Setting rack to center

[JohnFol]

Hi all, my tracking was done badly by one of the high street brands. The steering wheel is out about 10 degrees when the wheels are straight. I could re-track or remove, rotate, refit steering wheel.
What I don't know is how to get the rack in the right position such that the steering wheel should be central. Only then can I re-track the wheels knowing the rack and steering wheel are correct.

Any ideas?

[peteracs]

Hi John

I may be wrong, but thought the steering wheel was keyed on the upper part of the column? (I could be wrong of course)

Assuming this you would need to adjust at the bottom of the column.

To find the center of the rack, ideally remove the tie rods from the hubs so they do not restrict it and count the number of revolutions between the end stops and move the wheel back to half that. Then adjust your wheel to be in line. Attach the tie rods and get the hubs adjusted.

Sounds easy maybe, but a lot of faffing around.

Peter

[JohnFol]

Know the steering wheel is keyed rather than on a symmetrical spline helps big time.
I now know the adjustment is at the wheels if the steering wheel is in the right position

Ta

[Ferrit]

Happy Christmas.

I need to move my steering wheel which is currently on its spline correctly but at straight wheels ahead its at 2pm.  Rack looks right ie the adjustment on each side looks equal so is it best to adjust on the very bottom UJ?  Any ideas if I can just pop the UJ off and move the wheel and pop it on again, or do I need to strip all sorts?

Mark

[peteracs]

Hi Mark, you should be able to loosen the column and take off bottom UJ and refit as you wish.

Peter

[garethwd]

Ive just bought an HPE and the steering is off center....I had it in my head i could just remove the steering wheel and put is back straight Im guessing this isnt case,after reading this  :'(

[peteracs]

Hi

That is correct, suggest you check if the track rods are on equally first and that the tracking at the front is not obviously out, if all ok then you can move the column as per above, but better to get tracking done to confirm that is not the issue.

Peter

[lancialulu]

Ive just bought an HPE and the steering is off center....I had it in my head i could just remove the steering wheel and put is back straight Im guessing this isnt case,after reading this  :'(

I made that mistake (dohh) and wrecked a very nice VX steering wheel as it jammed onto the splines - the little Beta puller device just stripped the threads..... Now looking for another good VX wheel

[capriblu]

Happy Christmas.

I need to move my steering wheel which is currently on its spline correctly but at straight wheels ahead its at 2pm.  Rack looks right ie the adjustment on each side looks equal so is it best to adjust on the very bottom UJ?  Any ideas if I can just pop the UJ off and move the wheel and pop it on again, or do I need to strip all sorts?

Mark

The lack of any adjustment at the steering wheel itself isn't ideal and attempting to correct at the UJ is a bit of a faff.  Assuming that basic alignment is OK (although I agree it is worth getting checked) then small corrections in steering wheel position are (I find) more easily made simply by adjusting track rod ends (assuming they aren't badly siezed through corrosion).  If steering wheel needs to be at say 2pm for straight ahead then road wheels need to be moved to point more in O/S direction.  As long as both joints are adjusted by equal amounts but in opposite directions (i.e. clockwise and anti-clockwise) then tracking shouldn't change.  Start with one full turn clockwise on O/S and same anti-clockwise on N/S and see where that takes you .....