mitch340Duster
Well-Known Member
1970 Duster PS..My own full restore so everything's been rebuilt by me and the car has just been re-assembled. (1st time I've been into something this deep though). I spent hours last-night researching DIY alignments and steering adjustments. I have disconnected all of the steering linkage from the gear so all we have here is everything from the steering wheel to the pitman arm. I think the gear is centered since I counted steering wheel revolutions from full L to full R (3 3/4), then set it at 1 3/4-ish from full L.
You can see in the pic that the wheel is 180-ish off. The info below is from "67 Dart 273" who, along with lots of other guys has been very helpful. Based on this info, I'm guessing that the steering shaft/coupler connection is 180 off, however I'm not certain that the pitman arm is where it should be when the gear is centered, but I think so.
I historically have a VERY bad time assembling steering couplers so I'm hoping to get some confirmation or other ideas before I get into it. I understand that the final centering of the wheel is done with the tie rods, and I'd also like to put the linkage back together so if the coupler is the problem I suppose I can put the linkage together, then do the coupler ?
THANK YOU !!!
restoration www.MitchAmatrudo.com click on the "Duster" link.
1......First center the box by counting turns. Ignore where the steering wheel points and ignore where the front wheels point. "Box center" should only be off by a few degrees, according to how you estimated the fractional turns, perhaps 1/8 of a turn
2......Examine the pitman and see if it points "straight" ahead/ back that is the tapered stud in line with the shaft front / rear.
If not, I don't know if anything could be wrong inside the box, that is between you and the rebuilder. You might check that someone ELSE has not removed the spline key so that the arm can be installed "some other way." Otherwise, it should either be "correct" or off by 90 degees
3......If the above is correct and or you get this fixed, look at the steering wheel. It should be either centered, or 180 degrees. (Upside down). This is because the coupler can be put together 1/2 turn off
Once you get all the above "correct" then you "walk" the tire rod end adjusters so that toe stays where you want, and the wheel is centered.
If everything is "factory correct" you can only make so many mistakes, IE
The coupler can make the wheel 1/2 turn off
You can install the pitman 1/4 turn off either way
The tie rod ends can be unequal, skewing the wheel off center with the wheels off center.[/QUOTE]
You can see in the pic that the wheel is 180-ish off. The info below is from "67 Dart 273" who, along with lots of other guys has been very helpful. Based on this info, I'm guessing that the steering shaft/coupler connection is 180 off, however I'm not certain that the pitman arm is where it should be when the gear is centered, but I think so.
I historically have a VERY bad time assembling steering couplers so I'm hoping to get some confirmation or other ideas before I get into it. I understand that the final centering of the wheel is done with the tie rods, and I'd also like to put the linkage back together so if the coupler is the problem I suppose I can put the linkage together, then do the coupler ?
THANK YOU !!!
restoration www.MitchAmatrudo.com click on the "Duster" link.
1......First center the box by counting turns. Ignore where the steering wheel points and ignore where the front wheels point. "Box center" should only be off by a few degrees, according to how you estimated the fractional turns, perhaps 1/8 of a turn
2......Examine the pitman and see if it points "straight" ahead/ back that is the tapered stud in line with the shaft front / rear.
If not, I don't know if anything could be wrong inside the box, that is between you and the rebuilder. You might check that someone ELSE has not removed the spline key so that the arm can be installed "some other way." Otherwise, it should either be "correct" or off by 90 degees
3......If the above is correct and or you get this fixed, look at the steering wheel. It should be either centered, or 180 degrees. (Upside down). This is because the coupler can be put together 1/2 turn off
Once you get all the above "correct" then you "walk" the tire rod end adjusters so that toe stays where you want, and the wheel is centered.
If everything is "factory correct" you can only make so many mistakes, IE
The coupler can make the wheel 1/2 turn off
You can install the pitman 1/4 turn off either way
The tie rod ends can be unequal, skewing the wheel off center with the wheels off center.[/QUOTE]
