Steering centering and alignment procedure?

[giantpune]

I have a PDF that has instructions for early GM vehicles, around the same time frame as our cars, to help make sure all the parts of the steering system are properly aligned as they were from the factory. It mentions some idiosyncrasies like all Saginaw steering gears are driven in the center, there's a high spot in the gear that helps it feel crisp. And some steering gears are not actually centered when you're driving straight. Some are built with the ability to turn further in one direction than the other.

Some of whats mentioned are -

• The chisel marks on the tip of the steering shaft and on the steering wheel itself. With the steering centered, these should be at 12 o'clock
• Flat spot on the steering gear shaft. When it is centered, this should be at 12 o'clock.
• Steering coupler (rag joint), the bolt comes in from above at 12. The alignment pins are at 12 and 6. The bolts connecting the steering column flange to the rag joint are at 3 and 9.

This lets you walk your way from the steering wheel, down each component in the system all the way to the wheels making sure they have not been bubba'd up over the years. I'm wondering if there is any similar checklist that pertains to our 71-73 mustangs. Or how much of the GM checklist applies to us?

 

[Stanglover]

I have a PDF that has instructions for early GM vehicles, around the same time frame as our cars, to help make sure all the parts of the steering system are properly aligned as they were from the factory. It mentions some idiosyncrasies like all Saginaw steering gears are driven in the center, there's a high spot in the gear that helps it feel crisp. And some steering gears are not actually centered when you're driving straight. Some are built with the ability to turn further in one direction than the other.

Some of whats mentioned are -

• The chisel marks on the tip of the steering shaft and on the steering wheel itself. With the steering centered, these should be at 12 o'clock
• Flat spot on the steering gear shaft. When it is centered, this should be at 12 o'clock.
• Steering coupler (rag joint), the bolt comes in from above at 12. The alignment pins are at 12 and 6. The bolts connecting the steering column flange to the rag joint are at 3 and 9.

This lets you walk your way from the steering wheel, down each component in the system all the way to the wheels making sure they have not been bubba'd up over the years. I'm wondering if there is any similar checklist that pertains to our 71-73 mustangs. Or how much of the GM checklist applies to us?

Yes there is. It's the same as "what's mentioned" above. I'm not sure about the GM rag joints, but on our Fords with non tilt, the original coupler has different sized locate/safety pins. The larger going to the top, 12 o'clock. This fits the bottom of the column shaft. This also assists the worker on the line to quickly locate and assemble the steering, which to me makes sense. Of course, before assembly, the sector shaft must be centered, 2 turns from full lock on a standard 17.5:1 ratio PS box for example.

 

[giantpune]

Yes there is. It's the same as "what's mentioned" above. I'm not sure about the GM rag joints, but on our Fords with non tilt, the original coupler has different sized locate/safety pins. The larger going to the top, 12 o'clock.

My originals are probably long gone. On my Mustang, I used a lares 201. My nova with manual steering was a lares 200. I think if it had power steering, that would have been a 201. I'm not sure if lares has different sized pins or not.

I do see in the 1973 mustang chassis manual, they show the rag point oriented with the bolt coming in from the top.

 

[Stanglover]

My originals are probably long gone. On my Mustang, I used a lares 201. My nova with manual steering was a lares 200. I think if it had power steering, that would have been a 201. I'm not sure if lares has different sized pins or not.

I do see in the 1973 mustang chassis manual, they show the rag point oriented with the bolt coming in from the top.

Yes, the Lares 201 has two longer pins the same size. This is what I have on my car.
Set the column shaft so the wider slot is tot the top, s/wheel should be centered correctly as well in this position. Then just make sure the PS box is centered. The pins ought to be straight up and down, with the bolt head at the top. The Lares comes with a metal plate or cap, not sure the reason other than it's a safety thing should the rubber let go. If the front wheels are on and linkages connected, the wheels should obviously be straight.
Hope that helps.

 

[giantpune]

I started in on aligning everything on my car today. I swear the rag joint was designed by the same person that invested the USB port. No matter how many times I install one, I always get the steering column oriented 180 degrees off and have to flip it over to try again.

Luckily our cars have the collapsible steering column. Unbolt the steering column, push the flange up, flip it around, install the 2 bolts back in the rag joint. Thats a lot less of a hassle than some other cars I've made that mistake on.

 

[Ryunker]

There is procedures for the mustang. It starts with disconnecting the mechanical steering from the box, rotate steering wheel (with 1/4" torque wrench) find "the high spot" that is when the box is centered, make steering wheel straight (remove and install in right spot) this is also where you set that preload thing on the box, there are published specs. Then at that point reconnect mechanical steering stuff then align.