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Got an alignment this morning and the tech had to remove my damper because the bracket didn’t line up on the track rod. Wanted to get some opinions first before I get under there and start twisting it... Can’t I literally just turn it a quarter turn so the bracket faces up without messing with the steering wheel getting crooked?
Last edited by TaylorCadence; Jul 19, 2018 at 09:27 PM.
Wow seriously an alignment shop left it like that. I just put terrafirm HD 's in and messed up a measurement so my steering wheel was cocked to the right . The alignment shop got the steering wheel square and damper right.
If your steering shaft isn't rusted/seized up, then centering the steering wheel is very simple.
There is a groove in the pitman arm that lines up to a threaded hole in the ps box. Thread a bolt in and that locks the steering.
The shaft bolt is loosened, and you can slide it out, then pull the u-joint off the splines on the ps box.
My steering shaft wouldn't slide, and the front u-joint was bad. I got a reman for $100. Steering is tight, and shaft slides as it should for install/adjustment.
Should you replace a steering shaft that won't slide for removal, you either have to unbolt the ps box(4 bolts, frame, driver front fenderwell, simple), or just cut the old steering shaft in half(hacksaw, reciprcating saw, grinder), and pull each end off. The new one will slide and go in without removing anything.
Last edited by Sixpack577; Jul 20, 2018 at 02:02 PM.
If your steering shaft isn't rusted/seized up, then centering the steering wheel is very simple.
There is a groove in the pitman arm that lines up to a threaded hole in the ps box. Thread a bolt in and that locks the steering.
The shaft bolt is loosened, and you can slide it out, then pull the u-joint off the splines on the ps box.
My steering shaft wouldn't slide, and the front u-joint was bad. I got a reman for $100. Steering is tight, and shaft slides as it should for install/adjustment.
Should you replace a steering shaft that won't slide for removal, you either have to unbolt the ps box(4 bolts, frame, driver front fenderwell, simple), or just cut the old steering shaft in half(hacksaw, reciprcating saw, grinder), and pull each end off. The new one will slide and go in without removing anything.
Thanks for this response. I have a little play in my steering so was going to check the column, box and ujoints etc as you explained. I’m assuming the tech did do this to achieve the alignment but then threw off the damper position without turning tie rod ends.
Steering damper won’t fit after alignment
