VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 54 Chevy Pickup Steering wheel off center

The steering wheel on a 54 Chevy Pickup is off center. The steering wheel can only go on one way. The alignment Tech inspected it and said I would need to purchase an after market adjustable drag link. I haven't been able to find one. Another Tech it could be done by adjusting the tie-rods. The alignment Tech told me I had only one adjustable tie-rod. So many different ideas. I can't believe this is normal. I can't even see the speedometer because it is off so much. Anyone know the correct answer ?

The Steering worm shaft is splined so the steering whel can go on many ways. The steering gear should be centered for straight ahead driving. The is a little mark on the top end of the shaft that indicates dead center.
The pitman arm can go on only is one way so that should not be a problem. It should have a forging number of 3694905 on it. If it has 3683299 it is a 1952 and prior arm. Could be a problem.
The drag link also is a 1953-1954 part only It should have a built in ball joint on both ends (new for 1953).
You mayhave a mixture of parts.
Also I have heard of the worm on the end of the worm shaft actually,coming loose on a passenger car.

I believe the 54 truck worm shaft has a woodruff key in it and the steering wheel has a key way. I think we've gone down this road before. I'm not sure if the woodruff key is removable from the worm shaft or it it is a permanent part of the shaft. If it is removable, then you could put the wheel on in any orientation and at least see your gauges until you can check the numbers that Gene provided and see what is happening with those items.

There was a problem with the worm becoming detached from the shaft and damage taking place with the gears. From my reading, this generally occurred when someone would strike the worm shaft (presumably with a drift pin and hammer) in an attempt to remove the steering wheel.

I could be wrong about the splines.
I suspect he has either a combination of incorret or damaged parts.

Another test or thought.
Place the steeering wheel in the present straight ahead position. Then count the turns of the steering wheel from center to fully turned in each diredtion. Should be almost equal number of turns for both directions.

Your "Alignment Tech" is crazy and he is making this way more complicated than it is.

If your tech had actually removed & inspected the steering wheel.
He would have quickly found that...

The splines on the steering wheel & steering column allow for full indexing adjustment of the steering wheel.

The steering wheel does NOT "only go on one way".

There is no keyway on the wheel or column splines.

The alignment should be set , then remove the steering wheel & re-install it in the proper position on the column.

Please note the key way in the wheel:



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Just pulled out a 1954 steering column & it is fully splined with no key way.











Why would they put a key way on the steering wheel & no matching key way on the column ?

1. You will need to find a tech who understands the 1954 front end and alignment procedure, not the "alignment tech" you are now speaking with.

The top end of the worm shaft has an index morked stamped in. This mark indiates dead center. At dead center there will be no free play in the steering gear if it is adjusted properly. . If it is not at dead center there will be free play in the steering.

Pulled the steering wheel and no key. The steering wheel does have a notch for one but no key on the shaft. Centered the steering wheel.

That's correct. Thank you!