Steering Clocking suddenly off ...
The photo is my current steering wheel position when the car is tracking straight ahead.
1971 Dart Swinger. Regarding the front end/steering, everything is rebuilt probably 12-15,000 miles ago. K-frame is a spool type. I have the large "police" disc brakes with the '76 UCAs (tubular FirmFeels) and spindles. Large, 11/16" seamless tube tie rods/ends. Borgeson power steering box. Grant "tuff"-type steering wheel. Reconditioned Manual-type steering column with the little labeled lever you have to rotate to turn the key fully off and be able to remove the key.
I've always been real happy with my alignment-- car tracks well and steering wheel clocking right on the 12-o'clock mark, with an even amount of left- and right-hand turns available (about 1-7/8 turns each way, from center).
Well, here's the crazy thing that I can't figure out. Two days ago, I'm driving in the dark, straight line at 35 mph, and all of a sudden I notice my steering wheel is clocked about 1/4-1/3 of a rotation to the left (ccw)! In other words, based on steering wheel position, the car should be turning to the left but instead is tracking straight. I was completely baffled and stupefied. Later, I remembered earlier in the day parking the car on a steep upward incline, parallel parking into the space, turning my wheels to the left and letting the car roll backward until the right tire made light contact with the curb, setting the well-holding parking brake, and shutting off the car. When I got back in the car two hours later, when I turned the key and released the steering wheel lock, the steering wheel violently rotated to the right, what seemed at the time to be almost 3/4 of a full rotation. I mean, we've all felt that type of thing happen when the steering is under stress when the key is removed, but this occurrence was unlike anything I've ever experienced. But still, in the moment I shrugged it off and went about my business of running multiple errands. It wasn't until a couple hours later that I noticed the clocking issue, and it wasn't until a couple hours after noticing that I remembered the weird on-the-curb phenomenon.
I can't figure this out to save my life. I haven't really investigated fully yet, or put it on the lift for a full look-see, but it feels like the car is now pulling a little towards the right, and MAYBE the tires have a toe OUT now, but I can't feel any scrubbing or resistance. I just can't imagine what could have possibly occurred during that parking episode that would immediately throw my clocking off 1/4-1/3 of a turn.
And now, from the steering wheel in the position where the car is tracking straight, the wheel turns only 1-1/2 turns ccw but 2-1/4 turns cw. Those are approximations, but you get the picture I hope. Haha--at least now I have an unobstructed view of my tach!
Ideas??
The photo is my current steering wheel position when the car is tracking straight ahead.
1971 Dart Swinger. Regarding the front end/steering, everything is rebuilt probably 12-15,000 miles ago. K-frame is a spool type. I have the large "police" disc brakes with the '76 UCAs (tubular FirmFeels) and spindles. Large, 11/16" seamless tube tie rods/ends. Borgeson power steering box. Grant "tuff"-type steering wheel. Reconditioned Manual-type steering column with the little labeled lever you have to rotate to turn the key fully off and be able to remove the key.
I've always been real happy with my alignment-- car tracks well and steering wheel clocking right on the 12-o'clock mark, with an even amount of left- and right-hand turns available (about 1-7/8 turns each way, from center).
Well, here's the crazy thing that I can't figure out. Two days ago, I'm driving in the dark, straight line at 35 mph, and all of a sudden I notice my steering wheel is clocked about 1/4-1/3 of a rotation to the left (ccw)! In other words, based on steering wheel position, the car should be turning to the left but instead is tracking straight. I was completely baffled and stupefied. Later, I remembered earlier in the day parking the car on a steep upward incline, parallel parking into the space, turning my wheels to the left and letting the car roll backward until the right tire made light contact with the curb, setting the well-holding parking brake, and shutting off the car. When I got back in the car two hours later, when I turned the key and released the steering wheel lock, the steering wheel violently rotated to the right, what seemed at the time to be almost 3/4 of a full rotation. I mean, we've all felt that type of thing happen when the steering is under stress when the key is removed, but this occurrence was unlike anything I've ever experienced. But still, in the moment I shrugged it off and went about my business of running multiple errands. It wasn't until a couple hours later that I noticed the clocking issue, and it wasn't until a couple hours after noticing that I remembered the weird on-the-curb phenomenon.
I can't figure this out to save my life. I haven't really investigated fully yet, or put it on the lift for a full look-see, but it feels like the car is now pulling a little towards the right, and MAYBE the tires have a toe OUT now, but I can't feel any scrubbing or resistance. I just can't imagine what could have possibly occurred during that parking episode that would immediately throw my clocking off 1/4-1/3 of a turn.
And now, from the steering wheel in the position where the car is tracking straight, the wheel turns only 1-1/2 turns ccw but 2-1/4 turns cw. Those are approximations, but you get the picture I hope. Haha--at least now I have an unobstructed view of my tach!
Ideas??