Steering Wheel - Centering
85mitsubishi03SUBJECT:
STEERING WHEEL CENTERING
NO. STB-85-19-003
DATE June 1985
MODEL All
INTRODUCTION
This bulletin presents a detailed procedure for centering steering wheels to within five degrees or less of center. This bulletin also contains information to aid in centering steering wheels even further should the customer require it. The procedure has two steps:
I. Determine how far the steering wheel is off center. II. Index the steering wheel to center it.
STEP I: DETERMINE HOW FAR THE STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER
FIGURE 1:
Measure how far the steering wheel is off center (degrees or inches at the wheel rim) and in what direction (left or right-see Figure 1). This is done in a road test.
NOTE: We'll assume you know the wheel alignment is OK and that the tires are properly inflated.
FIGURE 2:
PROCEDURE
1. For the road test, take along chalk or tape and a ruler. Drive straight ahead on an uncambered level surface. When you are sure the vehicle's wheels are pointing straight ahead, mark the steering wheel hub and column jacket with a chalk or tape line (Figure 2).
2. Stop the vehicle and line up the marks on the hub and column jacket.
FIGURE 3:
3. Place a tape strip or mark on the steering wheel rim; hold a ruler next to the rim as shown in Figure 2, and then steer the steering wheel until it is in the desired centered position. Record the distance the strip or mark on the rim has moved, See Figure
3. This is how far the steering wheel is off center. If it is more than 16 mm (5/8 in.) off center, it can be centered by indexing it ten degrees towards the center.
FIGURE 4:
STEP II: INDEX THE STEERING WHEEL TO CENTER IT
Mitsubishi steering wheel shafts have 36 splines, as shown in Figure 4, allowing the steering wheel to be indexed in ten-degree increments.
PROCEDURE
1. Remove the steering wheel as described in Chapter 19 of the service manual. Without disturbing the position of the steering wheel shaft, re-install the wheel as near on-center as possible.
WARRANTY CONSIDERATION Normal warranty procedures apply.
FIGURE 5:
STEP III: STEERING WHEEL CENTERING - FURTHER ADJUSTMENT
If a customer should require further adjustment to the steering wheel after following the procedure in Step II, the following steps may be taken. All involve adjustment of the tie rods. In general, the tie rods are adjusted to steer the front wheels in the same direction that the steering wheel is off center. If the steering wheel is off center to the left, center it by adjusting the tie rods to make the front wheels steer toward the left, and vice versa, as shown in Figure 5.
WARNING: The following adjustments involve loosening tie rod locknuts and adjusting tie rods. Be certain all adjustments are performed in accordance with accepted service procedures and that locknuts are always torqued to specifications in the interest of safety.
SAFETY NOTE: When adjusting tie rods, be sure to tighten lock nuts to torques specified in the text.
TREDIA/CORDIA, GALANT AND MIRAGE TIE ROD ADJUSTMENT FOR STEERING WHEEL CENTERING
Tredia/Cordia, Galant and Mirage models have two adjustable tie rods, When centering the steering wheel, turn them both in the same direction-1/10 turn for each degree off center, (One degree 3 mm, or 1/8 in., at the steering wheel rim.)
FIGURE 6:
PROCEDURE (FIGURE 6)
1. Mark the tie rod tube and tie rod ends with chalk before loosening the lock nuts.
2. Hold the tie rod with a wrench and loosen the lock nut.
3. Hold the tie rod end with a wrench and turn the tie rod the desired number of turns.
4. Tighten the lock nut, and for Cordia/Tredia and Galant torque to 50-55 N-m (36-40 ft.lbs), Mirage 34-50 N-m (25-36 ft.lbs), taking care not to turn the tie rod.
MONTERO AND 4WD TRUCK TIE ROD ADJUSTMENT FOR STEERING WHEEL CENTERING
FIGURE 7:
Montero and 4WD truck models have two adjustable tie rods. See Figure 7. Turn the tie rods both in the same direction to center the steering wheel. Each turn of the adjustment gives 16 degrees off-center correction of the steering wheel, or 2 inches at the rim.
PROCEDURE
1. Hold the tie rod tube with a wrench while loosening the lock nuts at least 1/4 turn.
2. Hold the tie rod end with a wrench and turn the tie rod the desired number of turns. Adjust both tie rods equally in the same direction to center the steering wheel. One-eighth turn 2~ at the steering wheel.
3. Torque the lock nuts to 45 N-m (33 ft.lbs).
STARION AND 2WD TRUCK TIE ROD ADJUSTMENT FOR STEERING WHEEL CENTERING
Starion and 2WD truck models have only one adjustable tie rod, which is on the left side. Thus, any tie rod adjustment to center the steering wheel will change the toe adjustment. However, the toe adjustment range is enough to allow satisfactory steering wheel centering in most cases. The range for the Starion is 5 mm to -2 mm and for the truck 2 mm to 9 mm.
FIGURE 8:
PROCEDURE (FIGURE 8)
1. Measure the toe-in. For each degree the steering wheel is off center to the left, subtract one millimeter from the measured value down to the specification limit.
For each degree the steering wheel is off center to the right, add one millimeter to the measured value up to the specification limit, as shown in the sample calculation in the box to the right. Then adjust the tie rod to change the toe by that number.
2. Hold the tie rod with a wrench while loosening the lock nuts.
3. Turn the tie rod 1/8 turn for each two degrees the steering wheel is off center.
4. Re-check toe-in to be sure the specification is not exceeded.
5. Torque the tie rod lock nuts to 35-45 N-m (26-32 ft-lbs) on Starion and 49-53 N-m (37-39 ft.lbs) on 2WD trucks.
SAMPLE CALCULATION:
Starion steering wheel 5~ off center to right. Measured toe-in: 2 mm.
Maximum toe-in 5 mm. 5 mm - 2 mm = 3 mm available for correction, 3/2 x 1/8 = 3/16 turn to bring the steering wheel to within 2" of being centered.