centering steering wheel - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**JIMs70GMC** · 07-25-2015, 04:15 PM

I pulled my steering wheel on my 83 to center it, it was off by 90 degrees. Under the steering wheel is a black plastic piece that is not on my 86. How do I get it off and do I need to do anything with the lock ring? The steering column is tilt if that matters. Any help is appreciated. Thanks,

Jim

**JIMs70GMC** · 07-25-2015, 08:33 PM

So I got the lock ring off and because of the way it is "keyed" I can not rotate it with the horn contact and cancelling cam to center the steering wheel.

So, I tried taking the rag joint off the gear box and rotating it there and it is also keyed.

I have cross over steering so I just had to lengthen the tie rod to center the wheel.

What a pain in the ass. My 70 has no problem adjusting the steering wheel.

RIDE-RED 350r · 07-28-2015, 09:50 AM

I'm not sure if your '83 has the same tie rod/drag link setup my '78 has... But I needed to center mine as well...

With my truck, only 1 tie rod end is adjustable for toe, and the link between the gearbox and driver side knuckle is adjustable. It was a simple matter of adjusting the link between the gearbox and driver side knuckle to center the wheel. And it did not have any effect on toe.

chengny · 07-30-2015, 04:21 AM

As above - adjust at the center drag link (4WD only):

Go under the truck and on the left hand side locate center drag link. It connects the pitman arm to the steering arm and is shown as item 17 below:

It looks like this:

If your steering wheel is offset (either CW or CCW) while traveling straight ahead - it can be easily trued up by shortening or extending the effective length of the link.
Just glide to a stop (hands off the steering wheel). Your tires will be pointing straight ahead. Leave the steering wheel unlocked and loosen the clamps on the adjusting sleeve. Then with an assistant watching the steering wheel, turn the sleeve. The steering wheel will turn (either in the correct direction or not) if it gets worse, turn the sleeve the other way.

It only takes about a 1/4 turn to move the wheel spokes about 45 degrees. This method doesn't affect your front end alignment. Nothing in the steering linkage changes - only the index of the steering wheel. Much easier than adjusting both tie-rod ends.

bnoon · 07-30-2015, 09:37 AM

Yeah, if it were easy to center the steering wheel just by popping the wheel/nut off, everyone would have a centered wheel. Huge pet peeve of mine having the wheel not straight.

midnight rambler · 07-30-2015, 03:56 PM

can you post a picture of you steering shaft with you wheels straight ?

chengny · 07-30-2015, 09:36 PM

You'll have to trust me that the wheels are straight:

Keith Seymore · 07-31-2015, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chengny

If your steering wheel is offset (either CW or CCW) while traveling straight ahead - it can be easily trued up by shortening or extending the effective length of the link.
Just glide to a stop (hands off the steering wheel). Your tires will be pointing straight ahead. Leave the steering wheel unlocked and loosen the clamps on the adjusting sleeve. Then with an assistant watching the steering wheel, turn the sleeve. The steering wheel will turn (either in the correct direction or not) if it gets worse, turn the sleeve the other way.

It only takes about a 1/4 turn to move the wheel spokes about 45 degrees. This method doesn't affect your front end alignment. Nothing in the steering linkage changes - only the index of the steering wheel. Much easier than adjusting both tie-rod ends.

I'm not seeing the pictures but this advice is spot on.

One of the easiest fixes there is.

K

**JIMs70GMC** · 07-31-2015, 09:12 AM

Yep, I adjusted the drag link. I was hoping it would be as easy as my 70.

07-25-2015, 04:15 PM	#1
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	centering steering wheel I pulled my steering wheel on my 83 to center it, it was off by 90 degrees. Under the steering wheel is a black plastic piece that is not on my 86. How do I get it off and do I need to do anything with the lock ring? The steering column is tilt if that matters. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Jim __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

07-25-2015, 08:33 PM	#2
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Re: centering steering wheel So I got the lock ring off and because of the way it is "keyed" I can not rotate it with the horn contact and cancelling cam to center the steering wheel. So, I tried taking the rag joint off the gear box and rotating it there and it is also keyed. I have cross over steering so I just had to lengthen the tie rod to center the wheel. What a pain in the ass. My 70 has no problem adjusting the steering wheel. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

07-28-2015, 09:50 AM	#3
RIDE-RED 350r Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Blossvale NY Posts: 202	Re: centering steering wheel I'm not sure if your '83 has the same tie rod/drag link setup my '78 has... But I needed to center mine as well... With my truck, only 1 tie rod end is adjustable for toe, and the link between the gearbox and driver side knuckle is adjustable. It was a simple matter of adjusting the link between the gearbox and driver side knuckle to center the wheel. And it did not have any effect on toe. __________________ Who needs a Hemi when ya got a Chevy!

07-30-2015, 04:21 AM	#4
chengny Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 349	Re: centering steering wheel As above - adjust at the center drag link (4WD only): Go under the truck and on the left hand side locate center drag link. It connects the pitman arm to the steering arm and is shown as item 17 below: It looks like this: If your steering wheel is offset (either CW or CCW) while traveling straight ahead - it can be easily trued up by shortening or extending the effective length of the link. Just glide to a stop (hands off the steering wheel). Your tires will be pointing straight ahead. Leave the steering wheel unlocked and loosen the clamps on the adjusting sleeve. Then with an assistant watching the steering wheel, turn the sleeve. The steering wheel will turn (either in the correct direction or not) if it gets worse, turn the sleeve the other way. It only takes about a 1/4 turn to move the wheel spokes about 45 degrees. This method doesn't affect your front end alignment. Nothing in the steering linkage changes - only the index of the steering wheel. Much easier than adjusting both tie-rod ends.

07-30-2015, 09:37 AM	#5
bnoon Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,250	Re: centering steering wheel Yeah, if it were easy to center the steering wheel just by popping the wheel/nut off, everyone would have a centered wheel. Huge pet peeve of mine having the wheel not straight. __________________ - 1981 Sierra 454, NV4500 swap - 2006 Z06, 25k miles - 1973 Nova - Project CarNova Virus on Youtube

07-30-2015, 03:56 PM	#6
midnight rambler Registered User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: san diego ca Posts: 618	Re: centering steering wheel can you post a picture of you steering shaft with you wheels straight ?

07-30-2015, 09:36 PM	#7
chengny Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 349	Re: centering steering wheel You'll have to trust me that the wheels are straight:

07-31-2015, 09:12 AM	#9
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Re: centering steering wheel Yep, I adjusted the drag link. I was hoping it would be as easy as my 70. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm



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