steering wheel off center,how to turn it?

mrkhan · 07-01-2009, 08:41 PM

just wondering how to center the steering wheel i hit a cross ditch on my way down from hunting lastnight in the dark now the wheel is off center??? thnx alot guys

1992 ram250 4x4!

Gatekeeper · 07-02-2009, 09:23 PM

Get an alignment. (Before you destroy your tires) Something got bent when you hit that ditch. (Or a tie rod end got pulled in it's sleeve)

__________________
90 250 2wd auto Bone Stock.

mrkhan · 07-03-2009, 12:27 AM

everything straight and drives like it did before so im thinking just pull the wheel and re-center it....any tech forum or how-to's on that? thnx

89smurf · 07-03-2009, 10:49 AM

If you re-center the wheel it will turn sharper one direction than the other. Get the alignment.

Gatekeeper · 07-03-2009, 04:08 PM

The wheel is keyed and will not fit in any other position.

__________________
90 250 2wd auto Bone Stock.

mrkhan · 07-03-2009, 09:59 PM

hmmm i dont even see how an aligment will fix it but i guess its my only option to give'er a shot

Richie O · 07-04-2009, 12:47 AM

A few things could have happened. The drag link may have bent, the tierods could have slipped or bent, the spring center bolt may have broke letting the axle slide back ( been there ) , or even break or bend the steering box mount or frame. I hit hard in my 89 a few years ago and tweaked the wheel a little. It has not affected tire wear so I assume I shortened the draglink in my case.

__________________
89 dodge 3/4 4x4, A727 ,3.07 gears, factory L S , powerstroke intercooler, S300, stans exaust with stainless tailpipe, fuel power screw turned?, fuel pin turned to deepest, 3 turns smoke screw, 1/2 turn down on starwheel.

93 W250 ex cab, 6X16's, 60 GDS, rag

mrkhan · 07-04-2009, 02:09 AM

yea it just seems weird that i can let go of the wheel on the freeway and it tracks straight no pull no vibrations so i have no clue

Begle1 · 07-04-2009, 11:03 AM

Couldn't you just adjust both tie rods the same distance in the same direction? That's all you're going to end up doing in an alignment, isn't it?

__________________
110' foot aluminum-framed helium dirigible with 25' living quarters, two 400 HP 12 valves, satellite television and a refrigerator.

Richie O · 07-04-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Begle1

Couldn't you just adjust both tie rods the same distance in the same direction? That's all you're going to end up doing in an alignment, isn't it?

As long as it is in fact still in line before you start. I had a truck a few years ago that would bald tires in a couple thousand miles but ran straight and true. My buddy crunched his car once and drove it for a month with the tires squealing it was so out of line.

You could hear him coming.

__________________
89 dodge 3/4 4x4, A727 ,3.07 gears, factory L S , powerstroke intercooler, S300, stans exaust with stainless tailpipe, fuel power screw turned?, fuel pin turned to deepest, 3 turns smoke screw, 1/2 turn down on starwheel.

93 W250 ex cab, 6X16's, 60 GDS, rag

dpuckett · 07-05-2009, 05:15 PM

I had a tie rod end go bad in my W350. I replaced it, and turns out I didnt get the TRE in as far as the other one. My wheel was off center, but it wandered like a drunk sailor on shore leave, too. I measured the toe, and it was actually toed OUT about 1/4". I adjusted the toe so it was toeing in about 1/16", and it now tracks straight and true.

Mark the center of your tires, and get a helper to measure the distance between the centers. The front should be closer than the rear (toeing IN). I dont know how much difference there should be, I just took a reasonable guess on mine and will do the math, converting degrees to inches someday.

I would check everything under the truck and look for bent stuff. These trucks are tough, but not quite bullet proof.

Daniel

__________________
92 W350 xcab LE, 5spd, 3.54s pump tweaks, piston lift pump, 60mm/ 16cm turbo. plain tailpipe with muffler. For sale

Richie O · 07-05-2009, 07:52 PM

If I do a poor mans alignment I Jack up the truck, Spin the wheels and make a line in the center of the tread on both ( as dan said ), then roll the truck forward a couple feet to " load " the tierod ends ect. I then measure the front and back. I set them up at 1/8 inch or there abouts toe in.

__________________
89 dodge 3/4 4x4, A727 ,3.07 gears, factory L S , powerstroke intercooler, S300, stans exaust with stainless tailpipe, fuel power screw turned?, fuel pin turned to deepest, 3 turns smoke screw, 1/2 turn down on starwheel.

