Off-Centered Steering Wheel

[Whaanga]

As can be seen, my steering wheel is not oriented at 9:00 & 3:00. The bus goes straight down the road but I would like to get this corrected. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thank You

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Late 1973 Bay w/a transplanted 914 Engine

[busdaddy]

If you look at the pointer on the steering box input shaft seal and discover it's centered move the steering wheel one spline, if the pointer matches the amount the steering wheel is off adjust the drag link.
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[Abscate]

Check the tie rods and make sure they aren’t way out too. Post pictures
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[Whaanga]

I replaced the tie rods two years ago with Colin. Here's how the steering wheel was oriented then:

The tie rods are seen here and seem to be in good order:

Once we replaced the tie rods, Colin worked under the bus at the steering box to straighten the wheel. I recall that he adjusted the steering box and aligned things with the boss on the steering box but I was working the wheel above so am not sure of the process.

I have studied the Bentley Bus Daddy, but am not sure how I move the steering wheel one spline. Do you mean to remove it off its shaft in the cab of the the car, or to work below at the steering box?

Thank you for your help - though I've had my bus for 4 years, I'm still learning.

Jeff
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Late 1973 Bay w/a transplanted 914 Engine

[Abscate]

Tie rods look fine. Get the steering gear nub centered , then if the wheel is still off, you pull the horn button, the large nut, and then reinstall the wheel straight.

You can leave the wheel alone and rotate the car to match the wheel, but that is harder. (Samba Humor)
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[Whaanga]

[SGKent]

[Whaanga]

[SGKent]

[airschooled]

Bentley, Front Axle, 9.2… Figure 9-5 shows the steering box visual centering guide, with the dust carp pointed and nub on the box that indicates center. It's visible from under the bus, I think with one's head near the RF tire, looking forward with a good work light. Cleaning might be nice, or necessary down there. We need to know where the spokes are when the notch is aligned.

I think your '73 wheel will require a puller to remove, but you may be lucky and only have to rotate the drag link. That, too, requires a puller, but it's easier to find a good and inexpensive one.

Good luck,
Robbie
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[busdaddy]

[SGKent]

ALSO - everyone should know that the pointer on a late bay is only a rubber ring that slides on. It can point to anywhere it wants to. Maybe it was centered 40 years ago but that is no guarantee it is still aligned. I've seen them way off. The only way to make sure they still point to the right place is to find the high spot and count turns to each side.
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[KentABQ]

If you ever install gages under the dash, your steering wheel is clocked perfectly.

My wheel was at the 9&3 position, but decided to rotate it a few degrees so I can see the new gages while driving without having to lean forward...

[jtauxe]

[Anchovy]

Here's a tutorial with a lot of good input from other Samba folks if you decide you need to realign the wheel. Some folks prefer buying an expensive tool for this job, others do not.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=310527&highlight=tutorial

[Anchovy]

P.S. I put new tie rods in recently. I used two adjustable versions rather than one fixed and one adjustable to make it easier to dial in.

[aeromech]

Here's something. See the pictures above of the left and right side tie rods? Notice that one is adjustable and the other isn't? That's because VW was cheap. You can have both tie rods be adjustable and guess what? When you do then you can easily straighten your steering wheel.

1) Get the bus pointed straight
2) Front wheels on the ground
3) Loosen both sides of the tie rods
4) Turn one CW and the other CCW
5) Your steering wheel will start to turn
6) When it's straight then tighten the tie rods

This method is cheaper than beating the crap out of a nice, stock wheel.
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[SGKent]

nothing matters if the steering box itself is not centered on the high spot when the wheels are straight ahead. The pointer Gemmer put on the boxes may no longer be in the correct position. It is only a rubber washer with a mark that slides on to the steering shaft.

1) Find the center of the steering box. This will require lifting the front end and disconnecting the steering damper. It is also a good time to adjust the steering lash and check the fluid level.

2) Adjust the steering wheel so that it is centered when the steering box is centered. This means remove and put back on. You want the steering box and steering wheel to both be centered at the same time.

3) Adjust drag link so that the bus tracks ahead when the steering is centered. Count the number of turns to each side from center to be sure that the suspension isn't whacked somehow. If the camber or toe is off, or the tires worn uneven, brakes pulling etc., the bus may not want to track straight ahead even when everything is properly aligned from the steering wheel to the drag link.

Anything from adjusting the toe, to changing the rubber puck can throw it off a little again. Adjust it with the drag link if it is in the suspension. Generally once the steering wheel and steering gear are both centered at the same time you will not need to mess with it again during the life of the bus.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Anchovy]

Looks like Aeromech and I posted at the same time about the tie rods.

My bus has two adjustable tie rods (picture above), yours has only one (picture earlier in the thread). Changing out your fixed tie rod is another way to correct the situation as Aeromech suggests.

Steering box should be centered in all cases.

[SGKent]