Steering Wheel Index Mark

[George Des]

I'm preparing to go back in to fix my steering wheel so it cancels the turn signals properly. Had the whole thing apart during my restoration and subsequent repair of the coupling. I know it did not go back together properly indexed because I was admittedly just not paying attention to it at the time. Can someone tell me if it is correct in assuming that the index mark stamped into the steering shaft should be pointing to the 12 o'clock position and the front wheels set dead straight ahead when everything is set properly to cancel the signals? Understand from prior posts that the tie rods may also be adjusted to help set the steering wheel alignment.

George

[69280sl]

Yes George, as you state it.

Gus

[badali]

You will also find that the steering wheel will lock in the 12:00 position

[George Des]

Thanks. I did not see an index mark on the steering wheel hub itself. This may have been covered over when I restored the wheel. Where on the wheel hub should I be looking for it?
 Thanks again
George

[69280sl]

I did not see an index mark on my OE hub which I still have.  In my case with a Nardi wheel, I made sure the lowest most spoke pointed straight down. Looked at my OE wheel again, no index mark that I can see.

Gus

[jacovdw]

George,

There is no index mark on the steering hub itself, but only on the steering shaft.
With the index mark on the shaft in the 12 o'clock position, the hub is mounted onto the splined shaft such that the steering wheel is horizontal.

There is another place to check if your steering is dead centre and that is to remove the check bolt on top of the power steering unit.
The power piston inside the unit has a little dimple that would align with the bolt hole to indicate dead centre (assuming front wheels is aligned dead straight).
There is a special bolt with a tapered tip that is used to secure the power piston in the dead centre position during installation/removal of the power steering unit.

[George Des]

Thanks. Yeah, understand the centering bolt and the box itself. More concerned about the shaft orientation so that the turn signals cancel properly.

George

[wwheeler]

Speaking of the special bolt, I made one myself. On the right is the tapered bolt and on the left is the plug with seal ring. Works well.

[ja17]

Hello,
The steering wheel has a slash mark inside the hub itself.  You can see it before the washer and nut are installed.

The air cleaner hold down bolts from a MB 250S or 280S of the era are the correct fine thread metric and even have a pointed end. These also work great for centering the steering box.