drop arm changed, steering wheel out

Hi lads
I think i have a good idea here what i need to do but just want to check before i go ahead and do it.

I replaced the drop arm on my 300tdi 90 yesterday. I was very fortunate that it only took an hour and came off with a puller, anyway after installing the new drop arm and making sure that the new arm went onto the sterring box the same way the old one came off i have come to find that my steering wheel is now 1/3 of a turn out to central position. From reading up on this i gather i could adjust the drag link (front of vehicle) to correct the steering wheel position?

Is this correct any help greatly appreciated. Many thanks jamie

reject86 said:

Hi lads
I think i have a good idea here what i need to do but just want to check before i go ahead and do it.

I replaced the drop arm on my 300tdi 90 yesterday. I was very fortunate that it only took an hour and came off with a puller, anyway after installing the new drop arm and making sure that the new arm went onto the sterring box the same way the old one came off i have come to find that my steering wheel is now 1/3 of a turn out to central position. From reading up on this i gather i could adjust the drag link (front of vehicle) to correct the steering wheel position?

Is this correct any help greatly appreciated. Many thanks jamie

Click to expand...

Yes you can, but why did you change the drop arm was it bent?

wammers said:

Yes you can, but why did you change the drop arm was it bent?

Click to expand...

The ball joint on the origional had far to much play. It was not bent at all.

reject86 said:

The ball joint on the origional had far to much play. It was not bent at all.

Click to expand...

I cannot see the TRE being badly enough worn to cause the steering wheel to be that far out. You have fitted the drop arm in the wrong place. Drive car forwards at least three car lengths on a flat surface hands off steering wheel to self centre steering. Remove drop arm, set steering wheel ahead, check that marks on intermediate shaft are lined up and steering box is central. Replace drop arm and secure. Self centre steering again and adjust drag link to centre steering wheel if out.

The steering box shaft has master spline's on it and and drop arm can only be mounted at 90 degree intervals,so it can not be out a "bit" on the splines.
It may be the master spline on the replacement arm is slightly out. [ a fraction on the spline position can make a lot of difference at the end of the arm and most on the market are not original items].
With wheels straight ahead the drop arm should also be near enough straight ahead when fitted to the drag link.[ if it is out left or right of center by much you will have more lock one way than the other]
If above is correct then slip the steering column connection rod back by releasing the pinch bolts in the small uj's, center steering wheel and relocate uj on steering box input splines.

reject86 said:

Hi lads
I think i have a good idea here what i need to do but just want to check before i go ahead and do it.

I replaced the drop arm on my 300tdi 90 yesterday. I was very fortunate that it only took an hour and came off with a puller, anyway after installing the new drop arm and making sure that the new arm went onto the sterring box the same way the old one came off i have come to find that my steering wheel is now 1/3 of a turn out to central position. From reading up on this i gather i could adjust the drag link (front of vehicle) to correct the steering wheel position?

Is this correct any help greatly appreciated. Many thanks jamie

Click to expand...

Newer steering boxes and arms have a hole & slot that align when at the straight-ahead position.

The drop arm will be slightly to the right as it has to be parallel to the steering arm on the LHS knuckle.

I think the manual says to centre and older steering box you drop the drag link off, turn all the way to the left then put the wheel on.

2 turns to the right is the centre of the box, even though it doesn't go 4 turns lock to lock. - the drag link back on will restrict that.

Unless you've fitted a Disco drop arm !!

It is correct the arm should be a little to the right when wheels are straight ahead, but it is just a little and I very much doubt that this method will result in a centered steering wheel given what I have said about non original replacement drop arms.

there are 2 drop arms lh and rh, but with the right one fitted you center box ,then steering wheel then road wheels,

Just take the steering wheel off and then put it on straight if you want to centre it

Thanks for all the advice lads, had the drop arm off again last night made sure the slot on the back if the drop arm and steering box ligned up. All back together and the steering wheel is still in the same place, i wonder if a previous owner had removed and re placed the steering wheel at some point, anyways looks like this is what im going to do to get it straight. At the moment its 1 and 3/4 turns left and right to full lock so im happy i have done the job correctly. Thanks again.

james6546 said:

Just take the steering wheel off and then put it on straight if you want to centre it

Click to expand...

You might find it easier to remove a uj from the steering linkage and do it that way

Second the above,the steering wheel can be a right barsteward to remove without puller.

tottot said:

Second the above,the steering wheel can be a right barsteward to remove without puller.

Click to expand...

Mine just came off. Hardly any effort at all.

Well that's a bit of luck then,cheers

just to follow on, i removed the steering wheel with out any real effort, replaced in the new position and is totally fine. thanks for the advice guys.