Stearing Wheel Adjustment?

avyoung · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2003, 03:43 PM

My stearing wheel is about 90 Degres off so I thought that I would readjust it. The problem is that there is a switch of some sort with a medal rod comming up that only fits on the wheel in one place. I tore it down to the stearing lock, the rod mounts to a plastic thing above the blinker stuff.

How do I take the lock off so that I can adjust the switch? Then how do I make it so my blinkers still shut off when they are supposed to?

jeepin916 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-18-2003, 07:10 PM

dont adjust ur steering wheel, u need to do that under the car theres a sleve nut by the steering shaft that u turn and it turns ur steering wheel and straightens it up, ur wheel is off probably cuz u hit something hard or a curb, it happens to me all the time

avyoung · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2003, 08:27 PM

The shaft can only go on one way. There are spaces in the splines that have to match up unless there is something somewhere elsc but I noticed that when I had the Stearing box off.

jeepin916 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 12:23 AM

theres a big splined brace that holds on 2 shafts on your steering linkages taht u should b able to trun to adjust your alignment it straightens out ru steering wheel

Bounty__Hunter · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 06:50 AM

Put your steering wheel back on, you don't adjust the steering wheel to center that way. You have to lengthen or shorten the draglink (pitman arm to tierod) to recenter the steering wheel. Easy to do on a YJ (not sure on CJ but guessing it's similar to a YJ). TJ's should have it professionally done since this adjustment also affects toe-in.

If you've got a solid tierod that connects the two front wheels, and a draglink that connects the pitman arm to either the tierod or passenger side knuckle, it's easy to recenter.

Turn the ignition so the steering wheel is unlocked
Loosen the clamps at each end of the draglink
Spray the tierod end's threads liberally with PB Blaster
Spin the center bar in the draglink with a pipe wrench, turning one direction will lengthen it and the other direction will shorten it
Tighten the tierod end clamps once the steering wheel is centered

Snitty · #6 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 11:54 AM

so what way is it... i have to do it as well... do you remove the shaft and realign it that way? or do you adjust the length of the draglink? mine went out of center one night by just sitting parked, since then, i haven't looked too hard to figure it out.. it hasn't bothered me that much... but i WOULD like to have it centered for offroad reasons, so i can tell which way i am pointed when not moving

avyoung · #7 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 12:01 PM

I know that in the CJ it it not the shaft. There are spots on either side that have no splines so you can not change it. Adjusting the draglink sounds like it will work. I just am wondering if I should wait until I get a drop pitman arm. When I converted to power stearing my manual stearing pitman arm would not fit so I left the regular one on. I have a 2.5" lift.

Bounty__Hunter · #8 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 01:01 PM

You shouldn't need a drop pitman arm with only a 2.5" lift, stock should work fine.

Lengthening the draglink will turn the steering wheel to the right (I think) and shortening it will turn the wheel to the left. Double check after turning it a little bit to be sure.

avyoung · #9 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 05:54 PM

Thank you Bounty. I hate it when my blinker shuts of before I even start turning. Although it is nice when changing lanes you don't have to worry about it.