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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: got2haul on March 03, 2008, 10:01:14 am
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I recently had the pitman arm replaced, along with the steering column. My truck is a floor-shift and the column that was in it when I bought it was for an automatic. I found a floor shift tilt column on eBay and had it installed.
After the column and pitman arm were replaced (done at the same time), the steering wheel is now off center. When the front wheels are straight ahead, the center bar in the middle of the steering wheel is tilted left about 45 degrees. I have a 1980 service manual and it says you should set the "high point center" of the steering box before making any adjustments. This involves sighting the mark on the worm gear with some other mark, wherever that is. There isn't much detail, so I'm not sure how to do this. Anyone done it before? Can this be done without disassembling the steering gear box?
Once high point center is set, how do you align the steering wheel properly?
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I know about that procedure, but I can't tell you how to do it.
I can tell you that when I removed my pitman arm I marked the box and put the new one in the same spot.
As for the wheel being off center, put the wheel where you want it and adjust the tierod sleeve until everything is back in line (take it to an alignment shop and tell them you want the wheel centered.)
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Or just park where your wheels are straight and loosen the nut on the steering wheel and put it on straight.
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The steering wheel position can't be changed on the shaft. The turn signal canceling cam prevents it -- the steering wheel only goes back on the way it came off. I tried it, hoping the solution could be a simple as this.
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OK You should not perform a high point adjustment until the alignment is done. Once the steering is centered correctly then you can adjust the high point. Caster Camber then Toe. And don't pull the wheel off to center it.