So I had a local indy shop replace my steering box. Honest guys with a fair labor rate but no Rover knowledge. I printed the rave pages and let them have at it. Everything seems great and it drives like new EXCEPT the steering wheel is now off 45 plus degrees.
I assume they are one spline off with the steering shaft. IdI like to make this as easy as possible to fix so they don't refuse to work on it any more.

Is there enough movement in the shaft to loosen both ends and slide it off the steering box move it 1 spline and retighten? Or will the whole box have to come back out?

 

Sounds like The Shop skipped " STEP 1 "...…. Centralize THE STEERING BOX!!!!!!

So yes, remove the steering shaft and start over. Use a M8 x 1.25 bolt for the steering box.
Once this is back together get this pig to the alignment shop.

 

From my understanding of the steering system there is no way swapping the box would change the alignment unless they messed with something that didn't need to be touched

 

Actually the more I think about it how do I know if the steering shaft is off 1 spline or the drop arm on the box is off 1 spline?

I suppose if wheels are straight and centering pin doesn't line up it would be the drop arm otherwise itsi the upper.. steering shaft

 

While removing the steering gearbox from my 01 yesterday, l was unable to remove the steering shaft without removing or loosening the gearbox bolts. Granted, l was removing the gearbox anyway. But, l just wanted to see if it was possible before removing, and it wasn't on mine. Now, l did not loosen upper coupler by firewall...so...that may be an option?

Considering your issue (steering wheel not centered), l'd drive the rover up the driveway, going as straight as possible, stop and check pitman arm position (like showed in picture above)...or turn wheel "stop to stop" and if it reaches each stop without binding or unusual noises...it is probably centered. If the pitman arm looks to be centered or stop to stop is achieved easily, then the issue is in the steering shaft coupler.

If you remove the locking bolt (10mm socket) from the coupler and pry it away from the gearbox, it may clear the shaft...but if not...you may need to either loosen upper coupler and see if it adds any more movement, or loosen all four mounting bolts (15mm socket) on gearbox, then remove three bolts completely, so the gearbox can be tilted slightly enough to get coupler off shaft. Leave one bolt in gearbox, that way it will not drop down and you'll not have to mess with the full weight of the box and it will make reassembly much easier. You can leave the pitman arm and hose bracket attached. You'll need to remove the small plastic cover above frame rail to get to some of the gearbox bolts.

Once steering shaft is removed, then have someone center the steering wheel (if one is available, l recommend a super model), while you align the coupler back on the shaft. Then install the other three bolts, recheck steering wheel position and if you are satisfied...reassemble everything.

There is no need for an alignment after centering steering wheel. These adjustments have nothing to do with that.

Brian.

 

For safety reasons...it is not wise to use super model assistant...if your wife is available.

 

Thank you for the steps above.....

 

I made a tailgate cover from Carbon & fiberglass.
(Soon on eBay )

 

Starter solenoid wire doesn’t make constant contact, truck turns on but after a while I cut off
i notice the wire is loose so I jus push it in more and the truck starts up

why would that wire cause the truck to cut off once it looses contact?

 

Fuel filter and pump in the '97