10 replies to this topic

[matto224]

Hey guys, brought a nice aftermarket steering wheel and boss kit but im struggling to get it to sit properly straight.

 

also changed my top steering bush as it was knackered and causing my steering wheel to shake! much better but still shakes a bit at higher speeds! 

 

i can fit it nice and straight on the splines when sat in the car ( im making sure the wheels are straight beforehand and i'm not moving it when fitting etc )

 

but when i tighten everything up and take it for a spin it then goes off centre? i've adjusted it a small amount and managed to get it not far off but cannot get it perfect! i shall add a photo of the steering wheel and you will see why its going to mess with my ocd... haha 

 

will i have to get the tracking done to get it perfect?

 

thanks !

 

Edited by matto224, 19 February 2018 - 06:27 PM.

[Spider]

The Splining is really only a course adjustment and so you may not get your wheel spot on by moving it from one slpine to the next, so yes, you may have to adjust the tracking to get it spot on. If you know the tracking is right, then you can try it yourself by adjusting one side say 1/8 of a turn and doing the same amount on the the other side. I'd suggest marking the rack ends with marker paint, or masking tape and a line on it so you can see how far you've moved them. Go very easy as it won't need much.

 

In regards to the shaking, that sounds to me to be a possible balance issue and / or a wobble in a wheel.

[matto224]

The Splining is really only a course adjustment and so you may not get your wheel spot on by moving it from one slpine to the next, so yes, you may have to adjust the tracking to get it spot on. If you know the tracking is right, then you can try it yourself by adjusting one side say 1/8 of a turn and doing the same amount on the the other side. I'd suggest marking the rack ends with marker paint, or masking tape and a line on it so you can see how far you've moved them. Go very easy as it won't need much.

 

In regards to the shaking, that sounds to me to be a possible balance issue and / or a wobble in a wheel.

 

thanks for your reply and advice , i will do that myself one of the weekends then , i was concerned it was something of my doing ! hopefully adjusting the tracking sort that then! good idea with marking it ! and to be honest i can't work out where the shaking is coming from it only started after i fitted a lowering bracket on my steering column 

[SolarB]

The other day I noticed my steering wheel was off centre by quite an amount, previously I had been perfectly aligned. I suspected the other half of hitting a kerb but it turned out the steering rack was slightly loose. Not enough to move during driving but enough to slide sideways until it hit the cast u-bolt stops when turning the wheel from side to side while stationary. For an easy fine adjustment you could loosen the rack bolts, steer to one side or other to shift the rack a little and then re-tighten.

I was surprised that perhaps 5mm movement left to right changed the steering wheel straight ahead angle by a noticeable amount.

[racingbob]

if you get the tracking done ask to sit in the car yourself to make sure wheel is where you want it. I'm fussy like it to be virtually perfect

[Steve220]

If you do get it tracked, remove the cover on the steering rack through the toe board and centre the rack with a 5mm allen key.

[matto224]

The other day I noticed my steering wheel was off centre by quite an amount, previously I had been perfectly aligned. I suspected the other half of hitting a kerb but it turned out the steering rack was slightly loose. Not enough to move during driving but enough to slide sideways until it hit the cast u-bolt stops when turning the wheel from side to side while stationary. For an easy fine adjustment you could loosen the rack bolts, steer to one side or other to shift the rack a little and then re-tighten.

I was surprised that perhaps 5mm movement left to right changed the steering wheel straight ahead angle by a noticeable amount.

 

ahh im glad im not alone then! with the old standard steering wheel it was straight as! it's only me who drives the car so if ive curbed it i can't blame anyone else haha  don't think it's that though, will check the steering rack and U bolts then, and see if i can adjust it too, i will get someone who knows what they are doing too as i don't want to mess up my steering lol 

[matto224]

if you get the tracking done ask to sit in the car yourself to make sure wheel is where you want it. I'm fussy like it to be virtually perfect

 

 good thinking! me too, it will drive me insane so its got to be done right lol

[matto224]

If you do get it tracked, remove the cover on the steering rack through the toe board and centre the rack with a 5mm allen key.

okay mate, i think the steering rack was adjusted when i had the drop bracket fitted ( someone did it for me )

[mini13]

yep definatly set the wheel with the rack centralized, once its tracked if the wheel is still slightly off you can slacken the U bolts and get a little adjustment there.

[matto224]

yep definatly set the wheel with the rack centralized, once its tracked if the wheel is still slightly off you can slacken the U bolts and get a little adjustment there.

i will do just that then