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Old 03-29-2012, 07:36 PM   #1
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Centering steering wheel

Took my rig to a Ford dealer to have an alignment done. When I picked it up, they said it was ok but had swapped the front tires. It does drive better now. One thing is that the steering wheel is not centered. They did tell me that they could fix it, but it would require disconnecting the gearbox, or something like that. I didn't do that but now I am considering it. I just didn't like having the steering wheel off center. Has anyone else had to do that? The rig does go straight and does not pull to either side.
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Old 03-29-2012, 08:15 PM   #2
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My 2000 is the same way. Ford provides no way to easily center the steering wheel on the F53 chassis.
Bothered me too. I pulled the steering wheel to get it centered.
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Old 03-29-2012, 08:46 PM   #3
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Either pull the steering wheel or pull off the splined shaft / u-joint at the top of the steering box, and adjust as needed.
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Old 03-30-2012, 06:55 AM   #4
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I can't figure what swapping the front tires would accomplish. Mine had to have an alignment that even my Ford dealer with a light truck shop couldn't do. The truck shop could adjust the toe, but on mine the caster was off. It would run right off the road if I didn't actively steer to the left all the time. My dealer subbed the job out to a shop that could do the caster adjustment.
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Old 03-30-2012, 07:06 AM   #5
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[QUOTE=JacknKay;1129012]Took my rig to a Ford dealer to have an alignment done. When I picked it up, they said it was ok but had swapped the front tires. It does drive better now. One thing is that the steering wheel is not centered. They did tell me that they could fix it, but it would require disconnecting the gearbox, or something like that. I didn't do that but now I am considering it. I just didn't like having the steering wheel off center. Has anyone else had to do that? The rig does go straight and does not pull to either side.[/QUOT
Yes I took mine to a Bear alignment center for trucks. Told them I wanted a front end alignment and to straighten out the steering wheel. They did but had to do it with the steering box. Went as far as they could but it came out alright. F-53 Chassis
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Old 03-30-2012, 07:17 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JacknKay View Post
Took my rig to a Ford dealer to have an alignment done. When I picked it up, they said it was ok but had swapped the front tires. It does drive better now. One thing is that the steering wheel is not centered. They did tell me that they could fix it, but it would require disconnecting the gearbox, or something like that. I didn't do that but now I am considering it. I just didn't like having the steering wheel off center. Has anyone else had to do that? The rig does go straight and does not pull to either side.
Recentering the steering wheel is something that has to be done after aligning a Ford F53 front end. Ford even issued a bulletin on how to do it back in 1999.
QVM Bulletin No. Q-59 Date: September 18, 1998
F53 MOTOR HOME CHASSIS CLEAR VISION AND ALIGNMENT POLICY CHANGE.

Here's a link to the Bulletin: https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q59.PDF

Essentially the steering wheel needs to be removed and recentered. Unlike the Workhorse chassis there is only 1 adjustment for setting the tow in. If it has to be changed the steering wheel will be moved off center. The Clear Vision bulletin details how to remove and recenter the steering wheel.

Not only does the bulletin detail how to recenter the steering wheel it also specifically warns against disconnecting the linkage at the gear box.
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Old 03-31-2012, 07:02 PM   #7
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I have a 2004 f53 chassis. I just did the steering wheel. I took the bolt out of the input shaft on top of the steering box. I put a screw driver in the slot and hammered it in enough to open the slit and was able to get the yoke off and on. After getting it off I just turned the wheel and had my DW hold it still while I put the yoke back on. With the yoke removed the steering wheel would just spin. Everything is fine now.
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Old 03-31-2012, 09:47 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koda59 View Post
I have a 2004 f53 chassis. I just did the steering wheel. I took the bolt out of the input shaft on top of the steering box. I put a screw driver in the slot and hammered it in enough to open the slit and was able to get the yoke off and on. After getting it off I just turned the wheel and had my DW hold it still while I put the yoke back on. With the yoke removed the steering wheel would just spin. Everything is fine now.
That's what I did, too. Its a good idea to re-torque that clamp bolt after a short time, just to be safe.
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