93 W250 ex cab, 6X16's, 60 GDS, rag

07-01-2009, 08:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
mrkhan Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts mrkhan's Truck Pics	steering wheel off center,how to turn it? just wondering how to center the steering wheel i hit a cross ditch on my way down from hunting lastnight in the dark now the wheel is off center??? thnx alot guys 1992 ram250 4x4!

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07-02-2009, 09:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gatekeeper Cummins Nut Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 330 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Gatekeeper's Truck Pics	Get an alignment. (Before you destroy your tires) Something got bent when you hit that ditch. (Or a tie rod end got pulled in it's sleeve) __________________ 90 250 2wd auto Bone Stock.

07-03-2009, 12:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
mrkhan Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts mrkhan's Truck Pics	everything straight and drives like it did before so im thinking just pull the wheel and re-center it....any tech forum or how-to's on that? thnx

07-03-2009, 10:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
89smurf Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts 89smurf's Truck Pics	If you re-center the wheel it will turn sharper one direction than the other. Get the alignment.

07-03-2009, 04:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gatekeeper Cummins Nut Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 330 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Gatekeeper's Truck Pics	The wheel is keyed and will not fit in any other position. __________________ 90 250 2wd auto Bone Stock.

07-03-2009, 09:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
mrkhan Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts mrkhan's Truck Pics	hmmm i dont even see how an aligment will fix it but i guess its my only option to give'er a shot

07-04-2009, 12:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Richie O Diesel Freak Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 785 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Richie O's Truck Pics	A few things could have happened. The drag link may have bent, the tierods could have slipped or bent, the spring center bolt may have broke letting the axle slide back ( been there ) , or even break or bend the steering box mount or frame. I hit hard in my 89 a few years ago and tweaked the wheel a little. It has not affected tire wear so I assume I shortened the draglink in my case. __________________ 89 dodge 3/4 4x4, A727 ,3.07 gears, factory L S , powerstroke intercooler, S300, stans exaust with stainless tailpipe, fuel power screw turned?, fuel pin turned to deepest, 3 turns smoke screw, 1/2 turn down on starwheel. 93 W250 ex cab, 6X16's, 60 GDS, rag

07-04-2009, 02:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
mrkhan Newbie Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts mrkhan's Truck Pics	yea it just seems weird that i can let go of the wheel on the freeway and it tracks straight no pull no vibrations so i have no clue

07-04-2009, 11:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
Begle1 Diesel Head Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Capo Beach, California Posts: 3,205 Thanks: 0 Thanked 32 Times in 19 Posts Begle1's Truck Pics	Couldn't you just adjust both tie rods the same distance in the same direction? That's all you're going to end up doing in an alignment, isn't it? __________________ 110' foot aluminum-framed helium dirigible with 25' living quarters, two 400 HP 12 valves, satellite television and a refrigerator.

07-05-2009, 05:15 PM	#11 (permalink)
dpuckett Cummins Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cape Girardeau MO Posts: 466 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts dpuckett's Truck Pics	I had a tie rod end go bad in my W350. I replaced it, and turns out I didnt get the TRE in as far as the other one. My wheel was off center, but it wandered like a drunk sailor on shore leave, too. I measured the toe, and it was actually toed OUT about 1/4". I adjusted the toe so it was toeing in about 1/16", and it now tracks straight and true. Mark the center of your tires, and get a helper to measure the distance between the centers. The front should be closer than the rear (toeing IN). I dont know how much difference there should be, I just took a reasonable guess on mine and will do the math, converting degrees to inches someday. I would check everything under the truck and look for bent stuff. These trucks are tough, but not quite bullet proof. Daniel __________________ 92 W350 xcab LE, 5spd, 3.54s pump tweaks, piston lift pump, 60mm/ 16cm turbo. plain tailpipe with muffler. For sale

07-05-2009, 07:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Richie O Diesel Freak Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 785 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Richie O's Truck Pics	If I do a poor mans alignment I Jack up the truck, Spin the wheels and make a line in the center of the tread on both ( as dan said ), then roll the truck forward a couple feet to " load " the tierod ends ect. I then measure the front and back. I set them up at 1/8 inch or there abouts toe in. __________________ 89 dodge 3/4 4x4, A727 ,3.07 gears, factory L S , powerstroke intercooler, S300, stans exaust with stainless tailpipe, fuel power screw turned?, fuel pin turned to deepest, 3 turns smoke screw, 1/2 turn down on starwheel. 93 W250 ex cab, 6X16's, 60 GDS, rag