Alignment Issue

[Paul O.]

Have an alignment problem with a 1971 after restoration. Since the resto can not get the steering wheel to be centered and the wheels pointed straight forward together. We seem to run out of tie rod adjustment on one side before everything is lined up. It is probable staring me in the face but for some reason I can not see it. Thanks for the help.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Is the Pittman arm installed in the correct position? Upside down?

[Edward J.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Paul, Is the steering box shaft scribe mark at 12? and steering wheel pointed straight ahead before you started any adjustments? the coupling pinch bolts openings have to be pointed at the scribe mark on the steering box shaft and the other on flat spot on the column, 90 degrees apart. Hope I did not make it to confusing. Ed

[Ralph P.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Paul, lots in the archives on alignment issues. Just went through this on mine & the tie rods are the LAST item on the list to adjust. It's critical to confirm The steering box and shaft are centered on the high point marks before addressing the tie rods or steering wheel position.

[Paul O.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Patrick

Pittman arm installed correctly

Ed

Steering and coupling installed as you discribe.

Ralph

Know there are many alignment items in the archives but hard to find one for the above description.

I am thinking the upper shims for the A-arms to frame maybe not stacked correctly for proper Camber and Caster for the initial setting of the geometry. Since the entire front end bushings, ball joints, idler arm and tie rods were changed during resto. Could this cause the failure to have insufficient adjustment in the tie rods for proper toe alignment?

[Ralph P.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Paul, did you do an initial toe setting before trying the tie rods? I was amazed at how accurate the old-fashioned "string method" was in getting the settings close .

[Timothy B.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Paul,

It was nice talking to you at Carlisle Friday, we spoke for a few minutes about radiator caps.

Did you have the steering box apart for any reason? I think the best way to proceed is from the steering wheel, steering shaft, coupler worm gear high spot then pitman arm straight forward. At that point you know everything is aligned and toe rods are last. You don't have one of the tie rod ends in the fast steering hole and one in the slow steering hole on the steering arm.

Do you know if before the restoration everything was OK and looked normal with the toe adjustment?

[Edward J.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Patrick Pittman arm installed correctlyEdSteering and coupling installed as you discribe.RalphKnow there are many alignment items in the archives but hard to find one for the above description.I am thinking the upper shims for the A-arms to frame maybe not stacked correctly for proper Camber and Caster for the initial setting of the geometry. Since the entire front end bushings, ball joints, idler arm and tie rods were changed during resto. Could this cause the failure to have insufficient adjustment in the tie rods for proper toe alignment?

Paul, I have taken a level and put it up against the tire top and bottom and just get it level, this will get you the camber close as far as the caster goes you can wait for the alignment machine for this. I have done this many times over the years. just use the same quanity of shims for front and rear, Another thing you can try is count the number of turns of the steering wheel from lock to lock and divide this in half, and see where your coupler and marks are in this relation. Don't worry about how the tires are pointed yet. You can lower the pitman arm and just take it out of the equation. Then point the wheels straight ahead, and check to see if the pitman will point to the forward position, (there are 4 slots on arm and box).

[Paul O.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Ralph

Have not done the string method. The car was sent out by the owner for the realignment of the car got involved after this.

Timothy

Good to see you also. Yes the steering box was rebuilt but I was not involved in that rebuild. other then installing the box and other steering items. No issues before the resto.

Ed

Have not done the vertical level check of the front wheels. Since I did not rebuild the box and install the pittman arm can not verify that but will check next time car is here.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Gary R.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Hey Paul,The pitman shaft is slotted every 90* for the arm to fit. If it was off it would be very dramatic. Can you post a picture of the splined end of the pitman shaft or just look and see if it is copper plated? Do you have any info on the box on how it was rebuilt or if new gears were installed?

[Paul O.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Gary

Thanks but the car is at the owners house I was not involved in its rebuild will have the owner check the shaft when I can get a hold of him.

[John H.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Gary

Thanks but the car is at the owners house I was not involved in its rebuild will have the owner check the shaft when I can get a hold of him.

Paul -

Walk the owner through this steering system centering paper by Jim Shea - it will lead him to the problem.


steeringsystemcentering.pdf

[Paul O.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Hey Paul,The pitman shaft is slotted every 90* for the arm to fit. If it was off it would be very dramatic. Can you post a picture of the splined end of the pitman shaft or just look and see if it is copper plated? Do you have any info on the box on how it was rebuilt or if new gears were installed?

Gary

Yes the pittman shaft is copper plated what does this mean?

[Gary R.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Hi Paul,......That tells me the gears are originals, now original to that box may be another thing. I would go through the information on set up that Jim Shea listed. If you find that everything is good and the steering wheel is still off after all then I would first check to see if the steering was ever indexed on the column, which is a common issue. If the box was rebuilt, truly rebuilt, and the original gears used then there should not be an issue. If the box was rebuilt using gears from another box then it is very possible the orientation will be off. I have seen same year boxes swapped from car to car and have this problem. I have also seen plenty of original boxes, from 63-82, with the center marks off from true center. Some are dead on others are off several degrees to over 30*. I have hundreds of new gears and have to check them as well, sometimes the casting axis intersection can be off from one box to another. I have setup new gears in one box and didn't like them, then set them up in the same year box of another customer to find they dialed in perfectly. What I would do is remove the box and check it on the bench for high center, lash and preload to make sure they are correct. If this was a box I built I would have record of the complete job but I doubt any of the others out there do that so who knows what was done. If you have a 0-30 in/lb dial TW, call me and I can go over the setup with you.

[Paul O.]

Re: Alignment Issue

Gary

Thank you for all the information I have no knowledge of who rebuilt the steering box and or what was replaced or not. I helped this owner on the restoration but all items that were sent out for rebuild were sent by him. So I do not know who did what. The owner last night stated that the box is leaking a red colored fluid. I am have him do some basic checks from the above information would have to have the car back at the house to do a more complete check.