1957 Steering Wheel suddenly not centered

[TbirdFan76]

Yesterday I fixed the horn on my Tbird. After the fix I turned the wheel all the way left and then right to test that the horn didn't randomly blow when turning the wheel. After that I went for a drive and discovered the steering wheel top is now 90° left when the car is moving straight. It doesn't pull left or right.

The only thing I can add is that there was cardboard under the left tire when I turned the wheel left and right and the cardboard moved along with the tire. I felt like the steering wheel turned more than usual to the left.

Any ideas what would cause the steering wheel position to change?

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[1957Birdman]

TBFan, I think something was not correct before you made your repair. I would first be sure the car is on level ground, and the tires are pointed forward. From there check the steering wheel position. The spokes of the steering wheel should form a "Y" and the smooth part of the steering wheel should be at the top. If that is off, you will need to adjust the tie rod ends to correct the issue. See the shop manual for details.
I hope I didn't insult your intelligence; you may have done this already. This is also for someone who might be a new owner and experiences this problem.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

 

[TbirdFan76]

Hi Lew, I agree the horn fix should not cause this. But I do think something went out of adjustment while turning the wheels back fast left and right when I tested after fixing the horn.

When standing still the wheel looks like the attached photos but when driving the top of the steering wheel is at nine o'clock. I do have the shop manual so it says to loosen 2 bolts on spindle connecting rods (on both sides) and turn a sleeve up or down to adjust the steering wheel position. Have you done this before? How much effort might it take if it hasn't been adjusted for a while?

 

[83ragtop50]

What was required to repair the horn? Any work around the steering column? It surely sounds like there has been a shifting in the steering linkage. I would highly recommend not attempting to adjust the tie rod ends at home except for gross alignment changes. Much better to take it to a shop that knows how to align the frontends of our old birds. Irregular tire wear and compromised steering can result from bad adjustments. And the shop will know how to re-center the steering wheel. Just my two cents. Take it for what it is worth.

Let us know how you solve this problem.

 

[TbirdFan76]

What was required to repair the horn? Any work around the steering column? It surely sounds like there has been a shifting in the steering linkage. I would highly recommend not attempting to adjust the tie rod ends at home except for gross alignment changes. Much better to take it to a shop that knows how to align the frontends of our old birds. Irregular tire wear and compromised steering can result from bad adjustments. And the shop will know how to re-center the steering wheel. Just my two cents. Take it for what it is worth.

Let us know how you solve this problem.

Horn repair was simply to replace the brass end of the wire and reattach the horn ring. Then I turned the steering wheel as far as it would go first left then right to make sure the horn didn't sound during turns.

The actual horn repair didn't involve removing the steering wheel, just the horn ring.

I'm having the front end alignment checked tomorrow. If no failed components are found I've asked them to straighten the steering wheel following the directions in the 1957 Ford and Tbird shop manual.

 

[1957Birdman]

I think you are doing the right thing. As I said in my note to you, your steering wheel is about 80 degrees off from where it should be. The shop doing the work should be able to adjust things and fix the problem. You will know that it is right when the 1/3 of the steering wheel that has no gripping lines is centered at the top of the steering wheel and the Ford Master Guide billboard is centered and readable.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

 

[Alex]

Kan het zijn dat de stuuras beneden bij het stuurhuis over de spiebanen is geschoten bij het draaien van het stuurwiel,? Succes Alex

 

[TbirdFan76]

Current diagnosis by shop is bad power steering control valve, 2 PS pressure hoses, 1 Pitman arm and bushings. Getting second estimate as this shop is adding over 100% to parts cost from suppliers. Will update when repaired.

 

[TbirdFan76]

Current diagnosis by shop is bad power steering control valve, 2 PS pressure hoses, 1 Pitman arm and bushings. Getting second estimate as this shop is adding over 100% to parts cost from suppliers. Will update when repaired.

The bad power steering control valve, slave valve and hoses have been replaced. Turns out the pitman arm and bushings are fine. I found another shop with more reasonable prices for parts saving about $700. They also did an alignment after the repair, but the steering wheel position is now worse. The mechanic said he had the steering wheel position correct but I took one turn, and it was back to being off center to the left. I will be taking it back to get that fixed.

From what I read in my 1957 Ford Car and Thunderbird Shop Manual section 5 pages 5-2 to 5-4 are likely what needs to be adjusted. It covers Steering Gear Adjustments for the Worm and Roller mesh, and steering wheel spoke position adjustment. I will be sharing that information with the shop. If you know the correct item to adjust it will help me point the shop in the right direction.

And a side note. The power steering makes a lot more moaning and groaning sounds than before the repair of the leaking power steering control valve and hoses. I have read 1957 power steering turning noise but if you have thoughts on the power steering noises, not already mentioned in the referenced post, please let me know here or make an update in the referenced post and mention me @TbirdFan76. Thanks.

 

[1957Birdman]

The place to start is with Steering Wheel Spoke Position Adjustment is section 5-4. If things aren't too far off, the mechanic should be able to straighten the steering wheel following those instructions.
My power steering pump does make some noise but only when turned fully in either direction. Yours may need to be rebuilt.
Lew Bachman
1957 Colonial White

 

[Tom Alpers]

None of this makes any sense to me. For the steering wheel to suddenly be so far off center after turning the wheels it would seem to me some significant part would have to have slipped. If the front wheels are both pointing in the same direction after this happened that would suggest it's not due to tie rod ends slipping on the threads. If it happened again after someone worked on the front end parts the two placed I would focus on are the internals of the steering box. Perhaps a bearing in there failed creating way too much gear clearance or the amount of wear on the gear teeth is so great the teeth are slipping. The other place is the steering wheel where it bolts to the steering shaft, perhaps the nut has backed off or someone forgot to put the nut on and the steering wheel is now slipping on the splines on the steering shaft.