noise

[pwilliam]

When replacing my column switch i had a devil of a time getting the large nut off of the steering column. During the process I did not engage the wheel lock and ended up rotating my wheels all the way to the left as far as they could go. Eventually after much wrenching i got the nut off. I am now realizing I should have engaged the wheel lock because my steering wheel is now rotated about 15 degrees to the left when the car is tracking dead straight. Im guessing in that wrenching I rotated something internally, and am wondering how to get it back to straight.

Also, I now hear a clicking noise that I know is coming somehwere in the steering/suspension area. I only have to turn my wheel about an inch and then i hear it click. It does this turning left or right.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Pete

[124JOE]

the clicking might be the blinker resetting its self to center


any one else?

[azruss]

You used the end of the steering travel as a stop for removing the steering wheel nut. I would crawl under the car and look at the steering and idler box and arms as well as the drag links to make sure something isnt amiss. If all looks kosher, drive the car straight, then remove the steering wheel and remount it in the correct position.

[pwilliam]

I took a look last night, it seems I can correct the rotation of the wheel by loosening where the U joints bolt to the steering shaft and rotate the wheel back to the correct location. I do however, have about 4 inches of free play at the rim of the wheel - not the correct 1 inch so it looks like I'll be fighting that battle. The clicking noise is definitely coming from the linkage underneath and unrelated to the column switches. I only have to turn the wheel that 4 inches or so to hear it. I'm planning on doing my a-arms in a few weeks so maybe I'll figure it out at that time.

[124JOE]

it sounds like you need to reset you ST box gear as well

[pwilliam]

Absolutely,

I've heard its a real nightmare on the late models with carbs - mine is a 79.

[vandor]

Most likely you did not put the steering wheel back where it was before!!! Simply remove it again, and put it back so it's straight.

If you want to do it right, in case it was messed up by previous mechanics/owners: turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and count exactly how many turns it takes to go to the other side. Now turn the steering wheel back half as much. You just found the center in the steering box, where there is the smallest amount of play. If not straight, take the steering wheel off and put it back so it is on straight. If it is off when driving, adjust the tierods to compensate.

[DieselSpider]

Most likely you did not put the steering wheel back where it was before!!! Simply remove it again, and put it back so it's straight.

If you want to do it right, in case it was messed up by previous mechanics/owners: turn the steering wheel all the way to one side and count exactly how many turns it takes to go to the other side. Now turn the steering wheel back half as much. You just found the center in the steering box, where there is the smallest amount of play. If not straight, take the steering wheel off and put it back so it is on straight. If it is off when driving, adjust the tierods to compensate.

I'll second that.

It would be rare that you caused the u-joints on the column to slip but it could happen. 4 inches of play is quite a bit. Ensure that the steering box itself is filled with a good extreme pressure gear lube and that the lash is adjusted before you go too crazy chasing this. The cross shaft gear is wedge shaped to allow for adjustment by the bolt with the lock nut shown in the picture of the steering box in this thread. Note that the sector shaft could also need adjustment although that is less common and that is usually taken care of at the collar on the end of the steering box where the column attaches. With the master cylinder and brake booster removed as in the picture it is easier to see whats involved.

Note that I will usually set the socket wrench up on the nut holding the steering wheel on so I can grab the wrench and one spoke on the wheel in the same hand and just squeeze them together to loosen the nut. Wear gloves to keep the edge of the spoke from digging into your hand if you need to.

[vandor]

Forgot to add: adjust the steering box only when it is centered - normally this would be with the wheels in the straight ahead position, but after 40 years it's best to check that the two correspond with the above method.

[RRoller123]

Diesel Spider: Yes this exactly the same problem as my car had and that solution fixed it. The clicking, I believe, is from the turn signal shutoff being hit in the wrong position. I also had the symptom that only one side of the turn signal would work properly, which makes sense when it is out of whack like that. Centering the steering box didn't center the wheel on mine, but like Csaba says, then you go to adjusting the tie rods and you can get it nearly perfect.

[pwilliam]

Hi All,

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to have to wait a few weekends to get digging on this but I know my steering wheel is not in the wrong position. This is because when driving straight, the steering wheel is rotated 30 degrees from center putting it exactly between the bolt pattern. So removing the steering wheel and rotating it a bolt hole will only put it 30 degrees off center in the opposite direction. At 6 bolt holes that makes each bolt a 60 degree rotation and I am falling in between the bolts with my off center wheel.

Maybe i put the hub back on in the wrong spot after i replaced the column switch? both turn signals function though,but flicking on the right turn signal does take more effort than the left. It seems strange that i would miss align the hub as it has a notch to fit into the column switch.

[vandor]

> Maybe i put the hub back on in the wrong spot after i replaced the column switch?

That's what I meant.

[RRoller123]

Mine also had the 30 degree issue, dead center doesn't fall with a steering wheel bolt at dead center top, so wheel is off to one side or the other. That is when you move to adjusting the tie rods. There is enough adjustment on those to bring it back to center.

[pwilliam]

Turns out it was the hub after all. It was misaligned, so I got that squared away. Control arms, tie rod and center link are on top for this Sunday!