Procedures
SIMPLIFIED STEERING WHEEL CENTERINGDetermining Steering Wheel's Off Center
1. For the road test, take along chalk or tape and a ruler.
2. Drive straight ahead on an uncambered level surface.
3. When the vehicle's wheels are pointing straight ahead, mark the steering wheel hub and column cover with a chalk or tape line.
4. Stop the vehicle and line up the marks on the hub and column cover.
5. Place a tape strip or mark on the steering wheel rim.
6. Hold a ruler next to the rim as shown in the illustration, and then steer the steering wheel until it is in the desired centered position.
7. Record the distance the strip or mark on the rim has moved.
This is how far the steering wheel is off center. If it is more than 16 mm (5/8 inch) off center, it can be centered by indexing it ten degrees towards the center.
Indexing Steering Wheel to Center It
The steering wheel shaft has 36 splines, a lowing the steering wheel to be indexed in ten-degree increments.
1. Remove the steering wheel.
2. Without disturbing the position of the steering wheel shaft, re-install the wheel as near on-center as possible.
Precision Steering Wheel Centering
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.
1. Mark the tie rods 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.
For 20 or 6 mm (0.25 inch) at the steering wheel rim 1/5 turn of tie rods
4. Tighten the lock nut to specified torque, taking care not to turn the tie rod.