Steering Wheel 90 Degrees Off

[Jkittle]

My F-250 steering wheel is 90 degrees off, it seems to steer fine and does not pull in either direction if you let go of the wheel.

What would be the easiest/best way to correct this? I thought about just removing the steering wheel and rotating it 90 degrees. But I was not sure if this would hurt anything and I’m not sure how to remove the original horn ring to get to the steering nut.

Any thoughts?

[69timemachine]

Mine had the same problem, so I just waited until I installed my new steering wheel to correct it. On my truck, changing the wheel position didn't hurt anything. It was weird; the wheels were straight ahead, the pitman arm was straight ahead, and it had the same number of turns from lock to center to lock. But the wheel was simply clocked wrong.

Mine didn't have a horn ring, just the hub button, which you push in on and turn counterclockwise to remove. I'm sure someone with a horn ring will post soon.

[Jkittle]

Thanks for the info.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Jkittle...

That only means that some one has pulled the wheel at sometime before and didn't get it back on in the right position.
Quite simple to fix... by pulling the steering wheel and reinstalling it.
The horn ring comes off the same way as a horn button.
Disconnect the battery, push on the center of the ring and turn CC it will pop off.
Losen the retaining nut, install a steering wheel puller.
I always leave the nut on the shaft just enough to protect the treads.
realign the wheel, tightening the nut will seat the wheel, reinstall the horn ring reconnect the battery... shouldn't take more than 10 minutes start to finish.

Hope that helps...

KaptnKA S

[Jkittle]

kaptnkaos,

Thanks I appreciate your help.

[kaptnkaos]

No worries...

Just be careful with the horn contacts (little piece of carbon with a spring attached.)
There are 2 of them.
One in the steering wheel itself, and one sticking out of the turn signal switch.
Those little buggers can pop out without you even noticing it.
You might want to check the condition of them while you have the wheel off.
I'm pretty sure I read a post saying that NPD has them if you need to replace them.

Good luck...

KaptnKA S

[Jkittle]

Thanks for telling me that. I wouldn't have been expecting it.

This was my farther in-laws truck (one owner, garaged for last 27 years) and I don't think the steering wheel was ever removed.

Should I check any other steering components before I take the steering wheel off and rotate it?

[kaptnkaos]

As long as it drives good and the tires don't wear weird it's probably ok.
Not having excessive play in the steering or wandering on the road would also be a good thing...
If you are concerned, most good tire shops will check the front end out for ya free.

KaptnKA S

[cdherman]

Just beware -- the threaded holes in a Ford steering wheel are 5/16 x 24 (Fine). This did NOT come with my steering wheel puller and the soft metal in the steering wheel was so soft that I though I was just threading the coarse bolt in a rough hole. Then when I pulled on it, the bolt came out.

Luckily, with a threader, I saved the wheel. Just a heads up.......

[kaptnkaos]

Yeah cdherman...

That's a good point...
My puller had the right ones, so I didn't even think about that...
I heard about a couple of other guys havin' the same problem.

KaptnKA S

[Jkittle]

Again thanks for all the good info. I don't want to try a fix one problem and create a worse one!