The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering Problem

I asked this same question several months ago, and a few of you were nice enough to reply with suggestions that made sense to me.

At that time, I was trying to rely on my friend/mechanic to take care of this. His "shots in the dark" did not work.

I also was not prepared mentally to take the job on myself, at that time. I am now.

So, I'll ask my question again, and I hope that someone will explain to me how to fix this, as you did before.

It's a '67 Chevy SWB PU. The entire front end, including the power steering unit is from some other year model. Nothing is "stock" where the steering section is concerned.

My issue is that it will turn to the left much more than it will turn to the right.

Someone mentioned that things weren't centered up when all of this was installed. That makes sense to me.

How do I fix that?

1) Turn your steering wheel all the way to the right, then all the way to the left counting how many turns it took to get from right to left.
2( Take that number and divide it in half, then turn the wheel back that many turns. This should put the pitman arm in the center of it's travel.
3)Look to see if the wheels are straight.
If not, measure how long the tie rod assemblies are. They should be of equal lenght on both sides.
If not remove the outer tie rod ends from the steering arms, straighten the wheels manually and adjust the tie rod ends until they go into the holes easily.
4) Take too an alignment shop to have it fine tuned.

Hope this helps
Wilbur

Hy Lovett, disconnect the pitman arm from the steering box, now center the steering box, do that by slowly turning the steering wheel in one direction until it stops, now mark the wheel with a piece of tape or something, now turn the steering wheel slowly in the opposite direction counting the number of turns until it stops again. Now you know how many turns or portions of turns your steering box is lock to lock. Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction half the number of turns, now you have the steering box centered. Center your front wheels [ straight ahead] now try to attach your pitman arm to the steering box, if it won't attach because of a master spline problem you will have to adjust your tie rod ends until it does go on in that position. That should give you equal steering in each direction, hope that helps.

Thanks Wilbur and 3B. I'll try those things and see what happens.

It makes more sense than shimming the steering gear box away from the frame.

I talked with my older brother today. We're gonna take the truck to his house in the next few weeks and work on it together.

He has a nice concrete pad to work on.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

But, you're advice makes a lot more sense than what my mechanic tried.

Thanks again!