I've just installed a new front track rod, and am looking for some pointers on aligning the steering box.

the box has a sorta line/nub thing on the side of it, and the input shaft has a smooth collar with a bump on it.

If i line the bump up with the line, the steering wheel is miles out, about a 1/5th of a turn to the right.

the wheels are also steering slightly to the right.

Have i got the right marks, and given the steering wheel error, i presume i need to remove the wheel and centre it? Then if i wind the adjuster on the track rod to lengthen it, that should bring the wheels streight?

ta :)

can someone move this to the right section please :)

I had some steering questions the other day. Marty pointed me in the right direction. My problem was the draglink was too short thus pulling the steering wheel to the left. Fixed now.

Martyuk wrote:

Steering wheel - it should be centered (flat) when the steering box is centered (the marker between the indicator bumps on the steering box). your front wheels should then have the tracking set with (from memory as to what Smiler told me) 5-15 minutes of toe-out. (0.6-1.8mm).

Once that is set and the steering box is known to be aligned with the steering wheel, you can then adjust the drag link from the box to the LH hub to make sure the steering box is centralised with the (now aligned) front wheels.

If the steering box isn't centered when the wheels are aligned, then you'll probably end up with it constantly drifitng, or having to apply more than normal steering correction when driving.

You shouldn't just take the steering wheel off and re-align it to center, as it a)won't have had any effect on the alignment, and b) can damage the rotary coupler, as that then won't be centered when the steering wheel is. RAVE specifies that the steering wheel can only be adjusted 1-2 splines MAX - if it's further out than that to the center of steering box etc, then you need to undo the lower steering rod and align THAT to the steering box by centering the steering box, and steering wheel and reconnecting it.

Martyuk wrote:

Assuming the tracking of the front wheels was set correctly by the previous owner - or whoever they took it to to be done, and is within the tolerances specified in the work shop manual, then the issue of the steering wheel center would either be in the connection between the steering box and the LH front wheel on the drag link (as the track rod will be holding the wheels at the correct value, and as the vehicle drives in a straight line, they find their centre point, and the adjustment of the rod to the steering box is a bit short, thus pulling the steering wheel to the left ). Or the steering wheel may at some point have been taken off and turned to line it up center (before the vehicle was re-tracked). Or the steering wheel is centered to the steering box still, and the drag link needs adjusting to get the steering box and wheel back to center.

The easiest way to see whether it's the steering box/wheel or drag link is to stop with the steering wheel centered, and check to see if the steering box is centered. If it is, then with the steering lock off (Ign pos 1) adjust the drag link so the steering wheel is centered.

If the steering box isn't centered when the wheel it, then that alignment is out, and will need to be corrected. once the steering wheel and the steering box line up - then check to make sure the steering box is central when the vehicle's front wheels are centered.

i had the tracking done at kwikfit the other week, after fitting the rear bar, so we can assume that bits right.

I guess i'll centre the box, pop the UJ off and centre the wheel, then set the drag link.

Just to confirm the two bumps/slot on the box likes up with the bump on the smooth collar on the input shaft?

Rave just says "line up the marks" and doesnt explain what they are.

on mine, ones like a dot/dimple and the other one is raised up. Pointing towards engine. A torch helped me see.

This is the dot i can see on the box itself:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zh45w6b7l9n60xd/2017-07-20%2020.20.34.jpg?dl=0

If i rotate the steering a bit, this sticky out bit appears:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3wzbigw3ywpeqve/2017-07-20%2020.21.37.jpg?dl=0

So i presume those are the marks. Whats the best way of lining up the steering? Do i just undo the bottom UJ and slide it off?

I pulled this picture from Ebay. It's easier to see when it's off the car. In this picture, you would need to rotate the input shaft anti clockwise to get the raised mark lined up with the indent.

With these 2 lined up, your steering wheel should be centered. My wheel was centered but the wheels weren't, which means the drag link is either too long (if wheel is past 12'oclock when driving) or in my case 2 short (wheel was at 11'oclock when driving). I lengthened the drag link by a couple of turns and that sorted it. Tracking may need an ever so slight adjustment but it's not bad at all. Make sure you have the steering lock off before adjusting the drag link :-)

If car has been tracked with an out of centre steering box, then you'll have to centre wheel to box and then have it tracked.

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Yep perfect, that's what I can see 😀

You get this sorted?

not yet, i was away at the weekend so didnt get a chance.