Steering wheel alignment

[Joe-NC]

My steering wheel points at 2 o'clock when the truck is driving a straight line. The front end alignment seems fine. Stays straight, no uneven wear on the tires. I've never had the steering wheel off. Could I just remove it and put it back straight, or do I need to realign the front end?

[zieg85]

To get the steering wheel straight you have to adjust the tie rod sleeves equally.  If I am reading this correctly the wheel is cocked to the left while going straight?  If that is the case you have to lengthen the left side and shorten the right side by the same exact amount.  All it takes is loosening the 2 nut/bolts on the sleeve and turn.  Measure the tow (distance between the front wheels before and after the adjustments.  Super easy to do.

[Irish_Alley]

could he just point his wheels straight then remove the steering wheel and put her on straight? theres now key way just splines right?

[Joe-NC]

That's what I was wondering. Does the steering wheel have a key, or just splines? And which is easier, adjusting the tie rods or removing the steering wheel?

[zieg85]

It has spines however the limiting factor is the plastic piece for the horn connection that is easily broken if you try to move it without removing the clip holding the pressure on it.  Furthermore it will only move so far and depending on how far your steering wheel is off center may not be enough anyway.

[Irish_Alley]

lol i dont have that horn button so i forgot about it. if i need a horn i just push in the clutch and floor it.

[jrbarrie83]

I know I'm late to the game on this, but ditto about the horn button.  I pulled my wheel to clean all of the farm crud off of it when I got it, and thought I could straighten it out since it was just slightly out of alignment.  I could only adjust it one spline in either direction because of the horn button.  If you don't have to pull the wheel for any other reason, don't bother because it won't help for that much of a change.

[Joe-NC]

Thanks for the advice guys. You saved me a lot of wasted time pulling the steering wheel.

In the meantime I found this video about fixing it at the steering gear box: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnqpAZO7Wn8

So it seems this problem can be solved at the tie rods or the steering gear box. I guess it would depend on which of those two is more in need of adjustment.

[454Man]

Id say steering box after all front end suspension and steering parts have been replaced. then move on to the steering box.

What's under the hood??? If you have to ask maybe we shouldn't race...

[Irish_Alley]

just thought of it, but if your truck in new enough i think 78+ then you should just have a C-clamp on the intermediate shaft. and you might be able to get away with readjusting this.