'91' XJ: Steering wheel alignment

Some people have noticed that my steering wheel isn't aligned properly with
my wheels. What I mean by this is that if I have the steering wheel pointed
straight (with the crossbar horizontal) my XJ's wheels aren't pointed
straight ahead. Aside from this I have no problems w/my steering gear and my
tires don't exhibit any abnormal tire wear.

--
there is no .sig

Hi Doug,
If you're happy with the condition of your track bar, then make the
adjustment to your drag link by turning that sleeve that has both right
and left handed threads that will adjust it's length, near the pitman
arm: http://www.billhughes.com/TJFrontSusp.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O


Doug wrote:
>
> Some people have noticed that my steering wheel isn't aligned properly with
> my wheels. What I mean by this is that if I have the steering wheel pointed
> straight (with the crossbar horizontal) my XJ's wheels aren't pointed
> straight ahead. Aside from this I have no problems w/my steering gear and my
> tires don't exhibit any abnormal tire wear.
>
> --
> there is no .sig

Like Bill mentions, check the track bar first. If the bushings or ball
joint are worn, the steering wheel can go off center. As your front
springs sag with age, the wheel cocks off too.

I recommend soaking the crap out of the drag link for a couple days with
penetrating oil along the lengthwise crack especially. I find a
plumbers pipe wrench to be a handy tool to use to adjust it.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Doug wrote:
>
> Some people have noticed that my steering wheel isn't aligned properly with
> my wheels. What I mean by this is that if I have the steering wheel pointed
> straight (with the crossbar horizontal) my XJ's wheels aren't pointed
> straight ahead. Aside from this I have no problems w/my steering gear and my
> tires don't exhibit any abnormal tire wear.
>
> --
> there is no .sig

Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
a. point the front wheels straight ahead
b. remove the steering wheel
c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?

I don't think the problem is in the steering gear, because the vehicle
tracks straight and I don't have any unusual tire wear.

--
there is no .sig
"L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Doug,
> If you're happy with the condition of your track bar, then make the
> adjustment to your drag link by turning that sleeve that has both right
> and left handed threads that will adjust it's length, near the pitman
> arm: http://www.billhughes.com/TJFrontSusp.jpg
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>
>
> Doug wrote:
>>
>> Some people have noticed that my steering wheel isn't aligned properly
>> with
>> my wheels. What I mean by this is that if I have the steering wheel
>> pointed
>> straight (with the crossbar horizontal) my XJ's wheels aren't pointed
>> straight ahead. Aside from this I have no problems w/my steering gear and
>> my
>> tires don't exhibit any abnormal tire wear.
>>
>> --
>> there is no .sig

The adjustment is called the drag link as mentioned. It is a sleeve on
the first steering arm that turns. The steering wheel is a GM style
that only fits one way.

The off center is because of a sloppy alignment where they were lazy and
didn't finish it by tweaking the steering wheel or sagging springs or
worn out track bar bushings as mentioned.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Doug wrote:
>
> Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
> a. point the front wheels straight ahead
> b. remove the steering wheel
> c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?
>
> I don't think the problem is in the steering gear, because the vehicle
> tracks straight and I don't have any unusual tire wear.
>
> --
> there is no .sig
> "L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi Doug,
> > If you're happy with the condition of your track bar, then make the
> > adjustment to your drag link by turning that sleeve that has both right
> > and left handed threads that will adjust it's length, near the pitman
> > arm: http://www.billhughes.com/TJFrontSusp.jpg
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> >
> >
> > Doug wrote:
> >>
> >> Some people have noticed that my steering wheel isn't aligned properly
> >> with
> >> my wheels. What I mean by this is that if I have the steering wheel
> >> pointed
> >> straight (with the crossbar horizontal) my XJ's wheels aren't pointed
> >> straight ahead. Aside from this I have no problems w/my steering gear and
> >> my
> >> tires don't exhibit any abnormal tire wear.
> >>
> >> --
> >> there is no .sig

Repositioning the steering wheel on it's column shaft may loose the
turn signal's automatic shift to neutral off position.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

Doug wrote:
>
> Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
> a. point the front wheels straight ahead
> b. remove the steering wheel
> c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?
>
> I don't think the problem is in the steering gear, because the vehicle
> tracks straight and I don't have any unusual tire wear.

Horn too....

Mike

"L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:
>
> Repositioning the steering wheel on it's column shaft may loose the
> turn signal's automatic shift to neutral off position.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> http://www.billhughes.com/
>
> Doug wrote:
> >
> > Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
> > a. point the front wheels straight ahead
> > b. remove the steering wheel
> > c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?
> >
> > I don't think the problem is in the steering gear, because the vehicle
> > tracks straight and I don't have any unusual tire wear.

This is also making the assumption that there are splines that will match up
with the amount he is off-center.

I had this off-center situation after an alignment back in '73 when my dad,
unintentionally, took my Dodge Dart off-road. After a week or so I no
longer noticed it...... although my passengers did.


"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> Horn too....
>
> Mike
>
> "L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:
>>
>> Repositioning the steering wheel on it's column shaft may loose the
>> turn signal's automatic shift to neutral off position.
>> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
>> http://www.billhughes.com/
>>
>> Doug wrote:
>> >
>> > Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
>> > a. point the front wheels straight ahead
>> > b. remove the steering wheel
>> > c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?
>> >
>> > I don't think the problem is in the steering gear, because the vehicle
>> > tracks straight and I don't have any unusual tire wear.

Besides, adjusting the drag link only takes a couple minutes, pulling
the wheel can be a nightmare, especially if he has air bags....

Mike

BillyRay wrote:
>
> This is also making the assumption that there are splines that will match up
> with the amount he is off-center.
>
> I had this off-center situation after an alignment back in '73 when my dad,
> unintentionally, took my Dodge Dart off-road. After a week or so I no
> longer noticed it...... although my passengers did.
>
> "Mike Romain" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Horn too....
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > "L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:
> >>
> >> Repositioning the steering wheel on it's column shaft may loose the
> >> turn signal's automatic shift to neutral off position.
> >> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> >> http://www.billhughes.com/
> >>
> >> Doug wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
> >> > a. point the front wheels straight ahead
> >> > b. remove the steering wheel
> >> > c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?
> >> >
> >> > I don't think the problem is in the steering gear, because the vehicle
> >> > tracks straight and I don't have any unusual tire wear.

The TJ steering wheel is keyed, I wouldn't be surprised if the XJ one is
also.

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Mike Romain" > wrote in message
...
> Besides, adjusting the drag link only takes a couple minutes, pulling
> the wheel can be a nightmare, especially if he has air bags....
>
> Mike
>
> BillyRay wrote:
> >
> > This is also making the assumption that there are splines that will
match up
> > with the amount he is off-center.
> >
> > I had this off-center situation after an alignment back in '73 when my
dad,
> > unintentionally, took my Dodge Dart off-road. After a week or so I no
> > longer noticed it...... although my passengers did.
> >
> > "Mike Romain" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Horn too....
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > "L.W.(ßill) Hughes III" wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Repositioning the steering wheel on it's column shaft may loose
the
> > >> turn signal's automatic shift to neutral off position.
> > >> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > >> http://www.billhughes.com/
> > >>
> > >> Doug wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> > Just to be stupid, why can't I just:
> > >> > a. point the front wheels straight ahead
> > >> > b. remove the steering wheel
> > >> > c. re-install the steering wheel so it's correctly centered?