Just bought a 1986 944NA with 146K on the clock. My son picked it up and is driving it to me in Colorado. He says it drives great but that the steering wheel is off center. Recent past service included replacing the steering rack so I'm thinking that this service affected the steering wheel's orientation, but that's only a guess. My question is do I correct this at the steering wheel, at the steering shaft, or at the tie rod ends? Any input greatly appreciated.

 

I think at the steering wheel. Center the rack. Then remove and replace steering wheel on the splines to center. This assumes the wheels are pointing north-south when the rack is centered.

 

Thanks, jdermig. Not having worked on these cars I wasn't certain if pulling the wheel would be an easier job than loosening the nuts at the steering shaft where it connects to the rack (which is where I think the problem started when someone installed a new rack without correctly aligning the steering wheel).

 

oops.

 

The wheel is definitely the easiest way. One 24 mm nut. Don't use the steering lock to counter the torque of the wrench. The manual steering racks have a 17mm pointed bolt on the bottom that screws into an indent in the rack to center it. If the power units have this (assuming your tie rods are even on both sides, it'll be the easiest way to get the wheel straight without some guess and checking.

 

Thanks. I'll remove the wheel then.

I understand some of the dash lights are out so it might be a good time with the wheel off to replace them.

 

Having just done this on my 84, the power rack has a rubber fitting that covers a peep hole for a centering line (didn't know there was a way to lock the rack, good to know next time).

If the wheels are not going N-S after this you will need an alignment to set the tie-rods.

 

If you had the steering rack on and off the car, it needs to be realigned unless as an alternative you want to reset the left and right side toe yourself to re-center the wheel. If you are game to try the latter, loosen the tie rod jam nuts, turn the inner rod in on one side of the car, out on the other by N flats on the inner tie rod 13 mm ATF hex (where N is an integer from 1 on up...), retighten the jam nuts, test drive, curse your fate, come back an adjust again until you get it centered.

That said, the shop that replaced the steering rack should have realigned the car.

 

Welcome!

 

The steering rack has a specific "centering point" - there is a plastic cap over a threaded hole where a special tool goes in to pin the rack at the center point when you do an alignment. Likely that wasn't done... If you're going to re-index the steering wheel, use that rack center location to do it right.

 

Thanks all.

I used the eyeball method and at least got it close. Going to drive to the smog place and then to the DMV to get my title and reg straightened out and I'll see how close I actually got. Of course, now my horn doesn't work so I'll be taking the wheel off to fix that little annoyance. I'm guessing that when I cleaned the gunk off of the contact that I pressed it too hard and now it's not making contact with the race on the back of the steering wheel.

One thing leads to another with these cars. Or is that with 30+ year old cars in general?

 

Make sure the little spade terminal part didn't break off of the horn wire inside the hub. (As an aside question, where is the car from that he was able to drive it to CO without it being registered?)

 

My son picked it up for me in Ohio and the dealer gave him 30 day temporary Ohio tags along with an Ohio title. I'm getting it registered here in Colorado.