Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 15 February 2021, 09:31:01

Title: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 15 February 2021, 09:31:01

Omega currently stripped out for a couple of jobs. Since a garage had the dash out to do the heater matrix it's always felt like the wheel is off by a midgie's wotsit.

It could do with alignment anyway, which I'm trying to find someone decent to do. In the meantime, I *think* there's a dead zone in the middle of the steering box for when the wheels are straight ahead.

If I get the front up in the air, how hard is it to set firstly the steering box to central, then the wheels to straight ahead (I can do that with straight edge and string), then finally whizz the wheel off and on straight?

I'm trying to minimise the chances of any future alignment completely buggering it by setting the box wonky, if I can do that bit then they can do the twiddly bits on the machine so it's properly right...

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: Nick W on 15 February 2021, 10:36:24

There's no need to jack it up to refit a wheel straight.
Just count the turns from lock to lock; halfway between them is where you need. That's all you'll do if you jack it up.
The wheel is probably only off by a spline or two.


When you do remove the wheel, don't forget to leave the nut on a couple of turn so you don't hit smash yourself in the face.

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 15 February 2021, 12:02:18

The pitman arm needs to be parallel to the chassis rail :y

And if you need to remove the wheel for any length of time, then you would be well advised to use a strip of masking tape to keep it from turning :)

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 15 February 2021, 12:51:01

Cheers chaps! :y

Slight delay as a "quick tidy" has turned into "drop the headlining and fix the leaky plod aerial base, resolder some wiring and clean everything" :D

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 15 February 2021, 13:19:08

Its been a long time since I had the steering wheel off, but istr it isnt splined, but uses a keyway ?

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: iansoutham on 15 February 2021, 13:48:40

I might be wrong here but for some reason I have it in my mind that there is an arrow on the steering box body and another one on the pitman arm that shows the centre point of the box?

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 15 February 2021, 13:54:59

Quote from: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 15 February 2021, 13:19:08

Its been a long time since I had the steering wheel off, but istr it isnt splined, but uses a keyway ?

Deffo splined... there might be a master spline, but it isn't pronounced iirc ;)

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: TheBoy on 15 February 2021, 18:57:41

Quote from: Migv6 le Frog Fan on 15 February 2021, 13:19:08

Its been a long time since I had the steering wheel off, but istr it isnt splined, but uses a keyway ?

Splined, and can be (incorrectly) refitted in any position.

Title: Re: Steering wheel alignment and geometry
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 16 February 2021, 18:09:46

I think I've got it about right, but I haven't took it out yet. Cheers again chaps :y