My steering wheel is 90 degrees off

[KD4UPL]

When driving straight down the road the cross arms of the steering wheel in my 1986 K10 are vertical. This not only looks weird but blocks the view of the gauges.
I removed the steering wheel yesterday to replace the parts behind it so the horn will work. I have another thread about this problem. In that thread there was much debate over whether or not this was the original wheel or one from a newer truck.
I was hoping I could put the wheel back on 90 degrees to how it was to fix this problem but it's looking like all the parts will only line up one way. I thought maybe my steering shaft going into the steering box was off 90 degrees but in looking at it It seems i could only change that by 180 degrees which won't help anything.
How do I get my steering wheel to be 90 degrees different when going straight?

Thanks

 

[Keith Seymore]

Adjust the fore/aft drag link (from the steering gear to the knuckle), assuming all else is well.

K

 

[legopnuematic]

First thing is lift the front off of the ground, crank the wheel all the way to the left, then, while counting turns go all the way to the right (should be about 3 1/2 turns lock to lock). Then split the difference, putting the box in it’s true center.

From there you can see if the wheels are pointed forward or not, and if the wheel is positioned correctly. Adjust what is needed from there.

 

[75gmck25]

Go through the process in post #3 and then look at where the steering wheel points. If it points straight ahead, then all you need to do is adjust the drag link so the wheels also point straight ahead. 90 degrees off is quite a bit, but I think it would work. Clean the threads and lubricate the drag link adjusting sleeve liberally, and give it time to loosen up. It’s been clamped on there a long time.
I have seen alignment shops use a bolt-on brace against the seat to hold the steering wheel centered, but I just roped it tightly to both vent windows and it seemed to work good enough to hold it.

If the steering wheel does not point straight ahead when the box is centered, then it’s more complicated. You need to disconnect the rag joint and shaft, and adjust how the shaft is aligned to the box and the wheel. There are splined fittings at both ends of the shaft, so it’s a tedious job but not really that hard to get it in the correct position.

I think the upper shaft behind my steering wheel had a punch mark on it, which I assumed was the top center. Using that as center gave me wheel rotation in both directions and provided proper turn signal canceling, etc.