crooked steering wheel

[cochino12]

ok so the steering wheel in my blazer is crooked but the alignment is fine? Is there a way to straighten the wheel without getting a new alignment done?

[TIMSPEED]

I think you could spin your steering column or something...but the alignment would be easier...

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Turn the adjusting sleeves on the tie-rods. Same direction and same number of turns on each side. Just climb under and figure out which way you need to turn to get the wheel straight.

[1FaastC10]

i wouldnt touch the tie rods, go adjust the drag link instead. longer if the wheels are pointed to the left when the wheel is straight, shorter if pointed to the right.

[Russell]

Knowing me, I'd just put the wheels straight, then pull the wheel off and put it back on straight.

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by Russell

Knowing me, I'd just put the wheels straight, then pull the wheel off and put it back on straight.

No, you cant do that.

On a 4x4 the drag link between the steering box and the steering arm on the axle is adjusted to center the box and the wheel. It does not effect any other alignment.

As I recall you cannot put the wheel on but one direction anyway. If you were able to get the wheel on reclocked you would run the risk of the steering box bottoming out and not allowing full turn one direction.

The ORD brace is the best thing for older trucks. That frame moves where the box is. It will get out of square and with age the rivets will loosen and alow the cross member to shift. It is not ucommon to go wheeling in these trucks and when you get on the street to find the steering wheel off center for a while. Few pot holes later and it's back straight. ORD brace gets rid of that problem almost completely. Tightens the steering up quite nicely. ORD sway correction/ disconect fixes a lot of bump steer problems and ride complaints on lifted trucks.

[apstguy]

My Grant steering wheel has never been straight - even after 2 different sets of adaptors. It's a common complaint.

[Opper77]

couldn't you pull the splined sleeve off the steering box, align, and bolt back up?

I've done it on a few cars before, but not sure on our trucks...

[swervin ervin]

Way to fix it is find an alignment guy who knows what he's doing. It's done with the tie rod ends. Even though it may be fine as far as alignment, whoever did it, didn't center the wheel. The only common complaint about this is it being common having someone do the alignment who needs to learn how to properly do one.

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Like I said, by turning both tie-rod sleeves the same ammount in the same direction, you will not change the allignment, only the sterring wheel angle. This is exactly what is done during an allignment. Start out with half turns and see if it gets closer to centered, if so, adjust accordingly, if it gets worse, got the other way. It's really simple. Takes like 5 minutes from start to finish.

[cochino12]

Originally Posted by NeCrOmAnCeR

Like I said, by turning both tie-rod sleeves the same ammount in the same direction, you will not change the allignment, only the sterring wheel angle. This is exactly what is done during an allignment. Start out with half turns and see if it gets closer to centered, if so, adjust accordingly, if it gets worse, got the other way. It's really simple. Takes like 5 minutes from start to finish.

Ok now I not very knowledable on that stuff, can someone post a pic of where the tie rod sleeves are? and thanks everyone.

[swervin ervin]

The sleeves are what you see right above the coil spring. They have two clamps holding them so they won't turn by themselves. There is one on each end of the tie rod. Follow the advice given to adjust them. If you get them out of wack, you will have to take it in for a realignment.

[1FaastC10]

Originally Posted by NeCrOmAnCeR

Like I said, by turning both tie-rod sleeves the same ammount in the same direction, you will not change the allignment, only the sterring wheel angle. This is exactly what is done during an allignment. Start out with half turns and see if it gets closer to centered, if so, adjust accordingly, if it gets worse, got the other way. It's really simple. Takes like 5 minutes from start to finish.

first off, why mess with 2 adjusting sleeves, when you can do exactly the same thing with one? second off, unless you are a human alignment machine, you will never be able to move the tie rod sleeves "the same amount in the same direction." and you'll screw up an alignment in the process. leave the tie rod where it is if it doesnt drive bad, and adjust the draglink. work smart, not hard.

[TIMSPEED]

How much crookedness will this work for? My wheel is WAAY off. I think I have to pull the splines at the steering joint, and redo it...or can I just use the tirerods to do it?

[1FaastC10]

has the pitman arm ever been off of the steering box Tim? if so, they may be messed up there. if not, adjusting the tie rods is the only way to fix it.

[TIMSPEED]

Originally Posted by 1FaastC10

has the pitman arm ever been off of the steering box Tim? if so, they may be messed up there. if not, adjusting the tie rods is the only way to fix it.

No, but I pulled my entire column apart, at the ragjoint, and spline fitting. So..yeah....

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

Well lets see, why don't I just adjust the drag link?? Oh yeh, my truck doesn't have one!! Steering box, pitman arm, relay rod with the tie-rods connected at the end. For 2wd the tie rods are the only adjustment possible. Sorry, didn't read the post close enuf, for 4wd the draglink is the wiser method.

Yes, Timspeed, if the wheel is way off, takeing the wheel off is the best method. The above method is for wheels which are off only 10-20 degrees or so. You should be able to look at the bottom of the steering box to see if the allignment marks are lined up on the box and pitman arm.

Alligning a car isn't rocket science, a few measurements and anybody could do it.

[MylilBowTie]

Originally Posted by NeCrOmAnCeR

You should be able to look at the bottom of the steering box to see if the allignment marks are lined up on the box and pitman arm.

What should the marks look like? Ive never looked for them before. Anyone have pictures of what it should look like?

[1FaastC10]

Originally Posted by NeCrOmAnCeR

Well lets see, why don't I just adjust the drag link?? Oh yeh, my truck doesn't have one!! Steering box, pitman arm, relay rod with the tie-rods connected at the end. For 2wd the tie rods are the only adjustment possible. Sorry, didn't read the post close enuf, for 4wd the draglink is the wiser method.

ok then, STFU, this thread is about a 4x4 Blazer, not your truck.

Alligning a car isn't rocket science, a few measurements and anybody could do it.

if you dont mind half @$$, sure, a few measurements will do. i prefer accuracy, as my tires arent cheap.

[dswancutt]

Adam;

1FaastC10 is exactly right on this. I changed out all the drag links & tie rods on my 78 K-10 two weeks ago. For you, the first thing I would do is soak the drag link adjuster with you favorite penentrating fluid, as it will probably be rusty. Get you truck so that the tires are straight, unlock the steering column. Loosen the drag link bolts and turn the adjuster until the wheel is straight. It dosen't take very many turns to get the wheel true, mine was about 60 off and I don't think I did more than a full turn. Mine was easy because everything but the adjuster was new. Oh, by the way, the drag link is right behind the drivers side wheel. This is way easier than pulling the steering wheel, which doesn't have enought adjustment if your wheel is way off. It took me all 30 minutes to do this.

Hope this helps.

Doug