Steering gear alignment....Is this how it works?

[PNW.Paul]

Using my laser tool as shown in the pix....If the adjuster nut and the steering arm are in alignment and the laser is squared up to the fender bolt holes....does this establish that the steering is "centered"?

I asked my dog, but she wasn't much help

 

[RickM]

I don't think so. I dont see the bolt that attaches the steering shaft to the steering gear, it should be visible, the bolt head should be pointing straight up. Maybe the picture doesnt let us see it.

 

[PNW.Paul]

I don't think so. I dont see the bolt that attaches the steering shaft to the steering gear, it should be visible, the bolt head should be pointing straight up. Maybe the picture doesnt let us see it.

Thanks! I'll check that. Another reference point. Is that attach point keyed, or is it a simple spline?

 

[PNW.Paul]

Update...I checked the shaft bolt and was only a few degrees from straight up. So I think I am pretty close to centered. I'll measure the "X" between the four pivot points to confirm.
I have toe out on one side and toe in on the other!!!

 

[Fbird]

thats kind of a BASIC starting point at best. Toe in on 1 and toe out on the other says it's still aligned (if they are both out the same.) There are several things involved. 1st the steering box will have STOPS inside of it, 2nd the spindles have stops on the a-arm then thirdly ALL is then balanced relative to the steering wheel.
example: the BOX may have stops at say 85* of travel, yet a 2nd gen spindle set only allows about 75* (IIRC) so the last piece is the steering wheel which is splined but moving the wheel 1 spline is almost 20* adjustment (way out) So a shop would rotate wheels full Left (measure) then full Right (measure) spilt the difference ...THEN check the steering wheel alisgnment. If steering wheel is close (as it should be) they would then center THE STEERING WHEEL correctly and adjust toein/toe out to the cars thrust angle centerline. This will give you full travel in either direction.

 

[PNW.Paul]

thats kind of a BASIC starting point at best. Toe in on 1 and toe out on the other says it's still aligned (if they are both out the same.) There are several things involved. 1st the steering box will have STOPS inside of it, 2nd the spindles have stops on the a-arm then thirdly ALL is then balanced relative to the steering wheel.
example: the BOX may have stops at say 85* of travel, yet a 2nd gen spindle set only allows about 75* (IIRC) so the last piece is the steering wheel which is splined but moving the wheel 1 spline is almost 20* adjustment (way out) So a shop would rotate wheels full Left (measure) then full Right (measure) spilt the difference ...THEN check the steering wheel alisgnment. If steering wheel is close (as it should be) they would then center THE STEERING WHEEL correctly and adjust toein/toe out to the cars thrust angle centerline. This will give you full travel in either direction.

Thanks, Fbird! Really good points. My initial goal was to understand if the adjust nut on the top of the steering box was centered on the axis of the steering arm. It looked like it was. When things seemed centered, I had about a 1/2" delta of toe between sides. At this point, I have the rag joint bolt pointing up, steering link "X" measurement is equal, steering wheel is very close to horizontal and I've adjusted the rods to get a slight toe-in on both sides.
Next step is to check the "lock to lock" turns at the steering wheel and see what that tells me.