C1 Steering Wheel Alignment

[Steve Westphal]

The steering wheel on my '56 is about a quarter of a turn off. Is there anything I should be aware of when straightening it? I assume all I have to do is loosen the big nut in the center, correct? I am also assuming the correct position is with one of the spokes pointing straight down. Is this right? Thanks

[Robert M.]

Re: C1 Steering Wheel Alignment

Steve
I replaced the turn signal cancelling mechanism on my 62. You need a steering wheel puller to take off the wheel after removing the horn button and contact ring. Then reposition the wheel on the splined shaft. Be careful not to lose the spring and contact button for the horn when the wheel is removed. Retorque the steering wheel nut to recommended 30-35ft/lb.

[Dennis C.]

Re: C1 Steering Wheel Alignment

Steve... In theory, there will be a small indexing mark on both your steering wheel hub and shaft. With the front wheels pointing straight ahead, undo the "big nut", pull off the wheel and align if needed. I believe these marks basically center the steering wheel (with the 10, 2 & 6) with the steering gear box travel also centered. Any further centering adjustment can be accomplished with the short drag link. I usually loosen it, go for a drive and stop and adjust until wheel center is dead nuts. Hope I've made this clear enough to help. The ST-12 Manual, I believe, covers some or all of this. Regards, Dennis

[Mike M.]

Re: C1 Steering Wheel Alignment

Steve: pull horn ring and look and see if slash scar on wheel retaining nut matches the slash scar on the threaded end of the steering col.shaft. they were usually indexed when assembled. if the slash scars(as if done with a chisel) line up, then go under the car and adjust the drag link

Steve: pull horn button and see if the retaining nut has a scar from a chisel that lines up with a similiar scar on the threaded end of the steering col shaft. if so, get under the car and adjust the steering connecting rod(its adjustable) to line up the steering wheel so that the spokes of the wheel are in the 10, 2 and 6 oclock positions. if scars don't line up, pull steering wheel and reattach so that scars line up. if lower spoke of wheel isn't in 6 oclock position, get under car and adjust the steering connecting rod.hope i've described this proceedure such that it's not too confusing. mike

[Steve Westphal]

Re: C1 Steering Wheel Alignment

Thanks guys, you always come thru for me and I appreciate it!!

[John H.]

Re: C1 Steering Wheel Alignment

The key issue here is making sure that the steering gear itself is centered first, before you do anything else, which is the reason for the "high-point centering" procedure in the ST-12; the worm gear (part of the steering shaft) is machined to provide its closest tolerance to the sector gear at just one position, and that's when the index mark on the end of the steering shaft is at 12 o'clock. The steering wheel hub also has an index mark at its 12 o'clock position (so the turn signal cancelling pins on the back are properly positioned at 8 and 10 o'clock with the wheel installed); there are three ways to install the hub, but the turn signals will only cancel with the pins at 8 and 10. With both the shaft and hub correctly indexed at 12 o'clock, THEN you can adjust the length of the drag link so the centerline of the third arm is aligned with the centerline of the car, THEN you adjust the tie rod sleeves so the wheels are pointed straight ahead with the proper toe-in setting.