Anyone know the dimensions of the centering bolt for the steering gear box... from the looks of the thread, looks to be a coarse machine thread. I tried a 5/16ths bolt and it didn't quick thread in....

Thanks

 

May be a size specific bolt, never seen any one ask before, why do you ask?

 

just curious. All the alignment procedures I have read in the RAVE mention that you need to first insert the bolt on the backside of the steering gear (there is a slot there so you can thread into the housing and center the steering wheel) This keeps the steering wheel column locked while and alignment takes place. I wanted to have one on hand so I could just thread it when when I went in for alignments.

 

Rave is not always the way to go.
Why are you wanting to do an alignment, be specific?

 

Currently, I don't need to do an alignment. I do get vehicles re aligned about every year or so. And on this rig because of the steering geometry, if you align the wheels to themselves, you don't necessarily end up with the steering wheel being straight and the gear box being aligned when the car is going straight forward.

So the alternative is aligning the steering wheel/column/gear box first by using the locator bolt, then, aligning the wheels. This will guarantee that it all aligns the wheels, and the gear box, and steering wheel.

 

First of all, you don't need to align a vehicle once a year, especially a Rover.
I have been on trails that would scare most people, hit rocks and trees and in 10 years and over 100,000 mile, it has only been to a alignment shop once.
Rule of thumb is do a toe setting and then recenter the steering wheel.
If you are seeing any wear on your front tires, it is normally caused by lack of rotations or low air pressure which can then cause a slight pulling.

 

Sounds good. That's what I ended up doing. do you run your toe at at toe in or a toe out setting?