Flat-bottomed Steering Wheel: alignment

oldcoot · Postby **oldcoot** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:47 pm

Ok, just found and fitted a secondhand (fairly period) Nardi flat bottomed steering wheel. Looks and feels great.
Thing is, I cannot get the splines to make the flat horizontal when the wheels are straight ahead.
1. anyone able to help my OCD (now offically CDO - because THEN the letters are in the right order)
2. are the any other areas I can adjust in the steering column??

Cheers
OldCootDriver

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:32 am

Need to adjust the tie rods

Wheel alignment shop can do it

Bauer · Postby **Bauer** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:53 am

wouldnt be a Nardi wheel on a momo boss would it?

Havent I read somewhere that the bolt pattern is the same but its half a spline out, thereby not aligning the wheel???

Been known to be wrong before, I just remember reading that somewhere.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:09 pm

oldcoot wrote:1. anyone able to help my OCD (now offically CDO - because THEN the letters are in the right order)

hahaha!
Just sit on some padding under one butt-cheek so you lean the same way as the wheel so it makes it look level :mrgreen:

Uncle Arthur · Postby **Uncle Arthur** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:51 am

Same thing can happen with any new steering wheel - or old one.

Get an alignment done - they should ensure the (steering) wheel is straight, THEN align the wheels. Bob Jane Taringa, or Fulcrum at Rocklea are both well equipped and experienced to set up the 5 properly.

oldcoot · Postby **oldcoot** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:55 pm

1red5, I like your style & Unkle Arthur; your information.
Cheers

Guran · Postby **Guran** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:15 am

It's an easy DIY job if you're so inclined. All you need is a string line, a ruler and a couple spanners for the tie rods.

lukearama · Postby **lukearama** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:44 pm

The old wheel aligners trick is to adjust each tie rod end the same amount in the same direction. thus lenghening one adjuster and shortening the other by the same amount. In therory you wont adjust the total toe of the vehicle and hey prestoe if you do it in the right direction the steering wheel get centred.... or even worse in which case repeat the same operation in the opposite direction only twice as far.

Best solution it to get a 4 wheel thrust alignment. And most specialist suspension shops will know what you want. Ie get the total toe and camber speced on the rear before adjusting the front camber/caster setting and in the final castor swing set the steering wheel centre.

now all this said if you have crap old tyres on your car fitted by the local garage give up. try the first method until you can afford good tyres that have been correctly fitted..... Thats another post.

all this said I am a Wheel aligner by "trade"... but lying under hot oily cars is not my idea of a dream job...