recently, I put in a new steering rack bushing from rodney. after getting the rack back in, I noticed I must not have put the pinion back in the same way it came out - the steering wheel is turned well over 90*. Can I pull the steering wheel, and put it back on the way I want, or do I have to pull the pinion back out, and set it back to where it was?
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08:57 AM
PFF
System Bot
Oreif Member
Posts: 16460 From: Schaumburg, IL Registered: Jan 2000
If he has an aftermarket wheel & adaptor for it, possibly.
You can't just pop the OEM steering wheels off and re-center them though. The steering column shaft is keyed.
Not any of the ones Ive seen, or maybe Ive never noticed because I always wanted it back on straight. As far as I can tell, they are just splined and can be installed in any posistion, which is why you always find marks on them to line the wheel back up straight. I could be wrong, but I dont think so. Ive got a wheel in the garage I just swapped out I will check for you tonight.
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10:06 AM
dguy Member
Posts: 2416 From: Beckwith Township, ON, Canada Registered: Jan 2003
Not any of the ones Ive seen, or maybe Ive never noticed because I always wanted it back on straight.
On all three (or is it 4?) colums I've had apart, one spline has been missing from the steering wheel hub, and there has been a corresponding "flat spot" on the column shaft. That's not to say that it couldn't have changed later though.
quote
Originally posted by Pyrthian:
so, I do have to remove the pinion, and center the wheel there?!
If it was only a few degrees off center I'd suggest adjusting the tie rods to bring it back, but not for as much as 90°.
Since Orief & 86GT now have me doubting myself , pop the center pad and retaining nut off the steering wheel real quick, and you should be able to see whether or not your column/wheel are keyed. If it's not keyed you're good to go. If it is though, yeah you have to pull the pinion gear again. Should be possible to do it without removing the rack if you pull the front tub though.
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11:04 AM
Fiero STS Member
Posts: 2045 From: Wyoming, MN. usa Registered: Nov 2001
You guys must have a diffeent steering wheel than me. Most are of the missing spline design so they will only go on one way. Also the horn connector has to go through the steering wheel and will only go one way.
------------------ Signature courtesy of MinnGreen.
[This message has been edited by Fiero STS (edited 06-06-2006).]
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11:09 AM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
well, after much diggin thru archive search on steering wheels..... yes, it goes on basicly one way, because of a wire or something for the horn. you can adjust 1 or 2 splines, but not much more. now - I also went to the Fiero Store website, to look at there replacement steering wheels. now, these are just the wheels, nothing in the middle - it seems the steering wheel itself is bolted to a hub., which has the horn button & splines & junk. looks like the bolts hole are concentric, and I can unbolt the wheel from the hub, and see how close I get, and then, if its close enough, pull the hub itself, and adjust the spline or 2 to finish center it. trying to decide if this is more or less work than pulling the pinion. aftermarket wheel is looking better & better
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11:26 AM
Jun 7th, 2006
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
well, went and started taking the steering wheel off. went and got the wheels as straight as I could by eye - which aint easy with the side slopes. and looked to see how far off the steering wheel was. well, it was more than 90*. in fact, it was 180*. exactly upside down.
ug. I just put the steering column on the pinion shaft upside down. I just need to pull it off, and flip it over. it only goes on 2 ways - the right way & my way....
------------------ 1985 Fiero SE - Plain Red V6 Coupe 3.1 Crane272 MSD 4.10-4spd DarthChip Borla D.A.M.M. - Drunks Against Mad Mothers
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10:06 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
well, after much diggin thru archive search on steering wheels..... yes, it goes on basicly one way, because of a wire or something for the horn. you can adjust 1 or 2 splines, but not much more.
This is the right answer. If it's off more than a spline or 2 then you have another problem that you need to go fix. You can't just move the steering wheel.
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04:37 PM
PFF
System Bot
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
This is the right answer. If it's off more than a spline or 2 then you have another problem that you need to go fix. You can't just move the steering wheel.
well, that other problem was I rebuild the rack, and thought I had put the pinion in at a different location/oriantation than it originally was. but, it turns out I just put the steering shaft on the pinion shaft upside down....
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04:44 PM
Jun 26th, 2006
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
well, went and started taking the steering wheel off. went and got the wheels as straight as I could by eye - which aint easy with the side slopes. and looked to see how far off the steering wheel was. well, it was more than 90*. in fact, it was 180*. exactly upside down.
ug. I just put the steering column on the pinion shaft upside down. I just need to pull it off, and flip it over. it only goes on 2 ways - the right way & my way....
and the fun never ends! well, turns out you CANT put the steering column on the pinion shaft upside down. and, to add to down time - I broke the pinion bearing housing trying to make the steering column go on the pinion shaft the other way around.... lesson learned - its one way only......
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10:34 AM
Brian Lamberts Member
Posts: 2691 From: TUCSON AZ USA Registered: Feb 2003
Kinda like the gear on the bottom of a SBC distributor. Has an upside and a downside, and if you put the upside to the downside, it won't go in the top of the engine all the way. And won't connect with the oil drive or the cam. Don't ask me how I know, but it was a 10 day expensive lesson.
For being smart, fairly competent types (gotta be to own a fleet of Fieros, right?) it's easy to overlook the little things (which seem to always turn into big things!)
[This message has been edited by Brian Lamberts (edited 06-26-2006).]
, pop the center pad and retaining nut off the steering wheel real quick, and you should be able to see whether or not your column/wheel are keyed. If it's not keyed you're good to go. If it is though, yeah you have to pull the pinion gear again. Should be possible to do it without removing the rack if you pull the front tub though.
