When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Simple Idea, but sure worked well (Aligning Steering Wheel)
The other day i had to desolder a wire inside the turn signal, underneath the steering wheel. This fixed intermittent auto light setting.
this requires removal of steering wheel. Any one who has done this will remember that access to horn pad air bag removal requires one to turn steering wheel 90 degrees for access to the T27 star bolt on each side of the steering wheel.
by the time I went to reattach the steering wheel, I had lost track of dead straight ahead. Sure enough it went on a bit crooked.
as I planned to remedy this I got to thinking, how could I best mark the point where the wheels and tracking were straight ahead, and get back to that after moving the steering wheel for disassembly.
then it hit me! Good old painter's tape. I drove the car straight ahead, then peeled off a 3 inch strip of painter's tape , later it down on top of the steering wheel assembly to the steering column. A quick cut with a pen knife and she was marked!
Great idea to mark the steering wheel before removing it!
However it took me a minute to think this through based on your description, yes I know " simple idea".
if you had the wheel reinstalled slightly off alinement and " I drove the car straight ahead, then peeled off a 3 inch strip of painter's tape , later it down on top of the steering wheel assembly to the steering column. A quick cut with a pen knife and she was marked!" Wouldn't you have marked the misaligned position?
Now if you had held the steering wheel in the correct position, layed down the tape and cut it in half, then drove the car straight ahead the tape would indicate the amount of misalignment.
Jandreau, yes it marked a point where the tires (and therefore tracking) was straight ahead, though the steering wheel was x degrees off.
my problem was trying to get the steering wheel dead on in synch with the tires. You have to move the steering wheel to unbolt it, believe me you cannot memorize where it was and where it should be [ yes I tried = bad idea ].
with the tape marker you can reset the tires to straight travel. Once there (Don't forget your steering wheel is press fitted now, no bolt) you can pull it off and put it back on perfectly centered. Tighten it up remove tape and enjoy.
Simple Idea, but sure worked well (Aligning Steering Wheel)
