Steering wheel swap and alignment

[pickly]

I just replaced my steering wheel on my 72 F-100 automatic. It has a 70s steering column and had a 71 3 spoke steering wheel. I replaced the 3 spoke steering wheel with one with a horn bar. I'm having trouble lining up the steering wheel once I get it bolted on the steering column. I line up the wheels to be straight on and then put the steering wheel on with the horn bar at 9 and 3 o'clock. When I get it bolted on and take a drive it ends up being 7 and 2 when i steer straight. Is there something slipping that I should be looking at that's causing this?

[cep62]

no ,just pop it off and turn it a bit.

[fordman]

was the steering wheel out of line before?

[pickly]

I don't recall. I don't think it was but i wasn't looking that. Would the worm gear and/or bearings cause the steering shaft to slip? There's quite a bit of play in steering from left to right. About 4-5 inches either way and then the wheel will turn. What's the easiest way to adjust the play in the steering?

Thanks!

[rjewkes]

check for loose or worn linkages and if they are fine check the worm gear/steering gear box.

[fordman]

many things can give play between the steering wheel and the tires turning.
the rag joint can be worn or loose.
the steering box worm gears can be worn or out of adjustment.
the steering linkages can be worn out.
the pitman arm could be loose or stripping out.
the steering gear box could be loose from the frame.
the king pins coul dbe worn out.
ther emay be other things i have not thought of to put in here and or i did not go into every detail of the steering linkages. which would include drag link and tie rod ends.

the first thing to wear out in these trucks is the rag joint. then it is a toss up of king pins or steerign linkages. then i would look at the steering box next and then the pitman arm to see if it is slipped.

[pickly]

Thanks for the help all. As soon as the ice melts a little here and i can get under the truck I'll check into those.