Nicole

My instrument cluster leans to the right (as it appears to be the case on most 928s I've seen), and my steering wheel is slightly off to the other side. I'd like to get the instrument cluster adjusted - partially to have a better reference point for the steering wheel.

My car is an airbag car with the knee bolster covering the underside of the dash and instrument cluster (no tray there). Before I take all this stuff off, can you guys tell me what it takes to tilt that instrument cluster back to be horizontal? Is that something a "beginner level" hobby wrenching person can do, or does that require more mechanical expertise? What tools are required?

Thanks,

Randy V

Hmmm, are you referring to the 'pod' that houses the instrument cluster, when you say it's leaning?

Removing and replacing the pod is fairly simple, though it does take a bit of time the first time you do it.

The workshop manual does a fairly good job of documenting the process with pictures - there are a few good tutorials out there on the web, but none that I can recall that have pictures.

Here's one:

<a href="http://www.kondratyev.com/porsche/products/r_&_r.htm" target="_blank">http://www.kondratyev.com/porsche/products/r_&_r.htm</a>

though that one contains a disclaimer about airbag equipped vehicles.

As I've never removed the pod from an airbagged car, I'll defer to someone else here who may have.

UBoatCommander

Nicole,

Have you seen one that does not tilt? The reason I ask is b/c mine looks like it tilts a little too but when looking around on the bottom and sides all the spaces seem even. I always keep mine in the all-the-way-down position. I assume its supposed to be that way. Keep us posted.

Randy
'93

Chris

So the bracket the pod sits on is attached to the steering column, from memory the only place it is secured from movement is the three bolts where the adjustment mechanism and dash are attached.

I seem to remember there are slots where the bolts attach, might be worth loosening the bolts and seeing if you can level the pod out.

Chris

Dave H.

when i had my pod out i spent 2-3 hours tweaking this and that trying to get it to look level. i think part of it is it looks tilted because of the curve of the dash, if you compare it to the road it doesn't look as bad.

take a look at <a href="http://www.eskimo.com/~riffraff/podfixin.html" target="_blank">my pod page</a> , pictures, but no airbag removal.

dave

Normy

I messed with this a while back. I had the same thing after the first time I took my pod off. I pulled the thing back off a day later, disgusted with myself and discovered that one of the large plastic grommets that attach the pod to the mounting frame on one side had actually not seated properly, allowing that side to be too high. I reset the whole thing and now it sits straight.

N!
'85 S2 5 Speed

WallyP

After you get the pod where you want it, the way to get the wheel straight is to remove the plastic plug fromt he front of the steering rack housing, find the recess in the rack, insert the centering bolt to hold the rack centered, and then center the wheel.

If the wheel then isn't straight as you drive down the road, you need to tweak the tie rods to get the wheel straight.

Erik - Denmark

Nicole,
Last year I went in-to a Porsche garage in Copenhagen, and the shop owner was driving a test drive in my car – The first thing he did when he went into the driver seat was to grip the instrument cluster and twist it to horizontal position.
As you certainly know, that’s only fixed around the steering shaft tube with a clamp, therefore possible simply to twist it, to correct horizontal position. Voila!

Nicole

Thanks, guys!

In my case, I'll have to remove the knee bolster, before I can see what all of this looks like. I have never removed or adjusted a pod before - the closese I ever came was replacing the turn signal switch assembly on my first 928. But that has been more than five years ago, and I really don't remember much of what I saw then. Also, this was a non-airbag car.

No, just tilting won't work - the pod is pretty much "fixed" in its position. If I have time on the weekend, I'll take a look at it. I'd like this done before the steering wheel gets adjusted.

Wally: Thanks for explaining, but I sure won't touch the steering rack or tie rods. That's stuff I feel I should better leave up to a more experienced mechanic...

Randy V

Erik - actually the pod is attached by two (2) bolts to a metal frame in the dash.

There is no clamping onto the steering shaft as you suggest.

Erik - Denmark

Randy,
Yes, you are right – The instrument cluster is bolted to the bearing house for the steering shaft, and the clamp is only for the switch housing – Sorry for the mistake.
Good you correct and remind me.
When the Porsche shop owner did the fix, he loosen the lock for the steering wheel and cluster adjustment, twist the cluster, and lock.
So Nicole, you try again

Jimbo

I was able to adjust my pod using Erik's tip.

Earl Gillstrom

Nicole,

I have my 91 GT very much apart, but, I checked, and think I have a solution to your problem.

Just under and on either side of the steering column, there are 4 studs facing straight back, with 10mm head nuts that are the mounting for the pod adjustment. My dash, pod and bolster are off, so it is tough to tell, but think they may be accesable just above the knee bolster. If not, remove the knee bolster for access. Loosen the 4 nuts and there appears to be plenty of play to rotate the pod to a desired position. You will neeed a 10 mm deep socket and an appropiate extention and ratchet. The steering wheel may be in the way, but I don't think so. You may have to move the pod up and down for access to the nuts. Tighten snugly after adjustment. You probably could leave them just a little loose and drive the car and tilt the pod until you are satisfied before tightning.

If you can wait, I will be assembling the dash in a few weeks and can advise you better.

Nicole

Thanks, guys! I plan to take a look at it on Saturday, when (hopefully) I will have time to give my baby a bath...

Nicole

The baby got it's bath today, and I did not throw it out with the bath water...


Shocking sideline: I checked the tire pressure and found that all tires were between 28 and 32 psi - that's only about a month after I got two new front tires, and had all four balanced. Scary...

Back to our topic here:

I tried the adjustment trick described by Eric, and it got the cluster almost horizontal. I wished I had three hands to hold the pot in place and close it's lock.

Now it is probably just a degree off. That's less than perfect, but in this busy time it does not justify spending an afternoon on taking things apart. I'll have to revisit this when I have more time.

Thanks for the input! Much better now...